Voyage and Shipwreck
291
prisoners. But the winds 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 closed for the year. The only question now to be decided
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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 taken to strengthen the ship and prepare it to withstand the
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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.