soners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

From the writer's making use of the plural number in this verse, it appears that he was a companion of Paul in the voyage. This circumstance enabled him to give so particular an account of it. The port from which they sailed was Cæsarea.

2. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; rather, "entering into a ship of Adramyttium, which was bound to the coasts of Asia, we set sail;" one Aristarchus, a Macedonian, of Thessalonica, being with us.

He was a Christian brother, who, as well as Luke, accompanied the apostle in his travels, and is afterwards mentioned as his fellow-prisoner at Rome. Col. iv. 10.

3. And the next day we touched at Sidon, a city of Phoenicia. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

He permitted him to experience the attention of Christian friends, who might furnish him with necessaries for the voyage.

4. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

They sailed under the north, rather than the south, side of the island, in order to shelter themselves from the violence of the wind.

5. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Cilicia.

6. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria, laden with wheat, as it should seem, sailing into Italy, and he put us therein.

7. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, a celebrated promontory on the continent of Asia, the wind not suffering us, "the wind opposing us," we sailed under Crete, a large island in the Mediterranean, now called Candia, over against Salmone, or, " by Salmone," a promontory on the island;

8. And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens, the principal port, and still called by the same name, nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, (the fast of the day of atonement, observed on the tenth day of Tisri, or the nineteenth of September, and near the approach of winter,) Paul admonished them;

10.

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt, with injury," and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

This he declared, probably, from his own natural sagacity, without any divine assistance: the final issue of the voyage was not communicated to him till afterwards. To justify the conduct of Paul, in thus giving his opinion to mariners, it has been observed that he had often been at sea, in the different journies which he undertook, and might thence acquire some knowledge of maritime affairs. From himself we learn that he had often been exposed to great danger on this element, having, as he tells us, been thrice shipwrecked, and having spent a night and a day floating in the deep.

11. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner, rather," the pilot and the master," of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter, which is a haven of Crete, and lieth towards, rather, "looketh towards," the south-west and north-west.

Having two different aspects, this harbour would be sheltered from most winds.

13. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, i. e. that this wind would enable them to accomplish it, loosing thence they sailed close by Crete.

14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

As this word never occurs in any other author, it is not easy to ascertain what kind of wind it means; but it was probably the same with that which is now called a Levanter, and which is not confined to one point, but blows from the north-east or south-east. From the fears entertained on the present occasion of being driven to the coasts of Africa, it should seem that it came from the north-east; as such a wind would carry them directly to that quarter.

15. And when the ship was caught, was carried away with it, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive,

16. And running up under a certain island called Clauda, at the western extremity of the island, we had much work to come by the boat, rather, "to make ourselves masters of the boat;"

17. Which when we had taken up, to prevent it from being staved, they used helps, they called for the assistance Vol. 3.]

of all, undergirding the ship, throwing cables round it to prevent it from bulging; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, in the Greek, the Syrtis, a sand-bank on the coast of Africa, famous for shipwrecks, strake sail, and so were driven.

18. And, being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship, by casting out the heaviest and least valuable articles.

19. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship, or, perhaps, "the lading of the ship;" for the tackling could not add much to its weight.

20. 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.

As the compass was not then discovered, if the sun and stars were not seen, there was nothing whereby to guide their course.

21. 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, "to get," this harm and loss.