And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."
Acts 27:5-10
Paul’s journey to Rome for his legal appeal to Caesar continued. The journey included changing ships, since there were no “non-stop” sailings to Rome. Because of weather challenges, the sailing continued close to the shore—just in case!
One of the stops was in a place called Fair Havens, which may have been so-named because it offered shelter from the open waters. We do not know how long they were there, but Luke calls it “much time.” The ship and passengers remained there a long time. (Think of it as an extended lay-over, is an airport.)
They were there long enough—probably waiting for better weather—that the weather got worse. Somehow the Lord informed Paul (a lawyer and a tent-maker, but not a sailor) that proceeding would be dangerous not only for the ship and it’s cargo, but for the persons on board. Paul advised those in charge.
But as the following verses reveal, the sailors naturally discounted this counsel regarding sailing from a non-sailor as “dismissible.” So they proceeded.
Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
Acts 27:11-12
Rather than fault these professional seamen for not listening to Paul, which was quite to be expected, let us nevertheless take note of the fact that the Lord gave warning.
Next time: A storm at sea…