Acts 27

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 1—26. Paul’s voyage to Rome.—The of the Augustan band, going to Rome, probably on other business, it was thought a convenient opportunity to send Paul, and ‘‘certain other prisoners,’’ under i care. Whether Luke and Aristarchus had been implicated in the same charge, and are to be included among ‘the other prisoners,’ or whether they went as the companions or domestics of St. Paul, is uncertain. No doubt the enjoyment of his company was more than a counterbalance to either imprisonment or the dangers of the voyage. It is a happy event to us that Luke was there, as he has recorded the circumstances of the voyage, and afforded us, in a degree, the pleasure of travelling with them, without participating in any of their dangers.

It may be proper here to remark, that in the infancy of the art of navigation, and before the discovery of the compass navigators dare not venture into the open sea, but were oblig’d to coast it near the shore. And here we may remark the harmony subsisting between the plans of providence and redemption. While the propagation of the Gospel was to be confined comparatively to a narrow boundary, the vessels then in use, and the science of early days, might be sufficient; but before the Gospel was to be sent to the farthest parts of India, and across the Atlantic to another hemisphere, the compass was invented, and vast improvements made in naval architecture: and how far the wonderful discoveries of steam navigation may be employed in rapidly extending the Scriptures and the heralds of salvation, like lightning playing on the bosom of the ocean, remains to be seen by our posterity. If the Christian church of that age had had easy direction of Paul’s voyage, they would doubtless have chosen another season, and have provided for him a smoother sea and fairer breeze, not in avoiding dangers, but in surmounting them.

Paul seems to have had early apprehensions of the perils they were likely to meet with, and before he received any revelation on the subject, advised them to stop at Crete. This advice was, however, overruled by the shipmaster and the navigators; and stormy winds and darksome skies were employed as a sort of ground whereon to display the glory of God. Paul had earnestly pressed what he thought a measure of safety, but in vain; and began now, possibly, to indulge the most painful foreboding, both as to his own safety, and that of his companions. Perhaps, also, he might have had perplexing fears, relative to an object which was evidently near his heart, he might “preach the Gospel to them that were,

namely, that at Rome also,” and bear witness to his crucified Master in the court of Nero. But all was safe; the plan was laid by infinite wisdom, and the most adverse circumstances were the appointed means for its accomplishment. To calm his mind, and support his faith, an angel is commissioned from the skies, and brings him the assurance—‘‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar; and lo! God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.’ Paul, not willing to keep the good tidings to himself, (as what good man could?) next morning came forth in the midst of all the ship’s company and related the vision. ‘And now I exhort you, be of good cheer, (said he,) for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you.

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,” and he gave me this assurance—namely, what the angel had said to him, as above am, (says he,) and whom I serve.” Those who faithfully serve God assuredly belong to him; and those who have truly given themselves up to him, will assuredly study in all things to obey and serve him. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Here we must be allowed to add, that faith in the word of God is the way to Christian consolation; and the want of this, the cause of our dejection, discomfiture, and sometimes despair. We have only to look to the evidence, that the assertion on which we build is from himself, and we cannot rest too firmly, or act too boldly on it.

Ver. 27—44. The shipwreck of Paul and his companions, with their safe escape to shore.—Dreadfully distressing is it to think of a whole ship’s company, of 276 souls, fasting, that is, taking no proper meal, for fourteen days together; for landmen know little of seamen’s hardships; however, when Paul had obtained a divine assurance that they should all get safe to land, he strongly urged them to take both bread and meat, and himself set the example, giving ‘‘thanks to God” in presence of them all. By this, it appears, they were encouraged to follow his example, and, having eaten all their thought proper, threw the rest of their provisions into the sea, where they had some time before (ver. 19) cast every thing they could then. The ship’s crew, indeed, made an attempt to escape with their long-boat, and leave the rest to their fate; but St.

Paul having told the centurion, that except these should abide in the ship none could be saved, the soldiers prevented them, by cutting Ver. 38. The wheat into the sea.—[The Romans imported corn from Egypt, by way of Alexandria, to which this ship belonged; for a curious account of which, see Bryant’s Treatise on the Euroclydon.]—Bagster. Ver. 39. A certain creek with a shore.—Doddridge, ‘‘with a (level)

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 1. We should sail.—Some ancient copies and versions read, “He should sail,” referring to Paul only; yet Luke and Aristarchus appear, by ver. 2, to have gone with him. Of Aristarchus, see Chap., xix. 29; xx. 4. (Colossians 4:10). Philemon 24.—Italy—[Is a well-known country of Europe, bounded by the Adriatic or Venetian Gulf on the east, the Tyrrhene or Tuscan sea on the west, and by the Alps on the north.]—Bagster.—Certain other POS ne proves that prisoners of importance used to be sent from — to Rome.—Of Augustus’ band.—Doddridge, ‘‘Of the Augustan cohort.” * Ver. 2. Adramyttium—(Now Adramyti, was a maritime city of Mysia in Asia Minor, seated at the foot of Mount Ida, on a gulf of the same name, opposite the island of Lesbos.

]|—Bagster. Ver. 4. Cyprus.—One of the largest islands in the Mediterranean. See (Acts 13:4-12), Ver. 5. Myra—Was a city of Mysia, situated on a hill, 20 stadia from the sea. Ver. 6. Alexandria—(Now Scanderoon, was a celebrated city and port of Egypt, built by Alexander the Great, situated on the Mediterranean and the lake Mareotis, opposite the island of Pharos, and about 12 miles from the western branch of the Nile.)—Bagster. Ver. 7. Cnidus—[Was a town and promontory of Caria in Asia Minor, opposite Crete, now Cape Krio.—Crete.—Now called Candia, or Candy, is a large island in the Mediterranean, 250 miles in length, 50 in breadth, and 600 in circumference, lying at the entrance of the Aegean sea.—Salmone—Now Salamina, was a city and cape on the east of the island of Crete.]—Bagster.

Ver. 8. Fair Havens.—(The Fair Havens, still known by the same name, was a port on the south-eastern part of Crete, near Lasea, of which nothing now remains.)—Bagster. Ver. 9. The fast was now already past—i.e. The great day of atonement, which occurred in the last week of our September—a dangerous time for sailing in the Mediterranean. Ver. 11. The master…. of the ship—i.e. the pilot who steered the vessel. Ver. 12. Phenice—[Was a sea-port on the western side of Crete; poorly defended from the fury of the winds by a high and winding shore, forming semicircle, and perhaps by some small island in front; leaving two openings, one towards the south-west, and the other towards the north-west.

]—Bagster. Ver. 14. Arose against it.—Query, what? 1. Against the ship? So Doddridge, Wolfius, Schleusner, &c. Or, 2. Against the island Crete, mentioned in the preceding verse? Kinneel, Townsend, &c.—Euroclydon.—Dr. Shaw explains this of the wind called a Levanter, which blows in all directions. The learned Bentley (who is followed by Hammond and others) contends here for the reading of the Alexandrian MS. and Vulgate, Euroquilo, the N. E. wind; but this is opposed by Bryant and Brenell. Ver. 15. Could not bear ae into the wind.—The original properly signifies to bear up; or, in the sea phrase, ‘‘to luff up against the wind;” or to look the storm in the face. On the prow of the ancient ships was placed a round piece of wood, called the eye of the ship, from being fixed in its foredeck.

Ver. 16. Clauda—(Called Cauda, and Gaudos by Mela and Pliny, and Claudos by Ptolemy, and now Gozo, according to Doctor Shaw, is a small island, situated at the south-western extremity of the island of Crete.)—B. Ver. 17. Undergirding the ship—i.e. twisting the cable several times round the vessel, to prevent its bulging. _Ogpt. Lic. No. 1457.: Ver. 20. Neither sun nor stars.—Before the mariner’s compass was discovered, peep by these they sailed—— Was then taken.—Campbell, ‘‘was thenceforth taken,” &c. Ver. 27. Driven up and down in Adria.—Doddridge, “In the Adriatic sea,”—{Adria, strictly speaking was the name of the Adriatic gulf, now the Gulf of Venice, an arm of the Mediterranean, about 200 miles long, and 50 broad, stretching along the eastern shores of Italy on one side, and Dalmatia, Sclavonia, and Macedonia, on the other.

But the term Adria was extended far beyond the limits of this gulf, and appears to have been hiked to an indeterminate extent of sea, as we say, generally, the Levant. It is observable, that the sacred historian does not say in the Adriatic gulf, but in Adria, which, says Hesychius, was the same as the Ionian sea; and Strabo says, that the “Ionian gulf” is a part of that now called the Adriatic.” But not only the Ionian but even the Sicilian sea, and part of that which washes Crete, were called the Adriatic.]—Bagster. Ver. 29. Coa anchors.—Rather, a ‘four-fluked anchor,” or an anchor with four points, to hold the ground. Such are described both by Bruce and Buckingham.—Out of the stern.—It is evident the ancients sometimes did this: and Jane Oe pi the jae Egyptian vessels always carry their anchors at their stern.

Orient. Lit. No. 1458.:, an Yar: 32. Let her fall off—i.e. let her drift away, that the sailors might not use it for escape. Ver. 33. This is the fourteenth day.—Some render it, “all this fourth qe (Markland in Bowyer,) confining the fasting to one day; but this is a hardship scarcely worth naming. Ver. 34. Not a hair.—See (Matthew 10:30-31). - 1235