We are Healed (Acts 27-28)

On the sea in the storm, the Lord had made the apostle Paul not only the owner of his fellow voyagers (Acts 27:24) but also their life-guarantor and comforter (Acts 27:22, 25). Now, on the land in peace, the Lord made him furthermore not only a magical attraction in the eyes of the superstitious people (vv. 3-6) but also a healer and a joy to them (vv. 8-9). During the apostle’s long and unfortunate imprisonment-voyage, the Lord kept the apostle in His ascendancy and enabled him to live a life far beyond the realm of anxiety. This life was fully dignified, with the highest standard of human virtues expressing the most excellent divine attributes, a life that resembled the one that the Lord Himself had lived on the earth years before. This was Jesus living again on the earth in His divinely enriched humanity! This was the wonderful, excellent, and mysterious God-man, who lived in the Gospels, continuing to live in the Acts through one of His many members! This was a living witness of the incarnated, crucified, resurrected, and God-exalted Christ! Paul in his voyage lived and magnified Christ (Phil. 1:20-21). It is no wonder that the people honored him and his companions with many honors (v. 10), that is, with the greatest respect and highest regard! An ambassador sent by God should be treated by men with such respect and regard.
What a timely speaking in the current global pandemic! We are in the boat (the church) in this troubled and chaotic sea (world) with stormy weather (satanic distractions) yet we feel peacefully safe with the voyagers. He has become our life-guarantor and comforter! He is not only our healer but a joy to our humanity.
Today, in this terrible time of all mankind, the Lord keeps many saints in His ascendancy and enables them to live a life far beyond the realm of anxiety. This life is fully dignified, with the highest standard of human virtues expressing the most excellent divine attributes, a life that resembles the overcoming one, a life the Lord Himself has been living together with His own church continuously.

1. How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
And drives away his fear.
And drives away his fear.
It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
2. It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.
And to the weary rest.
And to the weary rest.
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.
3. Dear Name! The Rock on which we build;
Our shield and hiding-place;
Our never-failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace.
With boundless stores of grace.
With boundless stores of grace.
Our never-failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace.
4. Jesus, our Savior, Shepherd, Friend,
Our Prophet, Priest, and King;
Our Lord, our Life, our Way, our End,
Accept the praise we bring.
Accept the praise we bring.
Accept the praise we bring.
Our Lord, our Life, our Way, our End,
Accept the praise we bring.
5. Weak is the effort of our heart,
And cold our warmest thought;
But when we see Thee as Thou art,
We'll praise Thee as we ought.
We'll praise Thee as we ought.
We'll praise Thee as we ought.
But when we see Thee as Thou art,
We'll praise Thee as we ought.
6. Till then we would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And triumph in that blessed Name
Which quells the pow'r of death.
Which quells the pow'r of death.
Which quells the pow'r of death.
And triumph in that blessed Name
Which quells the pow'r of death.