第129章

The Voyage and Shipwreck.

At last Paul was on his way to Rome."When it was determined," Luke writes, "that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us."In the first century of the Christian Era traveling by sea was attended with peculiar hardship and peril.Mariners directed their course largely by the position of the sun and stars; and when these did not appear, and there were indications of storm, the owners of vessels were fearful of venturing into the open sea.During a portion of the year, safe navigation was almost impossible.

The apostle Paul was now called upon to endure the trying experiences that would fall to his lot as a prisoner in chains during the long and tedious voyage to Italy.One circumstance greatly lightened the hardship of his lot--he was permitted the companionship of Luke and Aristarchus.In his letter to the Colossians he afterward referred to the latter as his "fellow prisoner" (Colossians 4:10);but it was from choice that Aristarchus shared Paul's bondage, that he might minister to him in his afflictions.

The voyage began prosperously.The following day they cast anchor in the harbor of Sidon.Here Julius, the centurion, "courteously entreated Paul,"and being informed that there were Christians in the place, "gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself." This permission was greatly appreciated by the apostle, who was in feeble health.

Upon leaving Sidon, the ship encountered contrary winds; and being driven from a direct course, its progress was slow.At Myra, in the province of Lycia, the centurion found a large Alexandrian ship, bound for the coast of Italy, and to this he immediately transferred his prisoners.But the winds were still contrary, and the ship's progress was difficult.Luke writes, "When we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; and, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens."At Fair Havens they were compelled to remain for some time, waiting for favoring winds.Winter was approaching rapidly; "sailing was now dangerous;"and those in charge of the vessel had to give up hope of reaching their destination before the season for travel by sea should be closed for the year.The only question now to be decided was, whether to remain at Fair Havens, or attempt to reach a more favorable place in which to winter.

This question was earnestly discussed, and was finally referred by the centurion to Paul, who had won the respect of both sailors and soldiers.The apostle unhesitatingly advised remaining where they were."I perceive," he said, "that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives." But "the master and the owner of the ship," and the majority of passengers and crew, were unwilling to accept this counsel.Because the haven in which they had anchored "was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest."The centurion decided to follow the judgment of the majority.Accordingly, "when the south wind blew softly," they set sail from Fair Havens, in the hope that they would soon reach the desired harbor."But not long after there arose...a tempestuous wind;" "the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind."Driven by the tempest, the vessel neared the small island of Clauda, and while under its shelter the sailors made ready for the worst.The lifeboat, their only means of escape in case the ship should founder, was in tow and liable to be dashed in pieces any moment.Their first work was to hoist this boat on board.All possible precautions were then taken to strengthen the ship and prepare it to withstand the tempest.The scant protection afforded by the little island did not avail them long, and soon they were again exposed to the full violence of the storm.

All night the tempest raged, and notwithstanding the precautions that had been taken, the vessel leaked."The next day they lightened the ship." Night came again, but the wind did not abate.The storm-beaten ship, with its shattered mast and rent sails, was tossed hither and thither by the fury of the gale.Every moment it seemed that the groaning timbers must give way as the vessel reeled and quivered under the tempest's shock.The leak increased rapidly, and passengers and crew worked continually at the pumps.There was not a moment's rest for any on board."The third day," writes Luke, "we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away."For fourteen days they drifted under a sunless and starless heaven.The apostle, though himself suffering physically, had words of hope for the darkest hour, a helping hand in every emergency.He grasped by faith the arm of Infinite Power, and his heart was stayed upon God.He had no fears for himself; he knew that God would preserve him to witness at Rome for the truth of Christ.But his heart yearned with pity for the poor souls around him, sinful, degraded, and unprepared to die.As he earnestly pleaded with God to spare their lives, it was revealed to him that his prayer was granted.