were still contrary； and the ship's progress was difficult。 Luke writes；
〃When we had sailed slowly many days； and scarce were come over against
Cnidus； the wind not suffering us； we sailed under Crete； over against
Salmone； and； hardly passing it； came unto a place which is called the Fair
Havens。〃
At Fair Havens they were compelled to remain for some time； waiting for
favoring winds。 Winter was approaching rapidly； 〃sailing was now dangerous；〃
and those in charge of the vessel had to give up hope of reaching their
destination before the season for travel by sea should be
441
closed for the year。 The only question now to be decided was； whether to
remain at Fair Havens； or attempt to reach a more favorable place in which
to winter。
This question was earnestly discussed； and was finally referred by the
centurion to Paul； who had won the respect of both sailors and soldiers。 The
apostle unhesitatingly advised remaining where they were。 〃I perceive；〃 he
said； 〃that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage； not only of the
lading and ship； but also of our lives。〃 But 〃the master and the owner of
the ship；〃 and the majority of passengers and crew； were unwilling to accept
this counsel。 Because the haven in which they had anchored 〃was not
commodious to winter in； the more part advised to depart thence also； if by
any means they might attain to Phenice； and there to winter； which is an
haven of Crete； and lieth toward the southwest and northwest。〃
The centurion decided to follow the judgment of the majority。 Accordingly；
〃when the south wind blew softly；〃 they set sail from Fair Havens； in the
hope that they would soon reach the desired harbor。 〃But not long after
there arose 。 。 。 a tempestuous wind；〃 〃the ship was caught； and could not
bear up into the wind。〃
Driven by the tempest； the vessel neared the small island of Clauda； and
while under its shelter the sailors made ready for the worst。 The lifeboat；
their only means of escape in case the ship should founder； was in tow and
liable to be dashed in pieces any moment。 Their first work was to hoist this
boat on board。 All possible precautions were then
442
taken to strengthen the ship and prepare it to withstand the tempest。 The
scant protection afforded by the little island did not avail them long； and
soon they were again exposed to the full violence of the storm。
All night the tempest raged； and notwithstanding the precautions that had
been taken； the vessel leaked。 〃The next day they lightened the ship。〃 Night
came again； but the wind did not abate。 The storm…beaten ship； with its
shattered mast and rent sails； was tossed hither and thither by the fury of
the gale。 Every moment it seemed that the groaning timbers must give way as
the vessel reeled and quivered under the tempest's shock。 The leak increased
rapidly； and passengers and crew worked continually at the pumps。 There was
not a moment's rest for any on board。 〃The third day；〃 writes Luke； 〃we cast
out with our own hands the tackling of the ship。 And when neither sun nor
stars in many days appeared； and no small tempest lay on us； all hope that
we should be saved was then taken away。〃
For fourteen days they drifted under a sunless and starless heaven。 The
apostle； though himself suffering physically； had words of hope for the
darkest hour； a helping hand in every emergency。 He grasped by faith the arm
of Infinite Power； and his heart was stayed upon God。 He had no fears for
himself； he knew that God would preserve him to witness at Rome for the
truth of Christ。 But his heart yearned with pity for the poor souls around
him； sinful； degraded； and unprepared to die。 As he earnestly pleaded with
God to spare their lives； it was revealed to him that his prayer was
granted。
443
Taking advantage of a lull in the tempest； Paul stood forth on the deck and；
lifting up his voice； said： 〃Sirs； ye should have hearkened unto me； and not
have loosed from Crete； and to have gained this harm and loss。 And now I
exhort you to be of good cheer： for there shall be no loss of any man's life
among you； but of the ship。 For there stood by me this night the angel of
God； whose I am； and whom I serve； saying； Fear not； Paul； thou must be
brought before Caesar： and； lo； God hath given thee all them that sail with
thee。 Wherefore； sirs； be of good cheer： for I believe God； that it shall be
even as it was told me。 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island。〃
At these words； hope revived。 Passengers and crew roused from their apathy。
There was much yet to be done； and every effort within their power must be
put forth to avert destruction。
It was on the fourteenth night of tossing on the black； heaving billows；
that 〃about midnight〃 the sailors； hearing the sound of breakers； 〃deemed
that they drew near to some country； and sounded； and found it twenty
fathoms： and when they had gone a little further； they sounded again； and
found it fifteen fathoms。 Then fearing；〃 Luke writes； 〃lest we should have
fallen upon rocks； they cast four anchors out of the stern； and wished for
the day。〃
At break of day the outlines of the stormy coast were dimly visible； but no
familiar landmarks could be seen。 So gloomy was the outlook that the heathen
sailors； losing all courage； 〃were about to flee out of the ship；〃 and
feigning to make preparations for casting 〃anchors out of the
444
foreship；〃 they had already let down the lifeboat； when Paul； perceiving
their base design； said to the centurion and the soldiers； 〃Except these
abide in the ship； ye cannot be saved。〃 The soldiers immediately 〃cut off
the ropes of the boat； and let her fall off〃 into the sea。
The most critical hour was still before them。 Again the apostle spoke words
of encouragement； and entreated all； both sailors and passengers； to take
some food； saying； 〃This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and
continued fasting； having taken nothing。 Wherefore I pray you to take some
meat： for this is for your health： for there shall not a hair fall from the
head of any of you。〃
〃When he had thus spoken； he took bread； and gave thanks to God in presence
of them all： and when he had broken it； he began to eat。〃 Then that worn and
discouraged company of two hundred and seventy…five souls； who but for Paul
would have become desperate； joined with the apostle in partaking of food。
〃And when they had eaten enough； they lightened the ship； and cast out the
wheat into the sea。〃
Daylight had now fully come； but they could see nothing by which to
determine their whereabouts。 However； 〃they discovered a certain creek with
a shore； into the which they were minded； if it were possible； to thrust in
the ship。 And when they had taken up the anchors； they committed themselves
unto the sea； and loosed the rudder bands； and hoisted up the mainsail to
the wind； and made toward shore。 And falling into a place where two seas
met； they ran the ship aground； and the fore part stuck fast； and remained
unmovable；
445
but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves。〃
Paul and the other prisoners were now threatened by a fate more terrible
than shipwreck。 The soldiers saw that while endeavoring to reach land it
would be impossible for them to keep their prisoners in charge。 Every man
would have all he could do to save himself。 Yet if any of the prisoners were
missing； the lives of those who were responsible for them would be
forfeited。 Hence the soldiers desired to put all the prisoners to death。 The
Roman law sanctioned this cruel policy； and the plan would have been
executed at once； but for him to whom all alike were under deep obligation。
Julius the centurion knew that Paul had been instrumental in saving the
lives of all on board； and； moreover； convinced that the Lord was with him；
he feared to do him harm。 He therefore 〃commanded that they which could swim
should cast themselves first into the sea； and get to land： and the rest；
some on boards； and some on broken pieces of the ship。 And so it came to
pass； that they escaped all safe to land。〃 When the roll was called； not one
was missing。
The shipwrecked crew were kindly received by the barbarous people of Melita。
〃They kindled a fire；〃 Luke writes； 〃and received us everyone； because of
the present rain； and because of the cold。〃 Paul was among those who were
active in ministering to the comfort of others。 Having gathered 〃a bundle of
sticks；〃 he 〃laid them on the fire；〃 when a viper came forth 〃out of the
heat； and fastened on his hand。〃 The bystanders were horror…stricken； and
seeing
446
by his chain that Paul was a prisoner； they said to one another； 〃No doubt
this man is a murderer； whom； though he hath escaped the sea； yet vengeance
suffereth not to live。〃 But Paul shook off the creature into the fire and
felt no harm。 Knowing its venomous nature； the people looked for him to fall
down at any moment in terrible agony。 〃But after they had looked a great
while； and saw no harm come to him； they changed their minds； and said that
he was a god。〃
During the three months that the ship's company remained at Melita； Paul and
his fellow laborers improved many opportunities to preach the gospel。 In a
remarkable manner the Lord wrought through them。 For Paul's sake the entire
shipwrecked company were treated with great kindness； all their wants were
supplied； and upon leaving Melita they were liberally provided with
everything needful for their voyage。 The chief incidents of their stay are
thus briefly related by Luke：
〃In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island； whose
name was Publius； who received us； and lodged us three days courteously。 And
it came to pass； that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a
bloody flux： to whom Paul entered in； and prayed； and laid his hands on him；
and healed him。 So when this was done； others also； which had diseases in
the island； came； and were healed： who also honored us with many h