The Dictionary of Biblical Phrases. But not long after there arose against it a temp-estuous wind, called Euroclydon. Acts 27v14 This was the storm that Paul knew and feared. It was notorious in those days of casting wrecked ships on the coast of Libya – North Africa. The ships of those days were not great in storms and realizing that they couldn’t sail using the wind they decided to drop the sails and let the storm drive the ship. Ships of those days had difficulty being waterproof especially in a storm so they passed ropes under the bow and bound the ship together as best they could. They were also afraid of being half stuck in shallow water. The ship had a huge battering that night and in the morning they lightened the ship by casting overboard the deck cargo. Next day they threw overboard the heavy ropes and tackling. For the next week or so they didn’t see the sun or stars and the storm was very great on them. All hope of getting out of the storm alive was lost. Paul fasted and prayed and then he addressed the whole company. He brought a message of hope. He said first you should have listened to me and not sailed from Crete to put yourselves at loss and hurt. However, l want you to cheer up because this night the angel of God stood by me and told me that l will stand before Caesar and that God has given me all you on board but we will loose the whole ship and cargo. I believe in God and in his word to me. We will be castaways on a certain Island. After the fourteenth day in the storm the sailor began to think that they were getting near land so they sounded – 20 fathoms – 15 fathoms and being afraid of crashing into rocks they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for the daylight. The sailors wanted to swim for it but Paul insisted that they remain on board and the small dingy was cut away and fell into the deep. Just as the day was dawning Paul insisted that they should take some food to strengthen them for the swim. Paul stood and thanked God and ate the bread and they all followed him. There were 276 people in the ship. Next they threw the wheat into the sea to lighten the hull. When the light dawned they found a small creek with a beach. They untied the rudders so that they could steer, lifted the mainsail and headed for the shore. They came into a place where there was a sandbank and the bow of the ship was beached – stuck of the sandbank. But the stern was being battered by the waves, being broken into pieces. The Roman guard wanted to kill the prisoners but the centurion who wanted to save Paul restrained them and gave orders that everyone was to swim for it. They all got safely to land floating of pieces of boards.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 11:55:18 +0000
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