| I have often observed in the writings of many of | | | | all that the sailors could do seemed to be of no |
| my Christian friends raising an important issue on | | | | avail. Then they were about to abandon their ship |
| dying for faith saying, "because of faithful men | | | | for their small boats when Paul argued that only |
| like Peter and Paul, as well as the other disciples, | | | | by staying with the ship could they be saved. The |
| Christianity flourished". Here is the story of Paul | | | | men harkened to his advice, mindful of the fact |
| from the Bible. Please read on keeping the | | | | that had they listened at Fair Havens they and |
| question in the title in mind, because I feel that | | | | their ship would have been safe for the winter. |
| faith and death do not gel well. | | | | On the morrow they found themselves near a |
| When Saul of Taurus, later named Paul, appeared | | | | bay which had a wide beach. This they found to |
| in Jerusalem to report to James and the elders | | | | be the island of Melita, a place inhabited by some |
| regarding his recent missionary journey to Cyprus | | | | "barbarians" who treated them kindly. When Paul |
| and Syria he found the rumor widespread that he | | | | was helping gather wood for the fire which the |
| was teaching Jews living in Gentile countries to | | | | "barbarians" had kindled for them, a viper crawled |
| forsake the laws of Moses. Despite all that he | | | | out of the bushes nearby and "fastened on his |
| could do to show his loyalty to this law, Paul was | | | | hand." When the "barbarians" saw this, they were |
| set up by a mob and would have been killed had | | | | certain that Paul was a murderer or some other |
| not Claudius Lysias, chief captain of the Roman | | | | criminal, and they commented to each other, "No |
| garrison in Jerusalem, rescued him. | | | | doubt this man is a murderer whom, though he |
| Once in the hands of the Romans, who had to | | | | had escaped the sea, yet Justice hath not |
| determine whether he was guilty of any crime | | | | suffered to live." |
| against Roman law, Paul leaned heavily on the fact | | | | Paul surprised everyone by shaking the creature |
| that he was a Roman citizen by birth. At last, | | | | into the fire and going about his work unharmed. |
| realizing that the Roman authorities in Jerusalem | | | | Those near him expected him to fall down |
| and at Caesarea, where he was taken to appear | | | | suddenly. When nothing happened, they were |
| before the governor, were seeking favor with | | | | astonished and changed their minds towards him, |
| the Jews and would not give him a fair trial, Paul | | | | saying that he was not a criminal, but rather a |
| appealed to Caesar. This took the matter out of | | | | God. |
| lesser authorities' hands and made it necessary | | | | After three months on the island of Melita, Paul |
| for the king to send Paul to Rome, where he | | | | was taken on a ship from Alexandria which had |
| could present his case before Caesar himself. | | | | wintered there and carried north to Syracuse, |
| Setting sail from Caesarea in a ship of | | | | thence to Rhegium and to Puteoli, and to Rome. |
| Adramyttium, Paul, with several other prisoners, | | | | At each stop along the way, Paul found Christians, |
| was put in charge of centurion named Julius, a | | | | who greeted him joyously and whom he |
| member of the Augustan cohort. The first part | | | | encouraged with words of counsel and praise. |
| of the voyage was without incident. Julius was | | | | At Rome, he was permitted to live in a house he |
| kind to Paul and permitted him to go ashore at | | | | had rented, but was forced to remain chained by |
| Sidon and visit with friends and refresh himself. | | | | one wrist to a praetorian soldier night and day. |
| From Sidon the ship sailed across the | | | | Here for more than two years Paul awaited trial. |
| Mediterranean Sea "under the lee" of Cyprus, to | | | | During this period he worked with the Roman |
| Myra, a city of Lycia. Here they changed ships | | | | Christians and wrote letters to churches which he |
| and took one from Alexandria bound for Italy. | | | | had founded and to the many friends he had |
| Sailing, with some difficulty because of the | | | | made during his long and eventful life. |
| contrary winds, they came after many days to | | | | As time dragged on, it became evident to Paul |
| Fair Havens, a harbor near Lesea on the island of | | | | that his case would inevitably end without a |
| Crete. | | | | conviction. In his second letter to Timothy he |
| Here it became evident to Paul that further sailing | | | | expresses this fear. This is a cry of despair for |
| would be dangerous because winter was near and | | | | his life but an expression of faith for the cause |
| the winds would be most unfavorable. When he | | | | for which he had given his life. His work is done |
| told the centurion of his fears, he was ignored | | | | and he is about to be "offered." So he writes to |
| since the master and the owner of the ship | | | | Timothy, his companion and friend, whom he now |
| wanted to get their cargo to Italy as quickly as | | | | longs to see. Others have deserted him and he is |
| possible. Thus they moved out of Fair Havens and | | | | alone save for Luke. So he urges Timothy to |
| set their course for Phoenix. For a few days the | | | | come with all haste, picking up a few other |
| south winds were favorable and it seemed that | | | | friends on the way. |
| the voyage would be completed without any of | | | | Tradition says that Timothy did reach Rome in |
| the dangers predicted by Paul. But, after "no long | | | | time to share Paul's last days but not in time to |
| time," a tempest blew upon them and the ship | | | | do anything to save his friend from condemnation |
| was tossed helplessly in the stormy waters. | | | | under Roman law. Paul was tried, but had no |
| Fearful of being destroyed, the sailors began to | | | | independent evidence to rebut the charges |
| throw overboard first the freight and then the | | | | against him and had to bow to the executioner's |
| ship's gear. This made the boat lighter and easier | | | | sword. The traditional date is June 29 of the year |
| to handle, but the storm was so severe that it | | | | of 62 and the place of execution is said to be the |
| seemed to all only a matter of time before they | | | | Ostian Way some three miles from Rome, |
| would be drowned in their ship. | | | | probably at the modern Tre Fontane. |
| Paul cheered the mariners on and gave them | | | | Even a fair trial should not be forthcoming in |
| hope with the assurance that an angel of God had | | | | Faith? I wonder why? |
| appeared to him the night before saying. "Fear | | | | (Well Paul did, however, say his work is done and |
| not, Paul, thou must stand before Caesar." This | | | | he is about to be "offered." He didn't expect to be |
| was evidence enough for him that he would not | | | | saved this time. His work was done and as a man |
| perish in the sea but would complete his journey | | | | of faith accepted this as part of his spiritual |
| to Rome. | | | | journey). |
| For fourteen days they sailed, no one knew | | | | Will be pleased to see comments left in "ratings" |
| where. The storm beat their ship unmercifully and | | | | for this piece. It'll help. Thank you. |