I’ve been reading about the Apostle Paul. Just finished the big shipwreck scene on the way to a Roman prison in Acts 27. Storms, near starvation, threat of assasination, destruction of the vessel, floating to shore on a wooden plank. Paul’s life was one big, happy party.

I’ve read these passages lots of times, actually. And I’ve grown kind of numb to Paul’s troubles. I know he makes it to shore. Plus he has a great testimony afterwards. But this week, I’ve noticed something amazing.

This story is completely written from the perspective of “we.” As in “Paul & I.” Most scholars assume the Gentile physician Luke wrote the book of Acts. So he must be the other half of the “we”. “We” sailed from such and such a port. “We” endured the storm, the threats, the starvation, and the shipwreck.

And, here is the thing: Paul went through these things as a prisoner. He boarded the ship under guard. Luke walked on board of his own free will. Nobody made him go to Rome. He could have hopped off the doomed ship at any port and said, “Never mind, I’m going to winter here where it is safe. I’ll catch you next spring.”

But he stuck around for the whole ride. Because, evidently, real friends sail together.

Even in rough seas.