Paul wrote his epistle (letter) to the Christians in Rome about three years before his voyage there. Now in the latter years of his ministry and life, after 27 years of faithfully obeying the call of God for his life, Paul was embarking on a God-ordained journey. The last thing you would expect was that the ship he was on would be tempest-tossed for 14 days and finally be destroyed, that Paul and the rest of those on board would end up on the island of Malta, and that just when they thought they were safe on shore Paul would be bitten by a poisonous snake! In spite of the circumstances, Paul knew that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). He was able to set his expectations for good based on God and God’s word.
