ow. The first stop was made at Fair
Havens, a place upon the southern coast of Crete (the
modern Candia). It was here that Paul foretold the
serious danger to the ship if the voyage should be continued.
But the centurion taking the advice of the master and
owner of the ship, and because the harbour "was not
commodious to winter in," determined to make an attempt
to reach Phenice (a harbour west of Crete and upon the
same side of the island). The adventures that befell the
ship's company, and, the misfortune that came to the ship,
in the terrible fourteen days that followed after the
departure from Fair Havens are best understood through the
graphic language of Luke, an eye witness (Acts 27:14-44
should be read carefully in this connection). It is in
this time of trial that Paul steps forth and shows his
mastery over men. Comforted himself by "the angel of
God" he comforts others in declaring that no harm shall
come to the lives of those in the ship. In the midst of
this great storm he alone is calm and able to insist that
his companions keep up their courage and strength, and
not to give away to despair. The island of Melita (the
modern Malta), where the shipwreck took place, lies
directly south of Sicily. The place where the Great
Apostle was cast ashore is now known as St. Paul's Bay.
The inhabitants of the island received the ship's company
"with no little kindness" and Paul engaged here in a
healing ministry, curing the father of Publius, the chief man
of the island, of a fever and many others of diseases. In
whatever place or circumstances Paul comes he at once
begins to exercise his Christian gifts.

+The Island of Melita to Rome+, or the adventures of
Paul on the third ship (Acts 28:11-16). Three months
were spent at Melita. Then Paul and the company
embarked on another Alexandrian grain ship for Puteoli,
"eight miles southwest of Naples and the principal
harbour south of Rome in Paul's day." "It was the port
at which the Egyptian grain ships usually unloaded." There
were two stops made on the way to Puteoli, one at
Syracuse in Sicily and the other at Rhegium, at the
southern point of Italy. At Puteoli Paul found Christian
brethren with whom he remained for seven days. The
Roman Christians came but to meet Paul at Apii Forum,
forty-three miles, and the Three Taverns, thirty-three
miles from Rome. This expression of love and interest
in him and his welfare greatly cheered the heart of the