THE VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK Acts 27:1 to Acts 28:16. The Journey to Rome. This narrative is the most detailed account of an ancient voyage which we possess, and is our principal source of knowledge of the art of navigation as practised by the ancients. St. Luke describes the voyage at length, because... [ Continue Reading ]
JULIUS] a person otherwise unknown. The narrative reveals him as courteous and humane, open to religious impressions, and able to appreciate, a great character. AUGUSTUS' BAND] rather, 'the Augustan cohort.' This cohort has been generally regarded as one of the five cohorts which, Josephus tells us,... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHIP OF ADRAMYTTIUM] i.e. a ship owned at Adramyttium, which was about to undertake its homeward voyage. Adramyttium was an important seaport of Mysia. WE LAUNCHED, MEANING TO SAIL BY THE COASTS OF ASIA] RV 'which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea.' ARISTARCHUS]... [ Continue Reading ]
SIDON] an important seaport situated about 20 m. N. of its great commercial rival, Tyre. TO REFRESH HIMSELF] rather, 'to receive attention.'... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER CYPRUS] RV 'under the lee of Cyprus'; i.e. to the E. of the island, as was usual with ships westward bound, to avoid the prevalent W. winds.... [ Continue Reading ]
MYRA] see Acts 21:1. This town was important as one of the great harbours in the corn trade between Egypt and Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHIP OF ALEXANDRIA] At this time Rome was almost entirely dependent upon foreign corn, obtained mainly from Egypt. This vessel was one of the great cornships (Acts 27:38) employed to convey wheat from Alexandria to Puteoli or Ostia. The arrival of these cornships in Italy was a signal for great re... [ Continue Reading ]
SCARCE] i.e. with difficulty. CNIDUS] a seaport of Caria. NOT SUFFERING US] viz. to pursue a direct course to Italy S. of Cape Malea. UNDER CRETE] i.e. under the lee of Crete (to the E. and S. of it). SALMONE] the NE. promontory of Crete. Upon it stood a temple of Athena.... [ Continue Reading ]
FAIR HAVENS] where St. Paul waited for a considerable time (Acts 27:9), still preserves its ancient name. It is a small bay situated about 6 m. E. of Cape Litino. It is secure only against N. and NW. winds, whereas the harbour of Phoenix (Acts 27:12) is secure against all winds. LASEA] has been iden... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAST] i.e. the Day of Atonement, falling about the autumnal equinox. Ancient mariners reckoned the dangerous season of navigation from September 14th to November 11th. From November 11th till March 5th all navigation was suspended.... [ Continue Reading ]
No revelation is to be assumed here.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHENICE] RV 'Phoenix,' i.e. either the modern Loutro, or the neighbouring town of Phineka. TOWARD THE SOUTH WEST AND NORTH WEST] i.e. the bay or harbour formed a semicircle, of which one half looked SW. and the other half NW. 14. Translate, 'But after no long time there beat down from it' (i.e. fro... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'and running under the lee of a small island, called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.' CLAUDA] or (RV) 'Cauda' (now Gavdo or Gozzo), Isaiah 23 m. S. of Phoenix. TO COME BY THE BOAT] RV 'to secure the boat.' This was a small rowingboat towed from the stern of the ship. The... [ Continue Reading ]
HELPS] i.e. means of protection against foundering. UNDERGIRDING] Broad girths were passed under the ship, and strained tight, to hold the timbers together. Modern seamen sometimes resort to the practice, which is called 'frapping.' LEST THEY SHOULD FALL INTO THE QUICKSANDS] RV 'lest they should be... [ Continue Reading ]
LIGHTENED THE SHIP] by throwing part of the cargo overboard.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE.. OUR] RV 'they.. their.' THE TACKLING] i.e. spars, ropes, etc. But a better translation is 'the ship's furniture,' i.e. beds, tables, benches, cooking utensils, chests, boxes, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL] rather, 'an angel.' For other visions of Paul see Acts 18:9; Acts 22:18; Acts 23:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul here speaks as a prophet, and accurately predicts the future.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOURTEENTH NIGHT] viz. from their departure from Fair Havens. IN ADRIA] RV 'in the sea of Adria,' which lay between Malta, Italy, Greece and Crete.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SOUNDED] 'J. Smith shows how exactly the geographical details in the traditional St. Paul's Bay (on the NE. coast of Malta) correspond with the description here' (Knowling).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR HEALTH] RV 'for your safety.' Unless they were strengthened by food they might be drowned in the attempt to get ashore.... [ Continue Reading ]
All pious Jews gave thanks to God before taking food.... [ Continue Reading ]
The number of persons on board is large, but not unusually so. The vessel on which Josephus was wrecked carried about 600 persons.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THRUST IN THE SHIP] rather, 'to run the ship aground.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'and casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.' RUDDER BANDS] RV 'the rudders.' Ancient vessels had two rudders (in the form of a huge oar or paddle), one on each quart... [ Continue Reading ]
A PLACE WHERE TWO SEAS MET] This may either mean, (1) a strait (i.e., in this case, the narrow strait which separates Selmun Island from the mainland); or, (2) a tongue of land (or spit of sand) washed on both sides by the sea.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KILL THE PRISONERS] cp. Acts 12:19; Acts 16:27.... [ Continue Reading ]