the acts of the apostles-第74节

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bound　the　apostle。　All　were　guilty　of　grievous　crimes。　These　offenders　had
that　day　heard　the　offer　of　salvation　through　the　name　of　Christ。　One；　at
least；　had　been　almost　persuaded　to　accept　the　grace　and　pardon　offered。　But
Agrippa　put　aside　the　proffered　mercy；　refusing　to　accept　the　cross　of　a
crucified　Redeemer。

The　king's　curiosity　was　satisfied；　and；　rising　from　his　seat；　he　signified
that　the　interview　was　at　an　end。　As　the　assembly　dispersed；　they　talked
among　themselves；　saying；　〃This　man　doeth　nothing　worthy　of　death　or　of
bonds。〃

Though　Agrippa　was　a　Jew；　he　did　not　share　the　bigoted　zeal　and　blind
prejudice　of　the　Pharisees。　〃This　man；〃　he　said　to　Festus；　〃might　have　been
set　at　liberty；　if　he　had　not　appealed　unto　Caesar。〃　But　the　case　had　been
referred　to　that　higher　tribunal；　and　it　was　now　beyond　the　jurisdiction　of
either　Festus　or　Agrippa。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（439）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　42

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Voyage　and　Shipwreck


At　last　Paul　was　on　his　way　to　Rome。　〃When　it　was　determined；〃　Luke　writes；
〃that　we　should　sail　into　Italy；　they　delivered　Paul　and　certain　other
prisoners　unto　one　named　Julius；　a　centurion　of　Augustus'　band。　And　entering
into　a　ship　of　Adramyttium；　we　launched；　meaning　to　sail　by　the　coasts　of
Asia；　one　Aristarchus；　a　Macedonian　of　Thessalonica；　being　with　us。〃

In　the　first　century　of　the　Christian　Era　traveling　by　sea　was　attended　with
peculiar　hardship　and　peril。　Mariners　directed　their　course　largely　by　the
position　of　the　sun　and　stars；　and　when　these　did　not　appear；　and　there　were
indications　of　storm；　the　owners　of　vessels　were　fearful　of　venturing　into
the　open　sea。　During　a　portion　of　the　year；　safe　navigation　was　almost
impossible。

The　apostle　Paul　was　now　called　upon　to　endure　the　trying　experiences　that
would　fall　to　his　lot　as　a　prisoner　in　chains　during　the　long　and　tedious
voyage　to　Italy。　One

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circumstance　greatly　lightened　the　hardship　of　his　lothe　was　permitted　the
companionship　of　Luke　and　Aristarchus。　In　his　letter　to　the　Colossians　he
afterward　referred　to　the　latter　as　his　〃fellow　prisoner〃　（Colossians　4：10）；
but　it　was　from　choice　that　Aristarchus　shared　Paul's　bondage；　that　he　might
minister　to　him　in　his　afflictions。

The　voyage　began　prosperously。　The　following　day　they　cast　anchor　in　the
harbor　of　Sidon。　Here　Julius；　the　centurion；　〃courteously　entreated　Paul；〃
and　being　informed　that　there　were　Christians　in　the　place；　〃gave　him
liberty　to　go　unto　his　friends　to　refresh　himself。〃　This　permission　was
greatly　appreciated　by　the　apostle；　who　was　in　feeble　health。

Upon　leaving　Sidon；　the　ship　encountered　contrary　winds；　and　being　driven
from　a　direct　course；　its　progress　was　slow。　At　Myra；　in　the　province　of
Lycia；　the　centurion　found　a　large　Alexandrian　ship；　bound　for　the　coast　of
Italy；　and　to　this　he　immediately　transferred　his　prisoners。　But　the　winds
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

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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。

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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

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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