the acts of the apostles-第67部分

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were　still　contrary；　and　the　ship's　progress　was　difficult。　Luke　writes；
〃When　we　had　sailed　slowly　many　days；　and　scarce　were　come　over　against
Cnidus；　the　wind　not　suffering　us；　we　sailed　under　Crete；　over　against
Salmone；　and；　hardly　passing　it；　came　unto　a　place　which　is　called　the　Fair
Havens。〃

At　Fair　Havens　they　were　compelled　to　remain　for　some　time；　waiting　for
favoring　winds。　Winter　was　approaching　rapidly；　〃sailing　was　now　dangerous；〃
and　those　in　charge　of　the　vessel　had　to　give　up　hope　of　reaching　their
destination　before　the　season　for　travel　by　sea　should　be

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closed　for　the　year。　The　only　question　now　to　be　decided　was；　whether　to
remain　at　Fair　Havens；　or　attempt　to　reach　a　more　favorable　place　in　which
to　winter。

This　question　was　earnestly　discussed；　and　was　finally　referred　by　the
centurion　to　Paul；　who　had　won　the　respect　of　both　sailors　and　soldiers。　The
apostle　unhesitatingly　advised　remaining　where　they　were。　〃I　perceive；〃　he
said；　〃that　this　voyage　will　be　with　hurt　and　much　damage；　not　only　of　the
lading　and　ship；　but　also　of　our　lives。〃　But　〃the　master　and　the　owner　of
the　ship；〃　and　the　majority　of　passengers　and　crew；　were　unwilling　to　accept
this　counsel。　Because　the　haven　in　which　they　had　anchored　〃was　not
commodious　to　winter　in；　the　more　part　advised　to　depart　thence　also；　if　by
any　means　they　might　attain　to　Phenice；　and　there　to　winter；　which　is　an
haven　of　Crete；　and　lieth　toward　the　southwest　and　northwest。〃

The　centurion　decided　to　follow　the　judgment　of　the　majority。　Accordingly；
〃when　the　south　wind　blew　softly；〃　they　set　sail　from　Fair　Havens；　in　the
hope　that　they　would　soon　reach　the　desired　harbor。　〃But　not　long　after
there　arose　。　。　。　a　tempestuous　wind；〃　〃the　ship　was　caught；　and　could　not
bear　up　into　the　wind。〃

Driven　by　the　tempest；　the　vessel　neared　the　small　island　of　Clauda；　and
while　under　its　shelter　the　sailors　made　ready　for　the　worst。　The　lifeboat；
their　only　means　of　escape　in　case　the　ship　should　founder；　was　in　tow　and
liable　to　be　dashed　in　pieces　any　moment。　Their　first　work　was　to　hoist　this
boat　on　board。　All　possible　precautions　were　then

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taken　to　strengthen　the　ship　and　prepare　it　to　withstand　the　tempest。　The
scant　protection　afforded　by　the　little　island　did　not　avail　them　long；　and
soon　they　were　again　exposed　to　the　full　violence　of　the　storm。

All　night　the　tempest　raged；　and　notwithstanding　the　precautions　that　had
been　taken；　the　vessel　leaked。　〃The　next　day　they　lightened　the　ship。〃　Night
came　again；　but　the　wind　did　not　abate。　The　storm…beaten　ship；　with　its
shattered　mast　and　rent　sails；　was　tossed　hither　and　thither　by　the　fury　of
the　gale。　Every　moment　it　seemed　that　the　groaning　timbers　must　give　way　as
the　vessel　reeled　and　quivered　under　the　tempest's　shock。　The　leak　increased
rapidly；　and　passengers　and　crew　worked　continually　at　the　pumps。　There　was
not　a　moment's　rest　for　any　on　board。　〃The　third　day；〃　writes　Luke；　〃we　cast
out　with　our　own　hands　the　tackling　of　the　ship。　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。〃

For　fourteen　days　they　drifted　under　a　sunless　and　starless　heaven。　The
apostle；　though　himself　suffering　physically；　had　words　of　hope　for　the
darkest　hour；　a　helping　hand　in　every　emergency。　He　grasped　by　faith　the　arm
of　Infinite　Power；　and　his　heart　was　stayed　upon　God。　He　had　no　fears　for
himself；　he　knew　that　God　would　preserve　him　to　witness　at　Rome　for　the
truth　of　Christ。　But　his　heart　yearned　with　pity　for　the　poor　souls　around
him；　sinful；　degraded；　and　unprepared　to　die。　As　he　earnestly　pleaded　with
God　to　spare　their　lives；　it　was　revealed　to　him　that　his　prayer　was
granted。

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Taking　advantage　of　a　lull　in　the　tempest；　Paul　stood　forth　on　the　deck　and；
lifting　up　his　voice；　said：　〃Sirs；　ye　should　have　hearkened　unto　me；　and　not
have　loosed　from　Crete；　and　to　have　gained　this　harm　and　loss。　And　now　I
exhort　you　to　be　of　good　cheer：　for　there　shall　be　no　loss　of　any　man's　life
among　you；　but　of　the　ship。　For　there　stood　by　me　this　night　the　angel　of
God；　whose　I　am；　and　whom　I　serve；　saying；　Fear　not；　Paul；　thou　must　be
brought　before　Caesar：　and；　lo；　God　hath　given　thee　all　them　that　sail　with
thee。　Wherefore；　sirs；　be　of　good　cheer：　for　I　believe　God；　that　it　shall　be
even　as　it　was　told　me。　Howbeit　we　must　be　cast　upon　a　certain　island。〃

At　these　words；　hope　revived。　Passengers　and　crew　roused　from　their　apathy。
There　was　much　yet　to　be　done；　and　every　effort　within　their　power　must　be
put　forth　to　avert　destruction。

It　was　on　the　fourteenth　night　of　tossing　on　the　black；　heaving　billows；
that　〃about　midnight〃　the　sailors；　hearing　the　sound　of　breakers；　〃deemed
that　they　drew　near　to　some　country；　and　sounded；　and　found　it　twenty
fathoms：　and　when　they　had　gone　a　little　further；　they　sounded　again；　and
found　it　fifteen　fathoms。　Then　fearing；〃　Luke　writes；　〃lest　we　should　have
fallen　upon　rocks；　they　cast　four　anchors　out　of　the　stern；　and　wished　for
the　day。〃

At　break　of　day　the　outlines　of　the　stormy　coast　were　dimly　visible；　but　no
familiar　landmarks　could　be　seen。　So　gloomy　was　the　outlook　that　the　heathen
sailors；　losing　all　courage；　〃were　about　to　flee　out　of　the　ship；〃　and
feigning　to　make　preparations　for　casting　〃anchors　out　of　the

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foreship；〃　they　had　already　let　down　the　lifeboat；　when　Paul；　perceiving
their　base　design；　said　to　the　centurion　and　the　soldiers；　〃Except　these
abide　in　the　ship；　ye　cannot　be　saved。〃　The　soldiers　immediately　〃cut　off
the　ropes　of　the　boat；　and　let　her　fall　off〃　into　the　sea。

The　most　critical　hour　was　still　before　them。　Again　the　apostle　spoke　words
of　encouragement；　and　entreated　all；　both　sailors　and　passengers；　to　take
some　food；　saying；　〃This　day　is　the　fourteenth　day　that　ye　have　tarried　and
continued　fasting；　having　taken　nothing。　Wherefore　I　pray　you　to　take　some
meat：　for　this　is　for　your　health：　for　there　shall　not　a　hair　fall　from　the
head　of　any　of　you。〃

〃When　he　had　thus　spoken；　he　took　bread；　and　gave　thanks　to　God　in　presence
of　them　all：　and　when　he　had　broken　it；　he　began　to　eat。〃　Then　that　worn　and
discouraged　company　of　two　hundred　and　seventy…five　souls；　who　but　for　Paul
would　have　become　desperate；　joined　with　the　apostle　in　partaking　of　food。
〃And　when　they　had　eaten　enough；　they　lightened　the　ship；　and　cast　out　the
wheat　into　the　sea。〃

Daylight　had　now　fully　come；　but　they　could　see　nothing　by　which　to
determine　their　whereabouts。　However；　〃they　discovered　a　certain　creek　with
a　shore；　into　the　which　they　were　minded；　if　it　were　possible；　to　thrust　in
the　ship。　And　when　they　had　taken　up　the　anchors；　they　committed　themselves
unto　the　sea；　and　loosed　the　rudder　bands；　and　hoisted　up　the　mainsail　to
the　wind；　and　made　toward　shore。　And　falling　into　a　place　where　two　seas
met；　they　ran　the　ship　aground；　and　the　fore　part　stuck　fast；　and　remained
unmovable；

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but　the　hinder　part　was　broken　with　the　violence　of　the　waves。〃

Paul　and　the　other　prisoners　were　now　threatened　by　a　fate　more　terrible
than　shipwreck。　The　soldiers　saw　that　while　endeavoring　to　reach　land　it
would　be　impossible　for　them　to　keep　their　prisoners　in　charge。　Every　man
would　have　all　he　could　do　to　save　himself。　Yet　if　any　of　the　prisoners　were
missing；　the　lives　of　those　who　were　responsible　for　them　would　be
forfeited。　Hence　the　soldiers　desired　to　put　all　the　prisoners　to　death。　The
Roman　law　sanctioned　this　cruel　policy；　and　the　plan　would　have　been
executed　at　once；　but　for　him　to　whom　all　alike　were　under　deep　obligation。
Julius　the　centurion　knew　that　Paul　had　been　instrumental　in　saving　the
lives　of　all　on　board；　and；　moreover；　convinced　that　the　Lord　was　with　him；
he　feared　to　do　him　harm。　He　therefore　〃commanded　that　they　which　could　swim
should　cast　themselves　first　into　the　sea；　and　get　to　land：　and　the　rest；
some　on　boards；　and　some　on　broken　pieces　of　the　ship。　And　so　it　came　to
pass；　that　they　escaped　all　safe　to　land。〃　When　the　roll　was　called；　not　one
was　missing。

The　shipwrecked　crew　were　kindly　received　by　the　barbarous　people　of　Melita。
〃They　kindled　a　fire；〃　Luke　writes；　〃and　received　us　everyone；　because　of
the　present　rain；　and　because　of　the　cold。〃　Paul　was　among　those　who　were
active　in　ministering　to　the　comfort　of　others。　Having　gathered　〃a　bundle　of
sticks；〃　he　〃laid　them　on　the　fire；〃　when　a　viper　came　forth　〃out　of　the
heat；　and　fastened　on　his　hand。〃　The　bystanders　were　horror…stricken；　and
seeing

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by　his　chain　that　Paul　was　a　prisoner；　they　said　to　one　another；　〃No　doubt
this　man　is　a　murderer；　whom；　though　he　hath　escaped　the　sea；　yet　vengeance
suffereth　not　to　live。〃　But　Paul　shook　off　the　creature　into　the　fire　and
felt　no　harm。　Knowing　its　venomous　nature；　the　people　looked　for　him　to　fall
down　at　any　moment　in　terrible　agony。　〃But　after　they　had　looked　a　great
while；　and　saw　no　harm　come　to　him；　they　changed　their　minds；　and　said　that
he　was　a　god。〃

During　the　three　months　that　the　ship's　company　remained　at　Melita；　Paul　and
his　fellow　laborers　improved　many　opportunities　to　preach　the　gospel。　In　a
remarkable　manner　the　Lord　wrought　through　them。　For　Paul's　sake　the　entire
shipwrecked　company　were　treated　with　great　kindness；　all　their　wants　were
supplied；　and　upon　leaving　Melita　they　were　liberally　provided　with
everything　needful　for　their　voyage。　The　chief　incidents　of　their　stay　are
thus　briefly　related　by　Luke：

〃In　the　same　quarters　were　possessions　of　the　chief　man　of　the　island；　whose
name　was　Publius；　who　received　us；　and　lodged　us　three　days　courteously。　And
it　came　to　pass；　that　the　father　of　Publius　lay　sick　of　a　fever　and　of　a
bloody　flux：　to　whom　Paul　entered　in；　and　prayed；　and　laid　his　hands　on　him；
and　healed　him。　So　when　this　was　done；　others　also；　which　had　diseases　in
the　island；　came；　and　were　healed：　who　also　honored　us　with　many　h