William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Acts 27:4 - 27:4

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William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Acts 27:4 - 27:4


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An account is here given of the very hazardous voyage which the apostle had from Cesarea towards Rome. He sails from Cesarea to Cyprus; from Cyprus to Cilicia to Crete; and having been long at sea, and the summer wearing away, and the great fast being past, that is, the anniversary of expiation, which was on the tenth day of September. After which the sea growing temptuous, the ancients left off sailing until March, because of the shortness of the days. St. Paul, forseeing the danger of the season, and being also to the lives of those that were in it, and advised them to venture no further till the sea was calmer; but the owner and governor of the ship (who was supposed to be better skilled in his own art) advising otherwise, the captain of the guard prefers his judgment before Paul's, and so sets forward, but with great hazard, and greater loss, as the event declared.

From the whole we gather, That the fittest seasons ought to be observed and taken for every enterprise, both sacred and secular. Winter journeys by land, or voyages by sea, are unsafe, as well as uncomfortable. A season is beautiful for all things, and has a lustre upon it above all other parts of time. This winter voyage, about our October, was very hazardous and unseasonable; for the winds were boisterous and contrary, the days were short, the light little, the night long, the clouds thick, the weather dark, the storms raging; therefore the apostle advised to winter in the Fair Havens, knowing that the season for sailing was now past.