Paul on the Storm-Tossed Ship with Roman Soldiersby IpswichSDA
27:14Acts 27:14
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
This verse belongs to the account of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. It belongs to the trying experiences he endured as a prisoner in chains during the long and tedious voyage to Italy, whose hardship was greatly lightened by the permitted companionship of Luke and Aristarchus, with Aristarchus voluntarily sharing Paul's bondage to minister to him in affliction. It is set against the dangers of first-century sea travel, when sailors depended largely on the sun and stars for navigation, feared venturing into open water when those guides were hidden and storms threatened, and faced seasons when safe navigation was almost impossible.
After the counsel to remain at Fair Havens was rejected in favor of the judgment of the majority, the ship set sail for Phenice when a soft south wind blew, hoping soon to reach that harbor. Not long after the gentle south wind began, it gave way to a violent tempestuous wind called Euroclydon that struck the ship suddenly. In that region such a violent tempest often followed a south wind.
Caught by the wind, the ship could not face into it or sail against it. The ship was driven toward Clauda, putting those aboard in grave danger. The sudden onset left no time to prepare and left the vessel at the mercy of the storm.
This verse belongs to the account of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. It belongs to the trying experiences he endured as a prisoner in chains during the long and tedious voyage to Italy, whose hardship was greatly lightened by the permitted companionship of Luke and Aristarchus, with Aristarchus voluntarily sharing Paul's bondage to minister to him in affliction. It is set against the dangers of first-century sea travel, when sailors depended largely on the sun and stars for navigation, feared venturing into open water when those guides were hidden and storms threatened, and faced seasons when safe navigation was almost impossible.
After the counsel to remain at Fair Havens was rejected in favor of the judgment of the majority, the ship set sail for Phenice when a soft south wind blew, hoping soon to reach that harbor. Not long after the gentle south wind began, it gave way to a violent tempestuous wind called Euroclydon that struck the ship suddenly. In that region such a violent tempest often followed a south wind.
Caught by the wind, the ship could not face into it or sail against it. The ship was driven toward Clauda, putting those aboard in grave danger. The sudden onset left no time to prepare and left the vessel at the mercy of the storm.