And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
This moment belongs to the long and tedious voyage by sea to Italy, undertaken while Paul was a prisoner in chains. His hardship was lightened because he was permitted the companionship of Luke and Aristarchus. Aristarchus shared his bondage by choice in order to minister to him in his afflictions, and was afterward called his fellow prisoner.
Sea travel in the first century was especially difficult and dangerous. Sailors relied largely on the sun and stars to navigate, and storm signs or obscured skies made shipowners reluctant to venture into open water. For part of the year safe navigation was almost impossible.
After leaving Sidon, contrary winds drove the ship from a direct course and made progress slow. At Myra in Lycia the prisoners were transferred to a large Alexandrian ship bound for the coast of Italy. After many days of slow sailing with winds remaining contrary, the ship scarcely came over against Cnidus, was not allowed a direct course, and sailed under Crete over against Salmone. After struggling against contrary winds along Crete it barely passed Salmone to reach Fair Havens on Crete.
The place the ship reached after slow progress was Fair Havens, nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. The sea journey served God's purpose by giving the ship's crew a chance to witness God's power through Paul and giving non-Jews the chance to hear about Jesus. Many could be converted through his teaching and miracles.
At Fair Havens the ship was compelled to remain for some time waiting for favorable winds. Winter was approaching rapidly and sailing was now dangerous, so those in charge had to give up hope of reaching their destination and of finishing the voyage before the season for travel by sea closed for the year. The Jewish sailing season had ended, though Gentiles considered travel safe for a while longer. The only question left was whether to remain at Fair Havens or attempt to reach a more favorable and better place in which to winter.
Fair Havens was near a small town and was imperfectly sheltered from winter winds. Port Phenice, thirty-four miles away, was considered a more suitable place to spend the winter.
This moment belongs to the long and tedious voyage by sea to Italy, undertaken while Paul was a prisoner in chains. His hardship was lightened because he was permitted the companionship of Luke and Aristarchus. Aristarchus shared his bondage by choice in order to minister to him in his afflictions, and was afterward called his fellow prisoner.
Sea travel in the first century was especially difficult and dangerous. Sailors relied largely on the sun and stars to navigate, and storm signs or obscured skies made shipowners reluctant to venture into open water. For part of the year safe navigation was almost impossible.
After leaving Sidon, contrary winds drove the ship from a direct course and made progress slow. At Myra in Lycia the prisoners were transferred to a large Alexandrian ship bound for the coast of Italy. After many days of slow sailing with winds remaining contrary, the ship scarcely came over against Cnidus, was not allowed a direct course, and sailed under Crete over against Salmone. After struggling against contrary winds along Crete it barely passed Salmone to reach Fair Havens on Crete.
The place the ship reached after slow progress was Fair Havens, nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. The sea journey served God's purpose by giving the ship's crew a chance to witness God's power through Paul and giving non-Jews the chance to hear about Jesus. Many could be converted through his teaching and miracles.
At Fair Havens the ship was compelled to remain for some time waiting for favorable winds. Winter was approaching rapidly and sailing was now dangerous, so those in charge had to give up hope of reaching their destination and of finishing the voyage before the season for travel by sea closed for the year. The Jewish sailing season had ended, though Gentiles considered travel safe for a while longer. The only question left was whether to remain at Fair Havens or attempt to reach a more favorable and better place in which to winter.
Fair Havens was near a small town and was imperfectly sheltered from winter winds. Port Phenice, thirty-four miles away, was considered a more suitable place to spend the winter.