Lesson: Hope Shrinks Trials<br>
Reading: Hope taken away, restored<br>
Reference:  Acts 27:13-25<br><br>
Acts 27:13: And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.<br>
Acts 27:14: But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.<br>
Acts 27:15: And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.<br>
Acts 27:16: And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:<br>
Acts 27:17: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.<br>
Acts 27:18: And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;<br>
Acts 27:19: And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.<br>
Acts 27:20: And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.<br>
Acts 27:21: But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.<br>
Acts 27:22: And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.<br>
Acts 27:23: For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,<br>
Acts 27:24: Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.<br>
Acts 27:25: Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.<br>
(KJV)<br>