DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/4

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                       PART XXVII - IV

"Having shared with the Roman Centurion my concerns about leaving Myra for Italy, I, Paul, realised that the Centurion had decided to sail anyway... So we left the next day... Initially it seemed he was right to have begun to sail... We had very favourable weather... That gave us opportunity to easily and comfortably sail along the shore of Crete... But then things changed for the worse.... We were hit by the "Northeaster"... A well known and much feared wind of hurrican force... Immediate action was necessary... The life boat was made secure.... Ropes were put underneath the ship to try and keep the ship together.... The sea anchor was lowered... This was done to prevent the ship from running aground on the sandbars of Syrtis.... If only the Roman Centurion had listened to me... I am sure, he wished as well that he had listened to me.... All I could do was pray.... That's what I did.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the Roman Centurion decided to continue the journey to Italy....

                           ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XXVII - IV

The decision to sail from Myra to Phoenix sets Paul and the others with him on a journey they were not prepared for as you can read in Acts 27:13-14

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "Northeaster," swept from the island.

Initially, it goes all very well. But then disaster strikes in the form of a hurricane wind. This is not what they are expecting. They now need to do whatever it takes to save the ship and themselves so they begin to take certain precautions as you can read in Acts 27:16-17

As we passed the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. When the men hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.

No doubt, the Centurion wished he had listened to Paul. But it is too late. He has now to deal with the situation as it is.

Read Part Five HERE