Geneva Study Bible And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And {1} when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
(1) Paul, with many other prisoners and through the midst of many deaths, is brought to Rome, but yet by God's own hand as it were, and set forth and commended to the world with many singular testimonies. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
And 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 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 {a} Salmone;
(a) Which was a high hill of Crete. And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, {2} Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the {b} fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
(2) God's providence does not take away the causes which God uses as means, but rather orders and disposes their right use, even when he reveals an extraordinary issue. (b) This refers to the Jews fast which they kept in the feast of expiation, as we read in Le 23:17, which fell in the seventh month which we call October, and is not good for navigating or sailing. And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. {3} Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
(3) Men cast themselves willingly into an infinite amount of dangers, when they choose to follow their own wisdom, rather than God, when he speaks by the mouth of his servants. And because the haven 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 south west and north west. And because the haven 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 south west and north west.
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. But not long after there arose against {c} it a tempestuous wind, called {d} Euroclydon.
(c) By Crete, from whose shore our ship was driven by that means. (d) Northeast wind. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; {4} And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
(4) The result proves that none provide worse for themselves than those who commit themselves to be governed only by their own wisdom. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And the third day 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. 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.
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. {5} But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
(5) God spares the wicked for a time, for the sake of his elect and chosen. 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. 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, 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. 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. {6} Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
(6) The promise is made effectual through faith. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; {7} But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in {e} Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed {f} that they drew near to some country;
(7) We attain and come to the promised and sure salvation through the midst of tempests and death itself. (e) For Ptolemy writes that the Adriatic Sea beats upon the east shore of Cecilia. (f) Or, some country drew near to them. And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 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 lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, {8} And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
(8) No matter how foul the act, distrust and an evil conscience can always compel men to commit it. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. {9} Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
(9) Although the performing of God's promises does not depend upon secondary causes, yet they make themselves unworthy of God's bountifulness who do not embrace those means which God offers them, either upon rashness or distrust. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. {10} And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
(10) When the world trembles, the faithful alone are not only at peace, but strengthen and encourage others by their example. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an {g} hair fall from the head of any of you.
(g) This is a proverb which the Hebrews use, by which is meant that they will be safe, and that not one of them will perish. And 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. And 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 were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. {11} And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain {h} creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
(11) Then are tempests most of all to be feared and looked for, when the port or haven is nearest. (h) A creek is a sea within land, as the Adriatic Sea, and the Persian Sea. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised 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 forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And falling into a place where {i} two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
(i) So is an isthmus called, because the Sea touches it on both sides. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. {12} And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
(12) There is nowhere more unfaithfulness and unthankfulness in unbelievers. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: {13} But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
(13) God finds even amongst his enemies those whose help he uses to preserve his own. 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. {14} 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. (14) The goodness of God overcomes man's malice. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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