CHAPTER XXVII. _It being determined that Paul should be sent to Rome, he is_ _delivered to Julius, a centurion_, 1. _They embark in a ship of_ Adramyttium, _and come the next day to_ Sidon, 2, 3. _They sail thence, and pass_ Cyprus, Cilicia, _and_ Pamphylia, _and_ _come to_ Myra, 4, 5. _They... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:2. _A SHIP OF ADRAMYTTIUM_] There were several places of this name; and in different MSS. the name is variously written. The port in question appears to have been a place in Mysia, in Asia Minor. And the abbé _Vertot_, in his history of the _Knights of_ _Malta_, says it is now called _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:3. _TOUCHED AT SIDON_] For some account of this place, Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:21; and Acts 12:20, Acts 12:20. _JULIUS COURTEOUSLY ENTREATED PAUL_] At the conclusion of the preceding chapter, it has been intimated that the kind treatment which Paul received, both from Julius and at... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:4. _WE SAILED UNDER CYPRUS_] Acts 4:36, Acts 4:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:5. _PAMPHYLIA_] Acts 2:10. _MYRA_, A CITY _OF LYCIA._] The name of this city is written variously in the MSS., _Myra, Murrha, Smyra_, and _Smyrna_. Grotius conjectures that all these names are _corrupted_, and that it should be written _Limyra_, which is the name both of a _river_ an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:6. _A SHIP OF ALEXANDRIA_] It appears, from Acts 27:38, that this ship was laden with _wheat_, which she was carrying from Alexandria to Rome. We know that the Romans imported much corn from Egypt, together with different articles of _Persian_ and _Indian_ merchandise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:7. _SAILED SLOWLY MANY DAYS_] Partly because the _wind_ was contrary, and partly because the vessel was _heavy laden_. _OVER AGAINST CNIDUS_] This was a city or promontory of Asia, opposite to Crete, at one corner of the peninsula of Caria. Some think that this was an island between C... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:8. _THE FAIR HAVENS_] This port still remains, and is known by the same name; it was situated towards the northern extremity of the island. _WAS THE CITY_ OF _LASEA._] There is no city of this name now remaining: the Codex Alexandrinus reads αλασσα, _Alassa_; probably _Lysia_, near th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:9. _SAILING WAS NOW DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THE FAST WAS NOW_ _ALREADY PAST_] It is generally allowed that the fast mentioned here was that of the _great day of atonement_ which was always celebrated on the _tenth_ day of the _seventh_ month, which would answer to the latter end of our _Sep... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:10. _I PERCEIVE THAT THIS VOYAGE WILL BE WITH HURT_, c.] Paul might either have had this intimation from the Spirit of God, or from his own knowledge of the state of this sea after the autumnal equinox, and therefore gave them this prudent warning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:11. _THE CENTURION BELIEVED THE MASTER_] τω κυβερνητη, the _pilot; and owner of the ship_, τω ναυκληρω, the _captain_ and _proprietor_. This latter had the command of the ship and the crew; the _pilot_ had the guidance of the vessel along those dangerous coasts, under the direction of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:12. _MIGHT ATTAIN TO PHOENICE_] It appears that the _Fair_ _Havens_ were at the _eastern_ end of the island, and they wished to reach _Phoenice_, which lay farther towards the _west_. _TOWARD THE SOUTH-WEST AND NORTH-WEST._] κατα λιβα και κατα χωρον. The _libs_ certainly means the _so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:13. _WHEN THE SOUTH WIND BLEW SOFTLY_] Though this wind was not very favourable, yet, because it blew _softly_, they supposed they might be able to make their passage. _THEY SAILED CLOSE BY CRETE._] Kept as near the coast as they could. See the track on the map.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:14. _A TEMPESTUOUS WIND, CALLED EUROCLYDON._] Interpreters have been greatly perplexed with this word; and the ancient copyists not less so, as the word is variously written in the MSS. and versions. Dr. Shaw supposes it to be one of those tempestuous winds called _levanters_, which b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:15. _AND WHEN THE SHIP WAS CAUGHT_] Συναρπασθεντος δε του πλοιου. The ship was violently hurried away before this strong _levanter_; so that it was impossible for her, αντοφθαλμειν, to _face the wind_, to _turn her prow to it_, so as to _shake it out_, as I have heard sailors say, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:16. _A CERTAIN ISLAND - CALLED CLAUDA_] Called also _Gaudos_; situated at the south-western extremity of the island of Crete, and now called _Gozo_, according to Dr. Shaw. _MUCH WORK TO COME BY THE BOAT_] It was likely to have been washed overboard; or, if the boat was in _tow_, at th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:17. _UNDERGIRDING THE SHIP_] This method has been used even in modern times. It is called frapping the ship. A stout cable is slipped under the vessel at the prow, which they can conduct to any part of the ship's keel; and then fasten the two ends on the deck, to keep the planks from s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:18. _LIGHTENED THE SHIP_] Of _what_, we know not; but it was probably cumbrous _wares_, by which the _deck_ was thronged, and which were prejudicial to the due _trim_ of the vessel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:19. _THE TACKLING OF THE SHIP._] την σκευην; All supernumerary anchors, cables, baggage, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:20. _NEITHER SUN NOR STARS IN MANY DAYS APPEARED_] And consequently they could make no observation; and, having no _magnetical_ needle, could not tell in what direction they were going.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:21. _AFTER LONG ABSTINENCE_] Πολλης δε ασιτιας ὑπαρχουσης. Mr. Wakefield connects this with the preceding verse, and translates it thus: _Especially as there was a great scarcity of_ _provisions_. But this by no means can agree with what is said, Acts 27:34. The vessel was a _corn ves... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:22. _THERE SHALL BE NO LOSS OF - LIFE_] This must be joyous news to those from whom _all hope that they should be saved was_ _taken away_: Acts 27:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:23. _THE - GOD, WHOSE I AM, AND WHOM I SERVE_] This Divine communication was intended to give credit to the apostle and to his doctrine; and, in such perilous circumstances, to speak so confidently, when every appearance was against him, argued the fullest persuasion of the truth of wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:24. _GOD HATH GIVEN THEE ALL THEM THAT SAIL WITH THEE._] Two hundred and seventy-six souls saved for the sake of one man! This was a strong proof of God's approbation of Paul; and must at least have shown to Julius the centurion that his prisoner was an injured and innocent man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:26. _WE MUST BE CAST UPON A CERTAIN ISLAND._] The angel which gave him this information did not tell him the name of the island. It turned out to be _Melita_, on which, by the violence of the storm, they were wrecked some days after.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:27. _DRIVEN UP AND DOWN IN ADRIA_] Acts 27:17, Acts 27:17. _DEEMED THAT THEY DREW NEAR TO SOME COUNTRY_] They judged so, either by the _smell of land_, which those used to the sea can perceive at a considerable distance, or by the agitation of the sea, _rippling_ of the tide, flight o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:28. _AND SOUNDED_] βολισαντες, _Heaving the lead_. _TWENTY FATHOMS_] οργυιας εικοσι, About _forty yards_ in depth. The οργυια is thus defined by the Etymologicon: Σημαινει την εκτασιν των χειρων, συν τῳ πλατει του Ϛηθους· _It signifies the_ _extent of the arms, together with the brea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _CAST FOUR ANCHORS OUT OF THE STERN_] By this time the storm must have been considerably abated; though the agitation of the sea could not have subsided much. The anchors were cast out of the stern to prevent the vessel from drifting ashore, as they found that, the farther they _stood in_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _THE SHIPMEN_] _The sailors - let down the boat_. Having lowered the boat from the deck into the sea, they pretended that it was necessary to carry some anchors _ahead_, to keep her from being carried in a dangerous direction by the tide, but with the real design to make for shore, and so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _EXCEPT THESE ABIDE IN THE SHIP, YE CANNOT BE SAVED._] God, who has promised to save your lives, promises this on the condition that ye make use of every means he has put in your power to help yourselves. While, therefore, ye are using these means, expect the co-operation of God. If these... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _THE SOLDIERS CUT OFF THE ROPES_] These were probably the only persons who dared to have opposed the will of the _sailors_: this very circumstance is an additional proof of the accuracy of St. Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _WHILE THE DAY WAS COINING ON_] It was then apparently about day-break. _THIS DAY IS THE FOURTEENTH DAY THAT YE HAVE - CONTINUED FASTING_] Ye have not had one _regular meal_ for these fourteen days past. Indeed we may take it for granted that, during the whole of the storm, very little wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _A HAIR FALL FROM THE HEAD_] A proverbial expression for, ye shall neither lose your lives nor suffer any hurt in your bodies, if ye follow my advice.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _GAVE THANKS TO GOD_] Who had provided the food, and preserved their lives and health to partake of it. Some think that he celebrated the _holy eucharist_ here: but this is by no means likely: he would not celebrate such a mystery among ungodly sailors and soldiers, Jews and heathens; nor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _THEY LIGHTENED THE SHIP_] They hoped that, by casting out the lading, the ship would _draw less water_; in consequence of which, they could get nearer the shore.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _THEY KNEW NOT THE LAND_] And therefore knew neither the nature of the coast, nor where the proper port lay. _A-CREEK WITH A SHORE_] κολπον, _Sinum_, a bay, with a shore; a neck of land perhaps on either side, running out into the sea, and this little bay or gulf between them; though some... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 40. _TAKEN UP THE ANCHORS_] Weighed all the anchors that they had cast out of the stern. Some think the meaning of the word is, they slipped their cables; and so left the anchors in the sea. This opinion is expressed in the _margin_. _LOOSED THE RUDDER BANDS_] Or, the bands of the rudders; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _WHERE TWO SEAS MEET_] The tide running down from each side of the tongue of land, mentioned Acts 27:39, and meeting at the point. _RAN THE SHIP AGROUND_] In striving to cross at this point of land, they had not taken a sufficiency of _sea-room_, and therefore ran _aground_. _THE FOREPAR... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 42. _THE SOLDIERS' COUNSEL WAS TO KILL THE PRISONERS_] What blood-thirsty, cowardly villains must these have been! Though, through the providence of God, those poor men had escaped a watery grave, and had borne all the anxiety and distresses of this disastrous voyage, as well as the others, no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:43. _WILLING TO SAVE PAUL_, c.] Had _one_ fallen, for the reasons those cruel and dastardly soldiers gave, so must _all_ the rest. The centurion save that Paul vas not only an innocent, but an extraordinary and divine man and therefore, for his sake, he prevented the massacre; and, unl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 27:44. _AND THE REST_] That could not swim: _some on boards_, planks, spars, c., got _safe to land_ manifestly by an especial providence of God; for how otherwise could the sick, the aged, the terrified, besides women and children, (of which, we may naturally suppose, there were some,) th... [ Continue Reading ]