AND WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED - By Festus Acts 25:12, and when the time was come when it was convenient to send him. THAT WE SHOULD SAIL - The use of the term “we” here shows that the author of this book, Luke, was with Paul. He had been his traveling companion, and though he had not been accused, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHIP OF ADRAMYTTIUM - A maritime town of Mysia, in Asia Minor, opposite to the island of Lesbos. This was a ship which had been built there, or which sailed from that port, but which was then in the port of Caesarea. It is evident, from Acts 27:6, that this ship was not expected to sail to Italy,... [ Continue Reading ]
WE TOUCHED AT SIDON - See the notes on Matthew 11:21. Sidon was about 67 miles north of Caesarea, and the passage could be easily accomplished, under favorable circumstances, in 24 hours. It is probable that the vessel, being a “coaster,” put in there for purposes of trade. Sidon is the last city on... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SAILED UNDER CYPRUS - For an account of Cyprus, see the notes on Acts 4:36. By sailing “under Cyprus” is meant that they sailed along its coasts; they kept near to it; they thus endeavored to break off the violent winds. Instead of steering a direct course in the open sea, which would have expose... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEA OF CILICIA AND PAMPHYLIA - The sea which lies off the, coast from these two regions. For their situation, see the notes on Acts 6:9, and Acts 13:13. WE CAME TO MYRA, A CITY OF LYCIA - Lycia was a province in the southwestern part of Asia Minor, having Phrygia and Pisidia on the north, the M... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHIP OF ALEXANDRIA - A ship belonging to Alexandria. Alexandria was in Egypt, and was founded by Alexander the Great. It appears from Acts 27:38 that the ship was laden with wheat. It is well known that great quantities of wheat were imported from Egypt to Rome, and it appears that this was one of... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD SAILED SLOWLY - By reason of the prevalence of the western winds, Acts 27:4. OVER AGAINST CNIDUS - This was a city standing on a promontory of the same name in Asia Minor, in the part of the province of Caria called Doris, and a little northwest of the island of Rhodes. THE WIND NOT SUFFERING... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, HARDLY PASSING IT - Scarcely being able to pass by it without being wrecked. Being almost driven on it. They passed round the east end of the island because they had been unable to sail directly forward between the island and the mainland, THE FAIR HAVENS - This was on the southeastern part of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MUCH TIME WAS SPENT - In sailing along the coast of Asia; in contending with the contrary winds. It is evident that when they started they had hoped to reach Italy before the dangerous time of navigating the Mediterranean should arrive. But they had been detained and embarrassed contrary to the... [ Continue Reading ]
SIRS - Greek: Men. I PERCEIVE - It is not certain that Paul understood this by direct inspiration. He might have perceived it from his own knowledge of the danger of navigation at the autumnal equinox, and from what he saw of the ship as unsuited to a dangerous navigation. But there is nothing that... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MASTER - The person who is here meant was the helmsman, who occupied in ancient ships a conspicuous place on the stern, and steered the ship, and gave directions to the crew. THE OWNER OF THE SHIP - Probably a different person from “the master.” He had the general command of the ship as his own... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAVEN - The fair havens, Acts 27:8. WAS NOT COMMODIOUS TO WINTER IN - Not safe or convenient to remain there. Probably it furnished rather a safe anchorage ground in time of a storm than a convenient place for a permanent harbor. THE MORE PART - The greater part of the crew. TO PHENICE - In th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SOUTH WIND - The wind before had probably been a head-wind, blowing from the west. When it veered round to the south, and when it blew gently, though not entirely favorable, yet it was so that they supposed they could sail along the coast of Crete. HAD OBTAINED THEIR PURPOSE - The object of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AROSE - Beat violently. AGAINST IT - Against the vessel. Greek: seizing her, and whirling her around. A TEMPESTUOUS WIND - Turbulent - violent - strong. CALLED EUROCLYDON - Εὐροκλύδων Eurokludōn. Interpreters have been much perplexed about the meaning of this word, which occurs nowhere else in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHIP WAS CAUGHT - By the wind. It came suddenly upon them as a tempest. COULD NOT BEAR UP ... - Could not resist its violence, or the helmsman could not direct the ship. It was seized by the wind, and driven with such violence, that it became unmanageable. WE LET HER DRIVE - We suffered the sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND RUNNING UNDER - Running near to an island. They ran near to it, where the violence of the wind was probably broken by the island, WHICH IS CALLED CLAUDA - This is a small island about 20 miles southwest of Crete. WE HAD MUCH WORK - Much difficulty; we were scarcely able to do it. TO COME BY T... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WHEN THEY HAD TAKEN UP - When they had raised up the boat into the ship, so as to secure it. THEY USED HELPS - They used ropes, cables, stays, or chains, for the purpose of securing the ship. The danger was that the ship would be destroyed, and they therefore made use of such aids as would pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LIGHTENED THE SHIP - By throwing out a part of the cargo.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TACKLING OF THE SHIP - The anchors, sails, cables, baggage, etc. That is, everything that was not indispensable to its preservation, for it seems still Acts 27:29 that they retained some of their anchors on board.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SUN NOR STARS ... - As they could see neither san nor stars, they could make no observations; and as they had no compass, they would be totally ignorant of their situation, and they gave up all as lost.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER LONG ABSTINENCE - By the violence of the storm, by their long continued labor, and by their apprehension of danger, they had a long time abstained from food. AND TO HAVE GAINED THIS HARM - To have procured this harm, or have subjected yourselves to it. Had you remained there you would hav... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL BE NO LOSS - This must have been cheering news to those who had given up all for lost. As Patti had manifested great wisdom in his former advice to them, they might be now more disposed to listen to him. The reason why he believed they would be safe, he immediately states.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE STOOD BY ME - There appeared to me. THE ANGEL OF GOD - The messages of God were often communicated by angels. See Hebrews 1:14. This does not mean that there was any particular angel, but simply an angel. WHOSE I AM - Of the God to whom I belong. This is an expression of Paul’s entire devote... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR NOT, PAUL - Do not be alarmed with the danger of the loss of life. THOU MUST BE BROUGHT ... - And therefore thy life will be spared. GOD HATH GIVEN THEE ALL ... - That is, they shall all be preserved with thee. None of their lives shall be lost. This does not mean that they would be converted... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT - Nevertheless. UPON A CERTAIN ISLAND - Malta. See Acts 28:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOURTEENTH NIGHT - From the time when the tempest commenced. IN ADRIA - In the Adriatic Sea. This sea is situated between Italy and Dalmatia, now called the Adriatic Gulf. But among the ancients the name was given not only to that gulf, but to the whole sea lying between Greece, Italy, and Afri... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOUNDED - To sound is to make use of a line and lead to ascertain the depth of water. TWENTY FATHOMS - A fathom is six feet, or the distance from the extremity of the middle finger on one hand to the extremity of the other, when the arms are extended. The depth, therefore, was about 120 feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAST FOUR ANCHORS - On account of the violence of the storm and waves, to make, if possible, the ship secure. AND WISHED FOR THE DAY - To discern more accurately their situation and danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHIPMEN - The sailors, leaving the prisoners. UNDER COLOUR - Under pretence. They pretended that it was necessary to get into the boat, and carry the anchors ahead of the ship so as to make it secure, but with a real intention to make for the shore. OUT OF THE FORESHIP - From the prow, so as t... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL SAID TO THE CENTURION AND TO THE SOLDIERS - The centurion had, it appears, the general direction of the ship, Acts 27:11. Perhaps it had been pressed into the service of the government. EXCEPT THESE - These seamen. The soldiers and the centurion were unqualified to manage the ship, and the pre... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT OFF THE ROPES ... - It is evident that the mariners had not yet got on board the boat. They had let it down into the sea Acts 27:30, and were about to go on board. By thus cutting the ropes which fastened the boat to the ship, and letting it go, all possibility of their fleeing from the ship was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE THE DAY WAS COMING ON - At daybreak. It was before they had sufficient light to discern what they should do. TO TAKE MEAT - Food. The word “meat” was formerly used to denote “food” of any kind. THAT YE HAVE TARRIED - That you have remained or been fasting. HAVING TAKEN NOTHING - No regul... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT A HAIR FALL FROM THE HEAD ... - A proverbial expression, denoting “that they would be preserved safe; that none of them would be lost, and that “in their persons they should not experience the least damage,” 1 Kings 1:52; 1 Samuel 14:45.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE THANKS ... - This was the usual custom among the Hebrews. See the notes on Matthew 14:19. Paul was among those who were not Christians; but he was not ashamed of the proper acknowledgment of God, and was not afraid to avow his dependence on him, and to express his gratitude for his mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LIGHTENED THE SHIP - By casting the wheat into the sea. As they had no hope of saving the cargo, and had no further use for it, they hoped that by throwing the wheat overboard the ship would draw less water, and that thus they would be able to run the vessel on the shore.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY KNEW NOT THE LAND - They had been driven with a tempest, without being able to make any observation, and it is probable that they were entire strangers to the coast and to the whole island, A CERTAIN CREEK WITH A SHORE - Greek: a certain bosom κόλπος kolpos or bay. By its having a shore is pr... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD TAKEN UP THE ANCHORS - The four anchors with which they had moored the ship, Acts 27:29. See the margin. The expression may mean that they slipped or cut their cables, and that thus they left the anchors in the sea. This is the most probable interpretation. AND LOOSED THE RUDDER BANDS - The rudd... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FALLING - Being carried by the wind and waves. INTO A PLACE WHERE TWO SEAS MET - Greek: into a place of a double sea - διθάλασσον dithalasson. That is, a place which was washed on both sides by the sea. It refers properly to an isthmus, tongue of land, or a sand-bar stretching out from the mai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SOLDIERS’ COUNSEL ... - Why they gave this advice is not known. It was probably, however, because the Roman military discipline was very strict, and if they escaped it would be charged on them that it had been done by the negligence and unfaithfulness of the soldiers. They therefore proposed... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE CENTURION, WILLING TO SAVE PAUL - He had at first been disposed to treat Paul with kindness, Acts 27:3. And his conduct on board the ship; the wisdom of his advice Acts 27:10; the prudence of his conduct in the agitation and danger of the tempest; and not improbably the belief that he was un... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE REST - Those who could not swim. THEY ESCAPED ALL SAFE TO LAND - According to the promise which was made to Paul, Acts 27:22. This was done by the special providence of God. It was a remarkable instance of divine interposition to save so many through so long-continued dangers; and it shows... [ Continue Reading ]