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They sail from Myra,

A. M. cir. 4066.
A. D. cir. 62.

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7 And when we had sailed slowly || mage, not only of the lading and ship, An. Olymp. many days, and scarce were come but also of our lives. cir. CCX. 2. over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under a Crete; over against Salmone;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, b because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much da

с

■ Or, Candy. The fast was on the tenth day of

Verse 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 Crete, and a promontory of the same name.

A. D. cir. 62.
An. Olymp.

11 Nevertheless the centurion be- cir. CCX, 2. lieved the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 ¶ And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phoenice, and there to winter; which is a haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose,

the seventh month, Lev. 23. 27, 29. Or, injury.

Verse 11. The centurion believed the master] Tw xubeρvry, the pilot :—and owner of the ship; Tw vavnλypw, 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 the captain; and the centurion had the power to cause them to proceed on their voyage, or to go into port, as he pleased; Over against Salmone.] We have already seen that the as he had other state-prisoners on board; and probably the island formerly called Crete, is now called Candia; and Sal-ship itself was freighted for government. Paul told them, if mone or Sammon, or Samonium, now called cape Solomon, or Salamina, was a promontory on the eastern coast of that

island.

Verse 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 Lasca.] There is no city of this name now remaining: the Codex Alexandrinus reads Aλarca, Alassa.

they proceeded, they would be in danger of shipwreck; the pilot and captain said there was no danger; and the centurion, believing them, commanded the vessel to proceed on her voyage. It is likely that they were now in the port called The Fair havens.

Verse 12. Might attain to Phoenice] It appears that the Fair havens were at the eastern end of the island; and they wished to reach Phonice, which lay further towards the west.

Verse 9. Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast Toward the south-west and north-west.] Kara Aiba nat was now already past] It is generally allowed that the fast нaтa Xwρox. The libs certainly means the south-west, called mentioned here, was that of the great day of atonement, which || libs, from Lybia, from which it blows towards the Ægean was always celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month, sea. The chorus, or caurus, means a north-west wind. which would answer to the latter end of our September; | Virgil mentions this, Geor. iii. ver. 356. see Levit. xvi. 29. xxiii. 27, &c. as this was about the time of the autumnal equinox, when the Mediterranean sea was sufficiently tempestuous; we may suppose this feast alone, to be intended. To sail after this feast was proverbially dangerous among the ancient Jews. See proofs in Schoettgen.

Verse 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.

Semper hiems, semper spirantes frigora cauri.
"It is always winter; and the cauri, the north-westers,
ever blowing cold.”

Dr. Shaw lays down this, and other winds, in a Greek com-
pass, on his map; in which he represents the drifting of St.
Paul's vessel from Crete, till it was wrecked at the island of
Melita. Travels, p. 331. 4to. edit.

Verse 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 sail from Crete, and meet

A. D. cir. 62.

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A. M.cir. 4066. loosing thence, they sailed close by against it a it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. An. Olymp.

Crete.

cir. CCX. 2. 14 But not long after there arose

15 And when the ship was caught,

A. M.cir. 4066. A. D. cir. 62. An. Olymp. cir. CCX. 2.

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They sailed close by Crete.] Kept as near the coast as they could. See the track on the Map.

he

says,

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 blow in all directions, from N. E. round by the E. to S. E. The euroclydon, from the circumstances which attended it, seems to have varied very little from the true east point; for, as the ship could not bear avropaλue, loof up, against it, ver. 15. but they were obliged to let her drive, we cannot conceive, as there are no remarkable currents in that part of the sea, and as the rudder could be of little use, that it could take any other course than as the winds directed it. Accordingly, in the description of the storm, we find that the vessel was first of all under the island Clauda, ver. 16. which is a little to the southward of the parallel of that part of the coast of Crete, from whence it may be supposed to have been driven; then it was tossed along the bottom of the gulph of Adria, ver. 27. and afterwards broken to pieces, ver. 41. at Melita, which is a little to the northward of the parallel above mentioned; so that the direction and course of this particular euroclydon, seems to have been first at east by north; and afterwards, pretty nearly east by south." These winds, called now levanters, and formerly it appears euroclydon, were no determinate winds, blowing always from one point of the compass: euroclydon was probably then, what levanter is now, the name of any tempestuous wind in that sea, blowing from the north-east round by east to the south-east; and therefore St. Luke says, there rose against it, (i. e. the vessel), a tempestuous wind called euroclydon; which manner of speaking shews, that he no more considered it to be confined to any one particular point of the compass, than our sailors do their levanter. Dr. Shaw derives ευροκλύδων, from ευρου κλυδων, an eastern tempest, which is the very meaning affixed to a levanter at the present day.

The reading of the Codex Alexandrinus, is supaxuλwv, the north-east wind, which is the same with the euro-aquilo of the Vulgate. This reading is approved by several eminent critics; but Dr. Shaw, in the place referred to above, has proved it to be insupportable.

Dr. Shaw mentions a custom which he has several times seen practised by the Mohammedans in these levanters :

After having tied to the mast, or ensign-staff, some apposite passage from the Koran; they collect money, sacrifice a sheep, and throw them both into the sea. This custom, he observes, was practised some thousand years ago by the Greeks: thus Aristophanes

Αρν, αρνα μελαιναν, παιδε, εξενεγκατε
Τοφος γαρ εκβαίνειν παρασκευάζεται.

Ran. Act. iii. s. 2. ver. 871.

A lamb boy, sacrifice a black lamb immediately:
For a tempest is about to burst forth.

Virgil refers to the same custom

Sic fatus, meritos aris mactavit honores:
Taurum Neptuno; taurum tibi pulcher Apollo.
Nigram Hyemi pecudem, Zephyris felicibus albam.
En. iii. ver. 118,

Thus he spake, and then sacrificed on the altars the proper eucharistic victims:

A bull to Neptune, and a bull to thee, O beautiful Apollo ;
A black sheep to the north wind, and a white sheep to the west.
And again-

Tres Eryci vitulos, et tempestatibus agnam,
Cadere deinde jubet.

En. iii. ver. 772. Then he commanded three calves to be sacrificed to Eryx, and a lamb to the tempests.

In the days of the prophet Jonah, the mariners in this sea were accustomed to do the same. Then they offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and vowed vows; Jonah i. 16. See Shaw's Travels, 4to. edit. p. 329-33.

The heathens supposed that these tempests were occasioned by evil spirits; and they sacrificed a black sheep, in order to drive the dæmon away. See the ancient Scholiast

on Aristophanes, in the place cited above.

Sir George Staunton (Embassy to China, Vol. II. p. 403.) mentions a similar custom among the Chinese, and gives an instance of it, when the yachts and barges of the embassy were crossing the Yellow River :

"The amazing velocity with which the Yellow River runs at the place where the yacht and barges of the embassy were to cross it, rendered, according to the notions of the Chinese crews, a sacrifice necessary to the spirit of the river, in order to insure a safe passage over it. For this purpose, the master, surrounded by the crew of the yacht, assembled upon the forecastle; and, holding as a victim in his hand a cock, wrung off his head, which committing to the stream, he consecrated the vessel with the blood spouting from the body,

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by sprinkling it upon the deck, the masts, the anchors, and the doors of the apartments; and stuck upon them a few of the feathers of the bird. Several bowls of meat were then brought forward, and ranged in a line across the deck. Before these were placed a cup of oil, one filled with tea, one with some ardent spirit, and a fourth with salt; the captain making, at the same time, three profound inclinations of his body, with hands uplifted, and muttering a few words, as if of solicitation to the Deity. The loo, or brazen drum, was beaten in the mean time forcibly; lighted matches were held towards heaven; papers, covered with tin or silver leaf, were burnt; and crackers fired off in great abundance by the crew. The captain afterwards made libations to the river, by emptying into it from the vessel's prow, the several cups of liquids; and concluded with throwing in also that which held the salt. All the ceremonies being over, and the bowls of meat removed, the people feasted on it in the steerage; and launched afterward, with confidence, the yacht into the current. As soon as she had reached the opposite shore, the captain returned thanks to Heaven, with three inclinations of the body.

"Beside the daily offering and adoration at the altar erected on the left, or honourable side of the cabin in every Chinese vessel, the solemn sacrifices above described are made to obtain the benefit of a fair wind, or to avert any impending danger. The particular spot upon the forecastle, where the principal ceremonies are performed, is not willingly suffered to be occupied or defiled by any person on

board."

Verse 15. And when the ship was caught] EuvapralevTOS δε του πλοίου. The ship was violently hurried away before this strong levanter; so that it was impossible for her avroape, to face the wind, to turn her prow to it, so as to shake it out, as I have heard sailors say; and have seen them successfully perform in violent tempests and squalls.

We let her drive.] We were obliged to let her go right before this tempestuous wind, whithersoever it might drive her. Verse 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 over board; or, if the boat was in tow, at the

stern of the vessel, which is probable; they found it very difficult to save it from being staved, or broken to pieces. Verse 17. Undergirding the ship] This method has been used even in modern times. 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 starting: as many rounds as they please may be thus taken about the vessel. An instance of this kind is mentioned in lord Anson's voyage round the world. Speaking of a Spanish man of war in a storm: They were obliged to throw overboard all their upper-deck guns; and take six turns of the cable round the ship, to prevent her opening." P. 24. 4to edit.

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The quicksands] Els Tyy σUpTiv, into the syrt. There were two famous syrts, or quicksands, on the African coast; one called the syrtis major, lying near the coast of Cyrene; and the other, the syrtis minor, not far from Tripoli. Both these, like our Goodwin Sands, were proverbial for their multitude of shipwrecks. From the direction in which this vessel was driven, it is not at all likely that they were in danger of drifting on any of these syrts, as the vessel does not appear to have been driven near the African coast through the whole of her voyage. And as to what is said, ver. 27. of their being driven up and down in Adria, diapepoμew ε Tw Aspig, it must mean their being tossed about near to Sicily, the sea of which is called Adria, according to the old Scholiast upon Dionysius's Periegesis, ver. 85. 7 Σικελικον τούτο το πέλαγος Αδριαν καλουσι• they call this Sicilian sea, Adria. We are therefore to consider that the apprehension expressed in ver. 17. is to be taken generally: they were afraid of falling into some shoals, not knowing in what part of the sea they then were; for they had seen neither sun nor stars for many days; and they had no compass, and consequently could not tell in what direction they were now driving. It is wrong therefore to mark the course of this voyage, as if the vessel had been driven across the whole of the Mediterranean, down to the African coast, and near to the syrts, or shoal-banks; to which there is scarcely any reason to believe, she had once approximated, during the whole of this dangerous voyage.

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19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20 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.

predicts the loss of the ship.

A. D. cir. 62.

cheer for there shall be no loss of A.M.cir.4066. any man's life among you, but of the ship.

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23 For there stood by me angel of God, whose I am, serve,

Au. Olymp.

cir. CCX. 2.

this night, the

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24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

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25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

21 But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good 27 But when the fourteenth night was come,

a Jonah 1. 5. ch. 23. 11.- - Dan. 6. 16. Rom. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 3.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

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were; when it is evident they could carry no sail at all, and must have gone under bare poles. Some think that lowering|| the yards, and taking down the top-mast, is what is intended; but in such a perilous situation, this would have been of little service. Others think, letting go their main, or sheet anchor, is what is meant; but this seems without foundation, as it would have been foolishness in the extreme, to have hoped to ride out the storm in such a sea. Passing by a variety of meanings, I suppose cutting away, or by some means letting down the mast, is the action intended to be expressed here; and this would be the most likely means of saving the vessel from foundering.

Verse 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.

Verse 19. The tackling of the ship.] Try oneury; all supernumerary anchors, cables, baggage, &c.

Verse 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.

Verse 21. After long abstinence] Пoλλys de acitias uπap2000s. 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, ver. 34-38. The vessel was a corn vessel; and they had not as yet thrown the wheat into the sea, see ver. 38. And we find they had food sufficient to eat, but were discouraged, and so utterly hopeless of life, that they had no appetite for food: besides, the storm was so great, that it is not likely they could dress any thing.

Have gained this harm and loss.] It seems strange to talk of gaining a loss; but it is a correct rendering of the original xedeal, which expresses the idea of acquisition, whether of good or evil. Those who wish it, may see this use of the term well illustrated by Bp. Pearce, in his note on this verse. The harm was damage to the vessel; the loss was that of the merchandise, furniture, &c.

Verse 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: ver. 20.

Ves se 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 what he spoke; and the fulfilment so exactly coinciding with the prediction, must have shewn these heathens, that the God, whom Paul served, must be widely different from theirs.

Verse 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 shewn to Julius the centurion, that his prisoner was an injured and innocent man.

Verse 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.

Verse 27. Driven up and down in Adria] See the note

on ver. 17.

Deemed that they drew near to some country] They judged

After long abstinence, they take meat,

A. M. cir.4066.
A. D. cir. 62.

cir. CCX. 2.

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as we were driven up and down 32 Then the soldiers cut off the A. M. cir. 4066,

An. Olymp. in Adria, about midnight the ship-|| men deemed that they drew near to some country;

A. D. cir. 62. An. Olymp. cir. CCX. 2.

ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, say28 And sounded, and found it twenty fa-ing, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

thoms and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

* 1 Kings 1. 52. Matt. 10. 30. Luke 12. 7. & 21. 18.- - 1 Sam. 9. 13. Matt. 15. 36. Mark 8.6. John 6.11. 1 Tim. 4. 3, 4.

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, &c.

Verse 28. And sounded] Boxicartes, heaving the lead. Twenty fathoms] Opyvias eixosi, about forty yards in depth. The opyvia is thus defined by the Etymologicon: Σημαίνει την εκτασιν των χειρών, συν τῳ πλατεί του ήθους• It signifies the extent of the arms, together with the breadth of the breast. This is exactly the quantum of our fathom.

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, the shallower the water grew; therefore they dropt the anchor a-stern, as even one ship's length might be of much consequence.

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 leave the prisoners and the passengers to their fate. This was timely noticed by the pious and prudent apostle; who, while simply depending on the promise of God, was watching for the safety and comfort of all.

Verse 31. Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.] God, who has promised to save your lives, pro

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34. 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.

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35 And 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.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

• Ch. 2. 41. & 7. 14. Rom. 13. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 20.

mises 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 sailors, who only understand how to work the ship, leave it, ye cannot escape. Therefore, prevent their present design. On the economy of Divine Providence, see the notes on chap. xxiii.

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.

Verse 33. While the day was coming 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 was eaten by any man for what appetite could men have for food, who every moment had death before their eyes?

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.

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 Heas; nor was there any necessity for such a measure.

thens

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