Dangers at Sea

They made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow them to hold their course, they sailed to the lee of Crete. They moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, about 10 kilometers from the port city of Lasea. It was the end of September. (The Day of Atonement was over, because the 10th day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar back then was around end of Gregorian September and the beginning of October.) The winds were strong in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul feared disaster so he advised them to stay the winter there. But the sailors, captain, and the centurion did not want to stay in Fair Haven for the winter. They set sail from there and reached Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing both southwest and northwest, and wintered there.

When the south wind blew softly, they thought they would have a smooth sailing. But not long after, a tempestuous wind arose. The ship was caught by the storm and blown over to a neighboring island called Cauda. After two days in the tempest, they started to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.

They gave up all hope of being saved and had gone a long time without food. Paul stood up before them and said, �𢜛en, you should have listened to me, and should not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost, only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whom I serve stood beside me and said to me, �漗o not be afraid, Paul; you must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.�� So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as He told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.��

For fourteen days they had eaten nothing. So Paul urged everyone to eat something to stay alive. He also guaranteed them safety and they were all encouraged. Then Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and everyone ate. The next day, the storm passed and the ship came near a bay. The sailors decided to make for the beach but the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul�䏭 life and kept them from carrying out their plan. In this way everyone reached land safely (Acts 27:1��44).