And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
Paul was on a long voyage to Italy as a prisoner in chains, accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus, Aristarchus sharing his bondage by choice so that he could minister to and help him. The first vessel, bound for Adramyttium, a city on the west coast of Asia, could carry the travelers only part of the way, so they had to look at one of its larger ports of call for another vessel to complete the voyage to Rome. After leaving Sidon that first ship made only slow progress, for contrary winds forced it off a direct course.
At Myra in the province of Lycia the centurion found a large ship from Alexandria bound for the coast of Italy and immediately transferred his prisoners to it. That change of ships took place within a sea voyage made perilous by the limits of ancient navigation, when sailors guided themselves largely by sun and stars, storms made shipowners fearful of the open sea, and during part of the year safe sailing was almost impossible. Even after the transfer contrary winds continued, making progress difficult and slow.
The voyage aboard the Alexandrian ship served God's purpose, for the crew were to witness God's power and Gentiles were to hear of Jesus, and through Paul's teaching and miracles many came to believe.
Paul was on a long voyage to Italy as a prisoner in chains, accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus, Aristarchus sharing his bondage by choice so that he could minister to and help him. The first vessel, bound for Adramyttium, a city on the west coast of Asia, could carry the travelers only part of the way, so they had to look at one of its larger ports of call for another vessel to complete the voyage to Rome. After leaving Sidon that first ship made only slow progress, for contrary winds forced it off a direct course.
At Myra in the province of Lycia the centurion found a large ship from Alexandria bound for the coast of Italy and immediately transferred his prisoners to it. That change of ships took place within a sea voyage made perilous by the limits of ancient navigation, when sailors guided themselves largely by sun and stars, storms made shipowners fearful of the open sea, and during part of the year safe sailing was almost impossible. Even after the transfer contrary winds continued, making progress difficult and slow.
The voyage aboard the Alexandrian ship served God's purpose, for the crew were to witness God's power and Gentiles were to hear of Jesus, and through Paul's teaching and miracles many came to believe.