Acts 27:22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, `Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." (NIV)

If the human beings who lived two thousand years ago were like we are today, then there is, in these verses, more than a small bit of humor. One must wonder if the sailors believed Paul. Would you believe a stranger who said He talked with a God in whom you do not believe? Would you believe a stranger who said you were going to experience a disaster but do not be afraid? If you were a sailor, and were very superstitious, would you trust a man who said you were going to need to be shipwrecked and run aground on some island? The Lord does work in ways we do not understand. The Lord even works in ways, given time and distance that can be funny. Years after this event, these uncultured sailors must surely have laughed at this moment when they did not believe.