Acts 27:7
And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
This verse records one stage of Paul's long and tedious voyage to Italy as a prisoner in chains. The slow sailing took place at a time when voyaging was perilous, for mariners steered largely by the sun and stars, warnings of storms made shipowners unwilling to venture into open water, and during part of the year safe navigation was nearly impossible. Contrary winds prevented the ship from holding a direct course and made its progress slow and difficult. After many days of slow sailing from Myra toward Italy it had only barely come opposite Cnidus, and then it sailed along under Crete by Salmone, using the shelter of the island. The hardship of this trying experience was greatly lightened because Paul was allowed the companionship of Luke and Aristarchus, Aristarchus sharing Paul's bondage by choice in order to minister to him in his affliction and afterward being called his fellow prisoner. The sea journey served God's purpose, that the ship's crew and the Gentiles might witness God's power through Paul and hear about Jesus, and many might be converted through his teaching and miracles.