Reading the Bible can be boring. Many readers become discouraged when trying to understand about people with strange names who lived in far away places a very long time ago. I don't blame a bored reader, however, I encourage bored readers to buy a modern day Bible translation and maybe even a good paraphrase. Today, I'll attempt to put color into some words that have faded with age and thereby add a little bit of sparkle in an ancient Bible story in much the same way that a newer translation does.
The wheat ship story is found in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 27. It involves the Apostle Paul's trip to Italy as a prisoner of the Roman government. Paul is to appear before the emperor and travels to the meeting on a ship. A member of the Emperor's Regiment is assigned to Paul. This Roman officer, named Julius, faces death if Paul escapes.
We pick up the story at verse 6 where Julius books them aboard a ship from Alexandria Egypt heading for Italy. Later in verse 38 we will learn that the vessel was a cargo ship carrying wheat from Egypt to Rome. It is known that ships more than 200 feet in length that were able to carry 1000 tons of freight sailed the Mediterranean in Paul's day. In verse 37 we learn that there were a total of 275 people on board with Paul. It is guessed that 26 would be crew members and 250 would have been passengers. We also know from Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 11:25 that he could not have been excited about another boat trip, since he had been shipwrecked three times before. However, the story begins to take on some vibrant color when we find out what the accommodations were for the ship's passengers.
Lionel Casson in his book Travel In The Ancient World states, "Since the vessels were first and foremost for cargo and carried passengers only incidently, they provided neither food nor services. The crews were solely for working ship; there were no stewards among them to prepare meals or tend cabins. As in earlier times, voyagers went aboard with their servants to take care of their personal needs and with supplies of food and wine (the ships did furnish water). . . . .the great majority of passengers simply purchased deck passage. They slept in the open or under little tentlike shelters that their servants put up every evening and took down every morning. Most ships, even quite small ones, had a well-fitted galley with a hearth for cooking. The crew very probably had first call upon it, but no doubt hours were set aside when passengers were allowed to send their servants to prepare food."
There was no such thing as a scheduled trip. When the winds were favorable and a ship was found heading the direction a person was going, passage was booked. However, before a ship could get underway, the superstitious crew had to be satisfied that all would go well. Usually, for safe passage, a bull or a sheep was sacrificed to Poseidon, god of the sea, but still---bad omens were a problem. For instance, before sailing, if a crow or a magpie sat croaking on the rigging, that was bad, and so was a sneeze as you walked up the gangplank. To see your face upon the moon meant destruction and dreaming of black goats foretold a really bad storm. Furthermore, if you were a passenger and tried to count life boats, that too would be discouraging. There were no lifeboats! The ship's boat was for harbor service and held only a few people.
Finally, there is the comment in verse 20 about not being able to see the sun or stars for many days. These people were lost. We know this because the compass had not been invented yet and navigators on the high seas reckoned their position by the sun in the day and the stars at night. Verse 20 concludes, "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."
Now, armed with this little insight into the voyage, I urge you to reread chapter 27 and see if you understand more clearly what a predicament these people were in. Indeed, reading the Bible can be an exciting and colorful experience. Try reading this section in a modern version and see for yourself.

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

There is never a charge for my articles, and if you have a good reason, there is no limit to how many you may request. However, if you find them valuable you may want to order my latest book, History, Mystery and Facts About the Bible. Order at 1-800-845-7618 (ext. 301). You may also order from Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book go to support this ministry.

Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

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