Acts 27:30-32 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea… I. ITS HIDEOUS CHARACTER. 1. Its cowardice. They sought to flee out of the ship. 2. Its cunning. "Under colour," pretending "as though they would have cast anchors," they let down the boat into the sea. Selfishness has always a disguise. In all the trades, professions, and interests of life it works under a hypocritical garb. It dares not show itself. 3. Its cruelty. All on board were in the same danger; but what cared they though all perished, so long as they were saved? II. ITS MANLY EXPOSURE (ver. 31). There was one on board whose keen eye penetrated the motives of these men, and exposed their base conduct. Paul was one of those to whom, through the purity of their own motives, and the clearness of their own moral intuitions, it is given to discern spirits. It would be well for selfish men to remember that there are men who can see through them. III. ITS ULTIMATE FRUSTRATION. With that short sword with which the Roman legions cleft their way through every obstacle to victory, they "cut the ropes," and the boat fell off. Thus all selfishness must ultimately be confounded. "He that seeketh his life shall lose it." (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, |
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