Acts 27:6

"There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy" This ship was from Alexandria in Egypt, she was headed for Rome with. load of grain (Acts 27:38) and accommodated 276 persons (Acts 27:37). About 300 years earlier Egypt had become the breadbasket of Rome, and. whole fleet of ships was devoted to bringing grain from Egypt to Italy. "The Alexandrian ships were very large and were steered by two broad oars, one on each side of the stern, and one large mast with the huge sail fastened to an enormous yard arm. Another sail was often seen in the forepart of the ship. From the descriptions of such ships found in ancient literature, it has been estimated they could carry between ten and eleven hundred tons. Fully loaded, with. good breeze, they could make about eight or nine miles an hour" (Reese p. 895). "And he put us aboard it" It was. common practice to place prisoners on grain ships and this centurion would of have the authority to do such.