Acts 27:16-17

CAUDA. Acts 27:16-17.

Acts 27:16

And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:

Acts 27:17

and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

Acts 27:16-17 When they reached the cape there came from 7,000 foot high Mt. Ida a sudden typhonic squall... The winds come down from those mountains fit to blow the ship out of the water, said a skipper to Sir William Ramsey. (ibid. Given by Wm. Dallman in Paul, p. 244). When the ship was seized in this cyclone and whirled around and could not look the wind in the face, we let her drive and ran under a small island named Cauda. 23 miles away.

Here the water was a little less rough. Their first effort was to take up the little boat that was in tow at the back of the ship. This had to be done if they were going to have a means of going ashore later and therefore it would act as a life boat in an emergency. It was only with the greatest difficulty that the small boat was lifted out of the water and made secure on board ship. Then there began the process known as frapping the ship. It consisted of passing cables under the boat in such a way as to bind the timbers together and thus make it less susceptible to leaking. Whether the cables were passed around the ship vertically or horizontally has occasioned some discussion, as it seems that both methods were employed. Just how this was done amid such a storm is not known but that they did it we are sure. Following these precautions, the rudders were set and the ship was given over to the winds to be driven.
The third and final effort to prepare to meet the storm was in lowering the gear. This consisted of taking in all the sail that was up and securing the ropes as tightly as possible. The rudder of the boat was set in such a way as to keep the course away from the Syrtis, the terrible quicksand of Northern Africa.

983.

What was the name of the wind that came upon them? It's meaning?

984.

Why pause at Cauda?

985.

Why was the small boat trailing behind? Why take it in?

986.

What is meant by frapping the ship?

987.

Why set the rudder?