WHEN IT WAS DECIDED. "We" is Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus. God's promise to Paul (Acts 23:11) was being fulfilled, not by a miracle, but by a combination of ordinary human actions. OVER TO JULIUS. We know nothing about the other prisoners. All we learn about Julius is favorable. Paul seemed to always... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WENT ABOARD A SHIP BORN ADRAMYTTIUM. A town on the seacoast of the province of Asia, northeast of Pergamum. There were no regularly scheduled boats, and Paul had to use three to reach Rome. ARISTARCHUS. See note on Colossians 4:10. He and Luke seem to be the only Christians on the boat with Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY WE ARRIVED AT SIDON. About sixty-seven miles north of Caesarea. Note they allowed Paul to visit his friends there. Paul would never be _alone,_ because all Christians were his _brothers and sisters_ - a bond closer than blood-ties!... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SAILED ON THE SHELTERED SIDE. These boats depended on the wind for motive power. They would normally sail west of Cyprus to Patara, about thirty miles west of Myra on the coast of Lycia. But the winds force them to sail to the east of Cyprus, taking the long way around. The wind must have been fr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUND A SHIP FROM ALEXANDRIA. Alexandria is on the northern coast of Africa. They are headed for Italy. The map shows what distances they were sailing. Acts 27:38 shows they were carrying wheat. SAIL slowly. It was 137 miles to Cnidus, on a narrow point of land sticking out from the southern corner... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SPENT A LONG TIME THERE. They were weather-bound, since the wind would not take them the way they must go. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. _Ramsay_ gives this as October 5, 59 A.D. Paul used the Jewish calendar (1 Corinthians 16:8). It would not be strange for Luke to do this also. The storms of winter mad... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOON A VERY STRONG WIND. A "Northeaster," blowing from the northeast, down from the island. It was a violent hurricane! They tried to keep the ship headed into it, to ride out the storm. But when this failed, they could do nothing to help themselves. CAUDA. Nearly fifty miles out from Phoenix. T... [ Continue Reading ]
A LONG TIME WITHOUT FOOD. The fires were out, the food water soaked, the men too busy, and they were frightened out of their wits by the storm. PAUL STOOD BEFORE THEM. He is calm and firm, as he finds a place where all can hear. YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME. He is not taunting them nor scolding th... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS THE FOURTEENTH NIGHT. Since they sailed from Safe Harbors. The storm is still driving them. The area of the Mediterranean Sea to the south of Italy and Greece was once called the Adria. A look at the map shows that after being driven toward the coast of Africa, the wind carries them back nort... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL BEGGED THEM ALL TO EAT SOME FOOD. He seems to have taken charge of things in this crisis. They had eaten nothing for a long time (Acts 27:21), and were weak from hunger. NOT EVEN A HAIR OF YOUR HEADS WILL BE LOST. The angel had assured him of this. AFTER SAYING THIS. Paul puts his words into ac... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAY WITH A BEACH. This would be the safest place to run aground. These sailors may have landed on Malta many times before, but did not recognize this part of the coast. SO THEY OUT OFF THE ANCHORS. They wanted the ship to be as light as possible. THE STEERING OARS. The two paddle-rudders which the... [ Continue Reading ]