The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 1
SECT. I.
FEſtus and his Council determining now to ſend Paul to Rome, and therein (though acting unjuſtly, conſidering the innocence of the Priſoner, who ought to have been acquitted) fulfilling Gods Counſel, [ſee Act. 23.11.]. He is delivered to Julius a Centurion, (of the Imperial Band), with ſome other Priſoners, (who poſſibly were great Malefactors), to be conveyed thither. Julius having received this charge; put him, and the other Priſoners into a ſhip of Adramyttium, (a Port-Town of Myſia), which (being as 'tis probable a trading ſhip) was to ſail along by the Coaſts of Aſia. Ariſtarchus a Macedonian, as alſo Luke and Timothy freely accompanied the Apoſtle in this Voyage. As they ſailed along, they touched at Sidon, where Julius was very civil to Paul, and permitted him to go on ſhore, and viſit his friends there, and refreſh himſelf. Looſing from thence, they were forced to ſail under Cyprus, becauſe the winds were contrary; and when they had coaſted by Cilicia, and Pamphylia, they came to Myra, a City of Lyſia, where this Ship finiſhed its Voyage. Thence in a Ship of Alexandria bound for Italy, they paſſed between thoſe Promontories of Gnidus, and Salmone, and came at laſt, with ſome difficulty, to a part of Crete, call'd the Fair Havens. This Port being ſomething incommodious to winter in, moſt of the paſſengers adviſe to put out from thence, and to endeavour to gain Phoenice, another Haven of Crete; but they having been thus long at Sea, (the Summer being now gone, yea the great Faſt of expiation, which was on the tenth day of the ſeventh Month, being paſt, after which the Sea was not ſailed in by the Ancients until the beginning of March, becauſe of the ſhortneſs of the d…ys, and the tempeſts which often ariſe between thoſe two times), Paul not only contemplating the danger of the ſeaſon, but being inſpir'd by the Spirit of God, admoniſhed them of the danger of the Voyage, if they ſhould now put out to Sea again; ſhewing them, it would be hazzardous, not only to the Ship, and the goods in it, but even to the lives of the men alſo. Therefore he adviſed them, to ſtay and winter where they now were. But his words prevailed nothing, becauſe the Maſter of the ſhip (who was thought better skill'd in his own Art) adviſed otherwiſe. The Southwind therefore blowing at firſt, ſoftly, and ſeeming to favour their deſign, they looſed from thence, and ſailed along by Crete; but a little after, there aroſe a tempeſtuous wind, call'd Euroclydon (a)Fuit hic ventus conjunctus (ut etiam v. 20.) cum denſiſſimis tenebris adeo ut nec ſol interdiu, nec noctu ullum ſidus, appareret; id quod tanto gravius fuit navigantibus illo tempore, quo artificium pixidis nauticae nondum erat inventum, ſed navis ex ſolo ſyderum conſpectu erat dirigenda. Acceſſit hyemalis pluvia cum nive & grandine, ut ſolet in hyeme: duravit denique haec tempeſtas complures dies, perpetuóque ſine interruptione incubuit uſque in noctem decimam-quartam., by which they were carried to a little Iſland call'd Clauda, and then being caught and toſſed by that great tempeſt they had much ado to ſave the Boat, and draw it into the Ship. Which done, they undergirt the Ship, and (fearing leſt they ſhould fall into the Quickſands), they ſtruck ſail, and ſo were driven. Then they ligh… ned the Ship, by caſting ſome of the goods overbord; and on the third day they were forced to caſt into the Sea the furniture of the Ship: And neither Sun nor Stars for many days appearing, and the weather being ſo exceeding tempeſtuous, they utterly deſpair'd of eſcaping. Now they having been for fourteen days together thus toſſed with tempeſts, and under ſuch fear of death, that they had not obſerved ordinary meals, Paul at laſt ſpake unto them, telling them, they ſhould have harkened unto him, and ſo they might have prevented, and avoided this hazzard. However he bids them be of good chear; for no man among them ſhould periſh, only the Ship would be loſt. For God (whoſe Servant he is, and who is pleaſed to own him, and protect him) had ſent him a meſſage by a holy Angel, that he muſt be brought before Nero the Roman Emperor, and that he would, for his ſake(b)Hoc Deo ſolenne ut propter paucos pios pareat impiis in temporalibus judiciis, Gen. 18.32. 2 Reg. 7.14. Jer 5.1. Imo propter paucos pios Deus ſaepe procraſtinat judicia publica vel etiam au…ert., preſerve the lives of all thoſe that were with him in the Ship. The Apoſtle further declares, how confident he was, that this that was revealed to him from the Lord, ſhould be made good. Yet he telleth them, that for all this, they muſt expect to be caſt upon an Iſland.
They having therefore for fourteen days together been thus toſs'd in the Adriatick Sea, (not ſtrictly ſo call'd, but in a large ſenſe), at laſt the Mariners thought they drew near ſome Country, and by letting down their plummet, and ſounding, they found it at firſt twenty fathoms, and trying again, they found it fifteen fathoms, which was an argument to them they were near a ſhore. But it being night, and they apprehending danger, leſt they ſhould fall upon ſhelves for want of light to guide them, they durſt go no further, but caſt four anchors out of the Stern of the Ship, and ſo earneſtly expected the day. But in the mean time, the Mariners let down the Boat into the Sea, (which before they had haled up into the Ship), under colour, as if they would have brought Anchors out of the Prow, or foremoſt part of the Ship, but intended therein to make their eſcape, fearing a Ship-wrack, and to leave all the reſt to ſhift for themſelves. Paul perceiving this, he told the Centurion and the Souldiers, that though God had promiſed to preſerve them, yet they muſt not expect it, without uſing due means for their own preſervation, which was to ſtay the Mariners in the Ship, whoſe help and diligence was eſpecially needful to them on ſuch an occaſion. Hereupon the Souldiers, to prevent the Mariners deſign, cut the Ropes of the Boat, and let it fall into the Sea. Then Paul while the day was coming on, conſidering that the company in the Ship having been in ſo perpetual danger, and fear of being caſt away, for ſo many days together, had eat no ſet meals, or ſo little, that it was in a manner a continual faſting, he exhorted them now to refreſh themſelves by taking ſome food, which would the better enable them to bear the difficulties they were to grapple with, and (through the help of God) there ſhould not one hair (c)Modus eſt loquendi petitus ex V.T. 1 Sam. 14.45. 2 Sam. 14.11. 1 Reg. 1.52. Per quem in N. Teſtamento Scriptura ſolet exprimere arctam Dei vigilantiam & cuſtodiam circa pios. Mat. 10.28, 29, 30. Luc. 12.7. & 21.17, 18.fall from the head of any of them. Having thus ſpoken, he took bread, and praiſing God for it, and deſiring his bleſſing upon it, in the preſence of them all, he began to eat, and refreſh himſelf; and the reſt (being encouraged by his words and example) did the like; ſo great a comfort and bleſſing was this poor deſpiſed Priſoner to the whole company. Then taking an account of their number thy found they were two hundred ſeventy ſix ſouls in all, in the Ship. Which poſſibly was done upon the motion of Paul, that ſo after their deliverance, it might appear, how exactly his prediction [men…ioned v. 22. & 34] was verified and fulfilled. And when they had eaten what was ſufficient for them, they caſt out the lading of the Ship which yet remained, (ſee v. 18.19.), yea and the wheat it ſelf, which hitherto they had ſpared, being ſo needful for their ſuſtentation. In the morning they diſcovered Land, but knew not where they were. However they diſcovered a certain Creek, into which they reſolved, if it were poſſible, to run the Ship. Therefore taking up the Anchors, and looſing the Bands wherewith before they had made faſt the Rudder, they committed themſelves to Sea, and made towards ſhore. But falling into a place where two Seas met, they ran the Ship a-ground, ſo that the fore part ſticking faſt, the hinder-part was broken with the violence of the waves; nothing now remaining, but that every one ſhould ſhift for his life, and ſwim to ſhore, if he could, the Soldiers (ſhewing a cruel ingratitude to Paul, who had been ſo great a comfort to them, and for whoſe ſake their lifes were ſpared) advize, that the Priſoners ſhould be put to death, leſt any of them ſhould by ſwimming out make his eſcape from them. But the Centurion being willing to ſave Paul, (for whoſe ſake he himſelf was preſerved), diverted them from that barbarous purpoſe, and commanded that thoſe that could ſwim ſhould firſt caſt themſelves into the Sea, and get to land, that they might be the more helpful to others; and thoſe that could not ſwim, ſhould make uſe of bords or planks, or other broken pieces of the Ship. Which they accordingly doing, it pleaſed God that they came all ſafe to land. And when they were come thither, they found the Iſland upon which they were caſt was Malta.
Act. 27. v. 1. And when it was determined that we ſhould ſail into Italy, they delivered Paul, and certain other priſoners, unto one named Julius, a centurion of Auguſtus band.
v. 2. And entring into a ſhip of Adramyttium, we lanched, meaning to ſail by the coaſts of Aſia; one Ariſtarchus a Macedonian of Theſſalonica, being with us.
v. 3. And the next day we touched at Sidon: And Julius courteouſly entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refreſh himſelf.
v. 4. And when we had lanched from thence, we ſailed under Cyprus, becauſe the winds were contrary.
v. 5. And when we had ſailed over the ſea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra a City of Lyſia.
v. 6. And there the centurion found a ſhip of Alexandria, ſailing into Italy, and he put us therein.
v. 7. And when we had ſailed ſlowly many days, and ſcarce were come over againſt Gnidus, the wind not ſuffering us, we ſailed under Creet, over againſt Salmone,
v. 8. And hardly paſſing it, came unto a place, which is called the Fairhavens, nigh whereunto was the city of Lacea.
v. 9. Now when much time was ſpent, and when ſailing was now dangerous, becauſe the faſt was now already paſt, Paul admoniſhed them.
v. 10. And ſaid unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ſhip, but alſo of our lives.
v. 11. N…vertheleſs, the centurion believed the maſter and the owner of the ſhip, more than thoſe things which were ſpoken by Paul.
v. 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 Phenice, and there to winter, which is an haven of Creet, and lieth towand the ſouth-weſt, and north-weſt.
v. 13. And when the ſouth-wind blew ſoftly, ſuppoſing that they had obtained their purpoſe, looſing thence, they ſailed cloſe by Creet.
v. 14. But not long after there aroſe againſt it a tempeſtuous wind, call…d Euroclydon.
v. 15. A…d when the ſhip was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we l…t her drive.
v. 16. And running under a certain Iſland, which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
v. 17. Which when they had taken up, they uſed helps, under-girding the ſhip: and fearing leſt they ſhould fall into the quick-ſands, ſtrake ſail, and ſo were driven.
v. 18. And being exceedingly toſſed with a tempeſt, the next day they lighted the ſhip:
v. 19. And the third day we caſt out with our own hands the tackling of the ſhip:
v. 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.
v. 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 Creet, and to have gained this harm and loſs.
v. 22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there ſhall be no loſs of any mans life among you, but of the ſhip.
v. 23. For there ſtood by me this night the angel of God, whoſe I am, and whom I ſerve.
v. 24. Saying, Fear not Paul, thou muſt be brought before Ceſar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that ſail with thee.
v. 25. Wherefore, ſirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it ſhall be even as it was told me.
v. 26. Howbeit, we muſt be caſt upon a certain iſland.
v. 27. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria about midnight, the ſhip-men deemed that they drew neer to ſome Countrey:
v. 28. And ſounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they ſounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
v. 29. Then fearing leſt we ſhould have fallen upon rocks, they caſt four ancres out of the ſtern, and wiſhed for the day.
v. 30 And as the ſhip-men 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 ancres out of the fore-ſhip.
v. 31. Paul ſaid to the centurion, and to the ſoldiers, Except theſe abide in the ſhip, ye cannot be ſaved.
v. 32. Then the ſouldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
v. 33. And while the day was coming on, Paul beſought them all to take meat, ſaying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued faſting, having taken nothing.
v. 34. Wherefore, I pray you to take ſome meat, for this is for your health: for there ſhall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
v. 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.
v. 36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they alſo took ſome meat.
v. 37. And we were in all in the ſhip two hundred threeſcore and ſixteen ſouls.
v. 38. And when they had eaten enough, they lighted the ſhip, and caſt out the wheat into the ſea.
v. 39. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they diſcovered a certain creek, with a ſhore, into the which they were minded, if it were poſſible, to thruſt in the ſhip.
v. 40. And when they had taken up the ancres, they committed themſelves unto the ſea, and looſed the rudder bands, and hoiſed up the main ſail to the wind, and made toward ſhore.
v. 41. And falling into a place where two ſeas met, they ran the ſhip a-ground, and the forepart ſtuck faſt, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
v. 42. And the ſouldiers counſel was to kill the priſoners, leſt any of them ſhould ſwim out, and eſcape.
v. 43. But the Centurion willing to ſave Paul, kept them from their purpoſe, and commanded that they which could ſwim, ſhould caſt themſelves firſt into the ſea, and get to land:
v. 44. 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.
Act. 28. v. 1. And when they were eſcaped, then they knew that the iſland was called Melita.