Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-04
By Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.
(Acts. 1888; 2S.1O.)

During fourteen days the great wheat
ship that had been engaged to carry
Paul and the other prisoners to italy
was being driven by the ,tempestuous
Euroclydon through the storm-swept
Sea Of Adr.a, which is that part of the
Mediterranean that lies between Crete.
Greece. Sicily and Malta. and all on
board were filled with despair with the
exception Of Paul. who tried to comfort
and encourage all by the revelations of
Gods promises. purpose and power. His
experience has been repeated by the
followers of Christ. who. in their trials.
have turned in prayer to God for COM
fort, consolation and counsel The
Holy Spirit has walked by their side
and whispered into their ear the nles-
sage that has filled them with courage
and conviction, so that they have COM
mended their faith to the world by
their dependence upon the Lord Jesus.
because He has revealed unto them the
mysteries of divine love and grac.. The
record does rot tell the effect of the
apostles ords upon the captain or
the centurion. the soldiers or the sail
ors. the passengers or the prisoners.
but there can be no doubt that he filed
them with hove. They all kn"w that
much dispirited. as well as worn out
by labor and the lack of food, and they
doubtless would have given up COM
pletely except for the apostles assur-
ances.
II is doubtful 4. there can be found
In all the annals of tn sea a story t at
will AFFORD a parallel to the manner in
which Paul. who vas only a passen-
ger; and prisoner at that. practically
took command of the ship hen he
commanded, reassired an directed the
affairs thereof after the sailors. hear
ing the breakers. confirmed their fears
by the soundings and came to know
tnat they were near land. They thought
that they would run aground ON
the Syrtis. OFF the coast of Africa and
west of Cyrene- They could not see the
shore in the rain that was falling in
torrents. and If they could have seen
the outlines of the Island there were no
marked features by which it could have
been recognized. 1t was only poss bile
for them to see the bay. now called by
the name of the apostle. with its smooth
shore that encouraged them to try and
make a landing. Their efforts resulted
in shipwreck. although the 21e on
board were all saved.
The Shipwreck.
Paul by his revelation Of the sailors
plot to escape In the boats had pre-
vented their carrying out their plans
eosthat they were on the ship prepared
TO execute the captains commands,
which no landlubbers could have done:
to cast loose the anchors, unlash the
rudder paddles. raise up the small fore
sail tfor the gale was still blowing) and
steer straight for the beach They had
been prepared for the strenuous exer-
lions by the food that under the
apostles example and orders they had
eaten during the night while waiting for
the coming Of the dawn. Although they
emptted the wheat, that had served as
a ballast. into the sea SO that they
could successfully beach the ship, they
tailed to save their boat, because the
current Of the narrow channel that cuts
on the small Island of Salmonetta from
Malta. then called MeHta (honey), meet
ing the tide in st. Paurs bay had form
ed sandbanks. On one Of these the shir
stuck fast and the heavy sea at once
began to break up its stern part.
It was at this time that not only
Paufs life. but those Of all the other
prisoners, was endangered by the pro.
posals of the soldiers. Paul, restrained
through his influence over Julius, the
= centurion. the, troops from executing
the merciless purpose that their Roman
discipline had taught them. They
feared that II the prisoners succeeded
In reaching the shore they might escape
from their custody. which would dis