The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. – Acts 27:3

Today's Scripture Reading (April 4, 2021): Acts 27

Mary Stewart was executed on February 8, 1587; she was forty-four years of age. Her guilt or innocence in the Babington Plot, a plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I so that she could ascend to the English throne as the rightful Queen, is still an open question. At the time, the divide was drawn, and maybe it still is, along religious grounds. The protestant Christians were convinced of Mary's guilt, and the Roman Catholics defended her innocence. But the truth of Mary's guilt in the plot, or if her enemies set her up, may never be known.  

I grew up in a culture where the belief was taught that we are all innocent unless proven guilty. But that innocence is really nothing more than a fable that people want to believe. No one is innocent, at least not in the eyes of those who think that we are guilty. And the condemnation of guilt is usually pronounced quickly. The truth is that we search for evidence, whether that be for guilt or innocence, and ignore any findings that belong in the other court. Guilt and innocence are in the eye of the beholder. Innocent people have been judged, by judges and juries, to be guilty and, in the same way, the guilty have been set free. But maybe the worst fate is reserved for those found to be genuinely innocent and set free, yet their innocence is rejected in the court of public opinion.

Paul had been tried, but the judgment had been deferred to Rome. And so, Paul's fourth missionary journey begins, but this one was very unlike any of the ones he had taken before. On this trip, Paul would be under guard. Judgment deferred means that Paul is still innocent, unlike other criminals who were making the journey with them. Their fate was the Coliseum and games in Rome. But Paul, a Roman citizen, stood in a different class.

For those who had been found guilty of their crimes, there was no privilege available. But for Paul, exemptions were made. It is quite possible that Paul was not physically well. He had been imprisoned in Caesarea for an extended period. And now he was being forced into a boat to go to Rome. The phrase "provide for his needs" is often used by medical writers to indicate medical intervention. And Luke, the author of Acts, was a doctor. And since Paul was a Roman Citizen who had not yet been declared guilty of a crime, the officials on the boat decided to allow him to find friends who could care for his needs. The last thing they wanted was a dead Roman citizen on their hands, one who was not guilty of any crimes.

As the boat pauses on the trip, Paul is allowed, likely under guard, to contact friends who can care for his needs, medical and otherwise. It was a privilege that was probably not extended to any other sick prisoners being taken to Rome. But Paul's situation, along with the fact that he was deemed trustworthy, was different. He was given the liberty to find help along the way.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 28