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allowed to drift broadside-on to leeward, at the mercy of wind and wave. The crew were
evidently in considerable fear of the ship foundering, for on the third day the great
manyard was heaved overboard. Then came gloom, terror and despair:--
"And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on
us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away" (verse 20).
Paul had evidently refrained from blaming the Master or the Centurion for not taking
his advice originally, but in verse 21, "after long abstinence", he gives his advice once
more.
After fourteen days drifting on the Adria, the sound of breakers told the listening crew
that land was near. The lead was then dropped and gave a reading of twenty fathoms.
Again the lead was dropped, giving this time fifteen fathoms. Here, then, was the end.
They were drifting on to a coast of some sort and must inevitable be wrecked. To drop
the anchor from the bows might have swung the ship against a reef. Four anchors were
therefore dropped "out of the stern", through the hawse holes in which the great
paddle-rudders moved, and then all "yearned for the day". The fact that the anchors held
all night, a result that none of the crew could have been sure of, is supported by evidence
contained in the book, "English Sailing Directions", which says that the ground in
St. Paul's Bay is so good that "while the cables hold, there is no danger, as the anchors
will never start".
From this point to the arrival of the Apostle at Rome, nothing more of great interest is
added by the narrative. After three months, another wheat ship took the crew and
prisoners on board and eventually landed them to Puteoli.
We are now ready to follow the Apostle along the Appian Way and to consider further
points of importance in connection with his imprisonment, his trials and his martyrdom.
#21.
Paul's Trial before Nero.
pp. 193 - 197
In this article we take up our story with the arrival of the "Castor and Pollux" at
Puteoli. We may safely infer from the writings of Seneca that a large crowd would be
assembled at the quay to welcome the arrival of the grain ship. Seneca tells us that, upon
entering the bay, all vessels were obliged to strike their topsail (supparum), except the
Alexandrian corn ships, which consequently were easily recognized and welcomed
accordingly.
The trade with Alexandria would naturally lead to a settlement of Jews at Puteoli, and
in these early days, where the Jews were, we should expect to find a few Christians. For
some time the believers in Rome had expected a visit from the Apostle, but they would
have had no news of his voyage and shipwreck. They would therefore have met the