Who was in charge during Paul’s journey as a prisoner from Caesarea to Rome? Was it the captain, who led the crew of the ship with 276 passengers on board (Acts 27:37)? Was it the centurion, Julius, who with his soldiers was transporting a group of prisoners (Acts 27:1)? Or was the true leader one of the prisoners?
It is bizarre to see Paul chiding the decision-makers on the boat before calming the fears of the other passengers:
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete….
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.
Acts 27:21-22
When the ship’s crew tried to abandon them, Paul alerted the soldiers and told them they needed to stay together: “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved,” he said (Acts 27:31).
The following morning, the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to prevent them from escaping, “but the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose” (Acts 21:43).
There is safety in following an inspired leader. The centurion learned that. Laman and Lemuel learned the same lesson as their lives were threatened at sea. When they finally untied their younger brother, Nephi, the storm stopped, and he was able to “guide the ship” safely “towards the promised land” (1 Nephi 18:22).
Years ago, President Russell M. Nelson referenced both of these stories as he encouraged us to follow inspired leaders. He reminded us that the Lord has called people “to speak in His holy name. As they guide His unsinkable boat safely toward the shore of salvation,” he added, “we would do well to stay on board with them” (“Endure and Be Lifted Up,” General Conference, April 1997).
Today, I will follow inspired leaders. I will resist the temptation to panic or to give credence to their detractors. I will stay in the boat and trust God’s promises to bring us safely home.