Even Roman Emperors had to travel as Paul did. We read in Josephus that Vespasian,

when he left Titus at the siege of Jerusalem, "went on board a merchant ship and sailed

from Alexandria to Rhodes" (Josephus B. J. 7: 2: 1), and when the Jewish war ended,

Titus followed his father, and touched at the same points (Rhegium and Puteoli) as are

mentioned in Acts 28: 13.

Let us next notice a few outstanding features in this memorable journey.

There are no less than thirteen different expressions for "sailing" in the narrative, a

fact that lends great reality to the record. In Acts 27: 4 we read that they "sailed

under Cyprus". This would mean sailing "under the lee" of the island, i.e., the North-east

and North. We also read that they "sailed through the sea which is over against Cilicia

and Pamphylia". By standing to the North the vessel would fall in with the current that

travels West along the coast of Asia Minor.

At Lysia they found a wheat ship which had also been driven North and was about to

sail for Italy. The weather was unfavourable from the first. Although Cnidus is only

130 miles distant from Lysia, they were "many days" sailing "slowly" (verse 7). Since

the wind did not allow the vessel either to pass North of Crete, or to continue a direct

course, they made for Cape Salmone, in order to sail under the lee of the island. The

wind becoming more violent there was nothing for it but to put in at Fair Havens and

await a change. Luke tells us that "the fast was now already past" (verse 9), which means

that it would have been about the end of September, a period regarded as dangerous for

ships by both Greek and Roman writers. The Jewish season for navigation was now

over, but the Gentiles did not regard the sea as closed until November 11th. Paul

ventured to give his advice, but the centurion naturally preferred to take the opinion of

the master of the ship.

A soft wind then sprang up from the South and, gladly weighing anchor, the

vessel was steered for Phenice. The expression "if by any means" (verse 12) and the

fact that Phenice was not in fact attained provides an interesting Scriptural comment on

Phil. 3: 11.  This passage makes good sense if we keep the "prize" in view, but is

disastrous if we think of the "out-resurrection" as the blessed "hope". This soft wind

was, however, but the song of a siren, for suddenly a typhoon seized the vessel, whirling

her round (see Greek word), and making it impossible for the helmsmen to keep the

course (verse 15). Not a moment was available for the lowering of the mainsail, and

nothing could be done but let the ship scud madly before the gale. After a fearful run of

twenty-three miles, they neared the island of Clauda, and taking advantage of the

temporary lull, they with some difficulty hoisted the boat aboard. The next precaution

was to "undergird" the ship, for the strain on the timbers in such a gale would have been

tremendous, and a leak had already developed. Furthermore, the wind was driving them

straight to the dreaded bay of the Great Syrtis, "the Goodwin Sands of the

Mediterranean".

The expression "strake sail and so were driven" (verse 17) indicates that the vessel lay

to, the great yard being lowered, the storm-sail (called the artemo) set, and the vessel