Homily LIII.

Acts XXVI. 30–32

“And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.”

See how again also they pass sentence in his favor, and after having said, “Thou art beside thyself,” (v. 24) they acquit him, as undeserving not only of death, but also of bonds, and indeed would have released him entirely, if he had not appealed to Cæsar. But this was done providentially, that he should also depart with bonds. “Unto bonds,” he says, “as an evil doer.” (1 Tim. ii. 9.) For if his Lord “was reckoned among the transgressors” (Mark xv. 28), much more he: but as the Lord did not share with them in their character, so neither did Paul. For in this is seen the marvellous thing, the being mixed up with such, and yet receiving no harm from them. “And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon.” (ch. xxvii. 1–3.) See how far Aristarchus also accompanies Paul. To good and useful purpose is Aristarchus present, as he would take back the report of all to Macedonia. “And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. Julius gave Paul liberty,” it says, acting “courteously, that he might refresh himself;” as it was but natural that he should be much the worse from his bonds and the fear, and the being dragged hither and thither. See how the writer does not hide this either, that Paul wished “to refresh himself. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.” (v. 4.) Again trials, again contrary winds. See how the life of the saints is thus interwoven throughout: escaped from the court of justice, they fall in with shipwreck and storm. “And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.” (v. 5, 6.) “A ship of Alexandria,” it says. It is likely that both those (in the former ship) would bear to Asia the report of what had befallen Paul, and that these1153    Καὶ τούτους, meaning perhaps those who remained at Myra. would do the same in Lycia. See how God does not innovate or change the order of nature, but suffers them to sail into the unfavorable winds. But even so the miracle is wrought. That they may sail safely, He did not let them go out in the (open) sea, but they always sailed near the land. “And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; and, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them.” (v. 7–9.) By “the fast” here, I suppose he means that of the Jews.1154    The fast referred to was that which occurred on the great day of atonement (Lev. xxiii. 27) i.e. on the tenth of the seventh month (Tisri). This would be about the end of September, after the autumnal equinox, when navigation was considered dangerous.—G.B.S. For they departed thence a long time after the Pentecost, so that it was much about midwinter that they arrived at the coasts of Crete. And this too was no slight miracle, that they also should be saved on his account. “Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close to Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.1155    Preponderant authority favors the reading εὐρακύλων from εὖρος, the S. E. wind and the Latin Aquilo, a N. wind (so א, B* A. Vulgate Erasmus Mill, Bengel, Olshausen, Hackett, Tischendorf, Lachmann, Tregelles, Westcott and Hort, R.V.) If εὐροκλύδων is read, it is disputed whether the first part of the word is εὖρος (Alford, Gloag, Howson,) or εὐρύς, broad. Meyer defends the latter reading, on the ground that the phrase ὁ καλοὐμενος requires that the word ἐυρ. denote a name and not merely the direction of the wind and that it is easier to suppose that this reading should be modified into the former than the reverse. Alford supposes that εὐρακύλων was the name of the wind, which the Greek sailors did not understand and pronounced εὐροκλύδων. Meyer’s argument is inadequate, and the probabilities favor the reading εὐρακλύδων with the meaning, N. E. wind, a signification, moreover, which answers all the conditions of the narrative. (See Bib. Dict. sub voce.)—G.B.S. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive” (R.V. “were driven.”) (v. 10–15.) Paul therefore advised them to remain, and he foretells what would come of it: but they, being in a hurry, and being prevented by the place, wished to winter at Phenice. Mark then the providential ordering of the events: first indeed, “when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had obtained their purpose,” they loosed the vessel, and came forth; then when the wind bore down upon them, they gave way to it driving them, and were with difficulty saved. “And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands,1156    Rather, “on the Syrtis” (εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν.) There were two shoals on the coast of Africa, called by this name, the Syrtis Major and the Syrtis Minor. The former to the S. W. of Crete is the one here referred to.—G.B.S. strake sail,1157    R.V. “they lowered the gear” (σκεῦος). The word σκεῦος—utensil, implement—is in itself indefinite and must be understood from the context. It has here been taken to mean “anchor;” “mast” (Olshausen); “sail” (Meyer, Lechler, Hackett, A.V.): “gear,” meaning the ropes and topsails in order to set the ship in a direction off shore.—G.B.S. and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 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. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.” (v. 16–21.) Then after so great a storm he does not speak as insultingly over them, but as wishing that at any rate he might be believed for the future. Wherefore also he alleges what had taken place for a testimony of the truth of what was about to be said by him. “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.” (v. 22–26.) And he foretells two things; both that they must be cast upon an island, and that though the ship would be lost, those who were in it should be saved—which thing he spoke not of conjecture, but of prophecy—and that he “must be brought before Cæsar.” But this that he says, “God hath given thee all,” is not spoken boastfully, but in the wish to win those who were sailing in the ship: for (he spoke thus), not that they might feel themselves bound to him, but that they might believe what he was saying. “God hath given thee;” as much (as to say), They are worthy indeed of death, since they would not listen to thee: however, this is done out of favor to thee. “But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.” (v. 27–32.) The sailors however, were about to escape, having no faith in what was said: but the centurion does believe Paul, For he says, If these flee, “ye cannot be saved:” so saying, not on this account, but that he might restrain them, and the prophecy might not fall to the ground. See how as in a church they are instructed by the calmness of Paul’s behavior, how he saved them out of the very midst of the dangers. And it is of providential ordering that Paul is disbelieved, that after proof of the facts, he might be believed: which accordingly was the case. And he exhorts them again to take some meat, and they do as he bids them, and he takes some first, to persuade them not by word, but also by act, that the storm did them no harm, but rather was a benefit to their souls. “And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting having taken nothing.” (v. 33.) 1158    The confusion here has arisen from the scribe’s taking the four last portions a, c, e, g, i.e. 4, 5, 6, 7, and inserting between them the first three b, f, d, but in the order b, d, f, i.e. 1, 3, 2: so that the confused order becomes 4, (1), 5, (3), 6, (2), 7. The texts also needed to be redistruted. Of our mss. A, C, omit all the latter part d, e, f, g: so that B and Cat. are the authorities here followed for the old text. (of N. we have no collation).—In (f), for ἅτε οὐ περὶ τῶν ψυχῶν αὐτῶν ὄντος τοῦ λόγου which we have referred to, “Then were they of good cheer,” viz. because they believed Paul’s assurance that their lives were safe, mod. text substitutes “(they had no care for food,) ἅτε οὐ περὶ τῶν τυχόντων ὄντος τοῦ κινδύνου.” In (d), “κατεῖχον,” τοὺς οἴακας τῇ πνεούσῃ δόντες, the meaning seems to be, they bore right down (upon the shore), letting the rudder-handles go, so that the wind was right astern: πόλλακις γὰρ οὐχ οὕτῳ ποιοῦσιν, for oftentimes they steer not so, but more or less transverse to the line of the wind. Κατέφερον τὸ σκεῦος, τ. ἐ. τὰ ἰστία: what this can mean, we do not understand: but above in v. 17, old text has χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος for χαλ. τὰ ἰστία: hence we read here κατεφέροντο (χαλάσαντες, or some such word) τὸ σκεῦος, τ. ε. τὰ ἰ.—For ἐγκοπτομένης τῆς ῥ& 192·μης we read with the Catena ἐγκ. τῆς πρύμνης. Mod. text substitutes ἐγκόπτοντες (Sav. τος) τοῦ πνεύματος τὴν ῥ& 192·μην.(b) And how, say you, did they go without food, having taken nothing? how did they bear it? Their fear possessed them, and did not let them fall into a desire of food, being, as they were, at the point of extreme jeopardy; (f) but they had no care for food. “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat,” (v. 34–36) seeing that there was no question about their lives being saved. (d) “And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.” (v. 37–41.) “They made towards shore,” having given the rudder-handles to the wind: for oftentimes they do it not in this way. They were borne along, having loosed the rigging, i.e. the sails. “And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves;” for when there is a strong wind, this is the consequence, the stern bearing the brunt (of the storm). (a) “And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.” (v. 42.) Again the devil tries to hinder the prophecy, and they had a mind to kill some, but the centurion suffered them not, that he might save Paul, so much was the centurion attached to him. “But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” (v. 43, 44.) “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.” (ch. xxviii. 1.) Do you mark what good came of the storm? Why then it was no mark of their being forsaken, that the storm came upon them. (c) Now this that happened was in consequence of the season of the year; but the wonder is greater, that at such a season they were saved from the midst of the dangers, both he, and for his sake the rest, (e) and this too in the Hadriatic. There were two hundred and seventy-six souls in all: no small matter this also, if indeed they believed. The voyage was at an unseasonable time. (g) It is natural to suppose they would ask the reason why they were sailing, and would learn all. Nor was it for nothing that the voyage was so protracted; it afforded Paul an opportunity for teaching.

(Recapitulation.) And Paul says, “I perceive that (this voyage will be) with hurt and loss.” (v. 10.) And observe how unassuming the expression is. That he may not seem to prophesy, but to speak as of conjecture, “I perceive,” says he. For they would not have received it, had he said this at the outset. In fact he does prophesy on this former occasion, as he does afterward, and says (there), “The God whom I serve,” leading them on. Then how comes it that it was not “with loss” (of any) “of their lives?” It would have been so, but that God brought them safe through it. For as far as depended on the nature of the thing, they had perished, but God prevented it. Then, to show that it was not from conjecture that he so spake, the master of the ship said the contrary (v. 11), and he a man of experience in the matter: so far was it from being the case that Paul’s advice was given from conjecture. Moreover, the place suggested this same (which the master said), “being not commodious;” and it was evident that from conjecture “the more part advised” (v. 12) as they did, rather than Paul. Then, severe the storm (that ensued), deep the darkness: and that they may not forget, the vessel also goes to pieces, and the corn is flung out and all beside, that they may not have it in their power after this to be shameless. For this is why the vessel goes to pieces, and1159    Καὶ ἐπισφίγγονται αὐτῶν αἱ ψυχαί. Hom. in Matt. p. 60, A. ἐπισφ. is applied to the action of salt in stopping corruption; and ib. 167 B. Christians are the salt of the earth, ἵνα ἐπισφίγγωμεν τοὺς διαρρέοντας. Here in a somewhat similar sense, “the vessel goes to pieces and their (dissolute) souls (which were in danger of going to pieces) are powerfully constricted, held in a close strain, braced to the uttermost.” Mod. text omits this, and for ἵνα μὴ λάθωνται—ἀναισχυντεῖν, substitutes, “That they may not perish, the corn is thrown out and all the rest.”—Below, ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν καὶ τὰ πλείονα λέγῃ τῆς συμφορᾶς: mod. text absurdly substitutes παρατρέχῃ: we insert after this the clause τότε τὰ χρηστὰ προλέγει which our mss. have below after καὶ ὁ φόβος μαρτυρεῖ. their souls are tightly braced. Moreover, both the storm and the darkness contributed not a little to his obtaining the hearing he did. Accordingly observe how the centurion does as he bids him, insomuch that he even let the boat go, and destroyed it. And if the sailors did not as yet comply with his bidding, yet afterwards they do so: for in fact this is a reckless sort of people. (v. 13–20.) “Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me,” etc. (v. 21.) One is not likely to have a good reception, when he chides in the midst of calamity; but1160    Καὶ ἐπισφίγγονται αὐτῶν αἱ ψυχαί. Hom. in Matt. p. 60, A. ἐπισφ. is applied to the action of salt in stopping corruption; and ib. 167 B. Christians are the salt of the earth, ἵνα ἐπισφίγγωμεν τοὺς διαρρέοντας. Here in a somewhat similar sense, “the vessel goes to pieces and their (dissolute) souls (which were in danger of going to pieces) are powerfully constricted, held in a close strain, braced to the uttermost.” Mod. text omits this, and for ἵνα μὴ λάθωνται—ἀναισχυντεῖν, substitutes, “That they may not perish, the corn is thrown out and all the rest.”—Below, ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν καὶ τὰ πλείονα λέγῃ τῆς συμφορᾶς: mod. text absurdly substitutes παρατρέχῃ: we insert after this the clause τότε τὰ χρηστὰ προλέγει which our mss. have below after καὶ ὁ φόβος μαρτυρεῖ. when he tells them what more there is (to come) of the calamity, and then predicts the good, then he is acceptable. Therefore he attacks them then first, when “all hope that they should be saved was taken away:” that none may say, Nothing has come of it. And their fear also bears witness. Moreover, the place is a trying one, for it was in the Adriatic, and then their long abstinence. They were in the midst of death. It was now the fourteenth day that they were going without food, having taken nothing. “Wherefore,” said he, “I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health” (v. 34), that ye should eat, lest ye perish of hunger. Observe, his giving thanks after all that had happened strengthened them. For this showed an assured mind that they would be saved. (b) “Then were they all of good cheer; and they also took some meat.” (v. 36.) And not only so, but henceforth they so cast all their care upon Paul, that they even cast out the corn (v. 37), being so many. (a) Two hundred and seventy-six souls (v. 38): whence had they victuals?1161    πόθεν τὰ σιτηρεσία εἶχον; i.e. what were they to subsist upon, having thrown out the rest of the corn? But they trusted Paul’s assurance for all.(c) See how they do their part as men, and how Paul does not forbid them. “And when it was day,” etc., “they loosed the rudder-bands.” (v. 39, 40.) And the vessel goes to pieces in the daytime, that they may not be clean dissolved with the terror: that you may see the prophecy brought out as fact. “And the soldiers’ counsel,” etc. (v. 42.) Do you mark that in this respect also they were given to Paul? since for his sake the centurion suffered them not to be slain. So confessedly wicked do those men seem to me to have been: insomuch that they would have chosen even to slay them: but some swam on shore, others were borne on boards, and they all were thus saved, and the prophecy received accomplishment; (a prophecy,) although not solemn from length of time, since he did not deliver it a number of years before, but keeping close to the nature of the things themselves: (still a prophecy it was,) for all was beyond the reach of hope. And (so) it was through themselves being saved that they learnt who Paul was. But some one may say: why did he not save the ship? That they might perceive how great a danger they had escaped: and that the whole matter depended, not on the help of man, but on God’s hand saving them independently of a ship. So that righteous men, though they may be in a tempest, or on the sea, or in the deep, suffer nothing dreadful, but even save others together with themselves. If (here was) a ship in danger and suffering wreck, and prisoners were saved for Paul’s sake, consider what a thing it is to have a holy man in a house: for many are the tempests which assail us also, tempests far more grievous than these (natural ones), but He can also give1162    χαρίσασθαι i.e. to the holy man, to be saved for his sake, in like manner as “He gave (κεχάρισται) to Paul them that sailed with him,” v. 24. us to be delivered, if only we obey holy men as those (in the ship) did, if we do what they enjoin. For they are not simply saved, but themselves also contributed to other men’s believing (πίστιν εἰσήνεγκαν). Though the holy man be in bonds, he does greater works than those who are free. And look how this was the case here. The free centurion stood in need of his bound prisoner: the skilful pilot was in want of him who was no pilot—nay rather, of him who was the true pilot. For he steered as pilot not a vessel of this (earthly) kind, but the Church of the whole world, having learnt of Him Who is Lord also of the sea; (steered it,) not by the art of man, but by the wisdom of the Spirit. In this vessel are many shipwrecks, many waves, spirits of wickedness, “from within are fightings, from without are fears” (2 Cor. vii. 5): so that he was the true pilot. Look at our whole life: it is just such (as was this voyage). For at one time we meet with kindliness, at another with a tempest; sometimes from our own want of counsel, sometimes from our idleness, we fall into numberless evils; from our not hearkening to Paul, when we are eager to go somewhither, where he bids us not. For Paul is sailing even now with us, only not bound as he was then: he admonishes us even now, and says to those who are (sailing) on this sea, “take heed unto yourselves: for after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you” (Acts xx. 29): and again, “In the last times perilous times shall come: and men shall be lovers of their own selves, lovers of money, boasters.” (2 Tim. iii. 2.) This is more grievous than all storms. Let us therefore abide where he bids us—in faith, in the safe haven: let us hearken unto him rather than to the pilot that is within us, that is, our own reason. Let us not straightway do just what this may suggest; not what the owner of the ship: no, but what Paul suggests: he has passed through many such tempests. Let us not learn (to our cost) by experience, but before the experience let us “avoid both harm and loss.” Hear what he says: “They that will be rich fall into temptation.” (1 Tim. vi. 9.) Let us therefore obey him; else, see what they suffered, because they did not take his counsel. And again he tells in another place what causes shipwrecks: “Who,” he says, “have made shipwreck concerning the faith. But do thou continue in the things which thou hast learned and wast assured of.” (1 Tim. i. 19.) Let us obey Paul: though we be in the midst of a tempest, we shall surely be freed from the dangers: though we remain without food fourteen days, though hope of safety may have left us, though we be in darkness and mist, by doing his bidding, we shall be freed from the dangers. Let us think that the whole world is a ship, and in this the evildoers and those who have numberless vices, some rulers, others guards, others just men, as Paul was, others prisoners, those bound by their sins: if then we do as Paul bids us, we perish not in our bonds, but are released from them: God will give us also to him. Or think you not that sins and passions are grievous bonds? for it is not the hands only that are bound, but the whole man. For tell me, when any one possessed of much money uses it not, nor spends it, but keeps it close, is he not bound more grievously than any prisoner by his miserliness, a bond that cannot be broken? What again, when a man gives himself up to (the belief in) Fate, is not he too bound with other fetters? What, when he gives himself up to observations (of times)? What, when to omens? are not these more grievous than all bonds? What again, when he gives himself up to an unreasonable lust and to love? Who shall break in pieces these bonds for you? There is need of God’s help that they may be loosed. But when there are both bonds and tempest, think how great is the amount of dangers. For which of them is not enough to destroy? The hunger, the tempest, the wickedness of those on board, the unfitness of the season? But against all these, Paul’s glory stood its ground. So is it now: let us keep the saints near us, and there will be no tempest: or rather, though there be a tempest, there will be great calm and tranquillity, and freedom from dangers: since that widow had the saint for her friend, and the death of her child was loosed, and she received back her son alive again. (1 Kings xvii. 17.) Where the feet of saints step, there will be nothing painful; and if such should happen, it is for proving us and for the greater glory of God. Accustom the floor of thy house to be trodden by such feet, and an evil spirit will not tread there. For as where a sweet odor is, there a bad odor will not find place: so where the holy unguent is, there the evil spirit is choked, and it gladdens those who are near it, it delights, it refreshes the soul. Where thorns are, there are wild beasts: where hospitality is, there are no thorns: for almsgiving having entered in, more keenly than any sickle it destroys the thorns, more violently than any fire. Be not thou afraid: (the wicked one) fears the tracks of saints, as foxes do lions. For “the righteous,” it says, “is as bold as alion.” (Prov. xxviii. 1.) Let us bring these lions into our house, and all the wild beasts are put to flight, the lions not needing to roar, but simply to utter their voice. For not so much does the roaring of a lion put the wild beasts to flight, as the prayer of a righteous man puts to flight evil spirits: let him but speak, they cower. And where are such men now to be found, you will say? Everywhere, if we believe, if we seek, if we take pains. Where hast thou sought, tell me? When didst thou take this work in hand? When didst thou make this thy business? But if thou seekest not, marvel not that thou dost not find. For “he that seeketh findeth” (Matt. vii. 7), not he that seeketh not. Listen to those who live in deserts: away with thy gold and silver: (such holy men) are to be found in every part of the world. Though thou receive not such an one in thy house, yet go thou to him, live with the man, be at his dwelling-place, that thou mayest be able to obtain and enjoy his blessing. For a great thing it is to receive a blessing from the saints: which let us be careful to obtain, that being helped by their prayers we may enjoy mercy from God, through the grace and loving-kindness of His only-begotten Son, with Whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost together be glory, might, honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΝΓʹ. Ἀνέστη δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ὁ ἡγεμὼν, ἥ τε Βερνίκη, καὶ οἱ συγκαθήμενοι αὐτοῖς: καὶ ἀναχωρήσαν τες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, λέγοντες, ὅτι Οὐδὲν θανάτου ἄξιον ἢ δεσμῶν πράσσει ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος. Ἀγρίππας δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη: Ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, εἰ μὴ ἐπεκέκλητο Καίσαρα. αʹ. Ὅρα πῶς καὶ πάλιν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ψηφίζονται: καὶ μετὰ τὸ εἰπεῖν, Μαίνῃ, ἀφιᾶσιν αὐτὸν, οὐ τοῦ θανάτου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν δεσμῶν: καὶ τέλεον ἂν ἀφῆκαν, εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα ἐπεκέκλητο. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτο οἰκονομικῶς γέγονεν: οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ μετὰ δεσμῶν ἀπελθεῖν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγε: Μέχρι δεσμῶν ὡς κακοῦργος. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος αὐτοῦ μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οὗτος: ἀλλ' ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος οὐκ ἐκοινώνησε τῆς δόξης, οὕτως οὐδὲ οὗτος. Τὸ γὰρ θαυμαστὸν τότε φαίνεται, τὸ ἀναμεμιγμένον τούτοις μηδὲν παρ' αὐτῶν βλάπτεσθαι. Ὡς δὲ ἐκρίθη τοῦ ἀποπλεῖν ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν, παρεδίδουν τόν τε Παῦλον καί τινας ἑτέρους δεσμώτας ἑκατοντάρχῃ, ὀνόματι Ἰουλίῳ, σπείρας Σεβαστῆς. Ἐπιβάντες δὲ πλοίῳ Ἀδραμυτηνῷ, μέλλοντες πλεῖν τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν τόπους, ἀνήχθημεν, ὄντος σὺν ἡμῖν Ἀριστάρχου Μακεδόνος Θεσσαλονικέως. Τῇ δὲ ἑτέρᾳ κατήχθημεν εἰς Σιδῶνα. Ὅρα μέχρι ποῦ συνέρχεται τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ Ἀρίσταρχος. Καλῶς καὶ χρησίμως πάρεστιν ὁ Ἀρίσταρχος, μέλλων ἅπαντα ἀπαγγέλλειν εἰς Μακεδονίαν. Φιλανθρώπως τε ὁ Ἰούλιος τῷ Παύλῳ χρησάμενος, ἐπέτρεψε πρὸς τοὺς φίλους πορευθέντα ἐπιμελείας τυχεῖν. Κἀκεῖθεν ἀναχθέντες ὑπεπλεύσαμεν τὴν Κύπρον διὰ τὸ τοὺς ἀνέμους εἶναι ἐναντίους. Ἐπέτρεψε, φησὶ, Ἰούλιος, φιλανθρώπως τῷ Παύλῳ χρησάμενος. Καλῶς ποιῶν τοῦτο ἐπιτρέπει, ὥστε ἐπιμελείας τυχεῖν ἀπελθόντα παρὰ τοὺς γνωρίμους: εἰκὸς γὰρ ἦν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ πολλῆς κακώσεως εἶναι τῶν δεσμῶν, τοῦ φόβου, τοῦ ἄγεσθαι καὶ φέρεσθαι. Ὅρα πῶς οὐδὲ τοῦτο κρύπτει, ὅτι ἐβούλετο ἐπιμελείας τυχεῖν. Πάλιν πειρασμοὶ, πάλιν ἄνεμοι ἐναντίοι. Ὅρα διὰ πάντων οὕτω τὸν βίον τῶν ἁγίων ὑφαινόμενον: ἐξέφυγον τὸ δικαστήριον, καὶ περιπίπτουσι ναυαγίῳ καὶ χειμῶνι: ὃ καὶ δηλῶν, ἐπάγει: Τό τε πέλαγος τὸ κατὰ τὴν Κιλικίαν καὶ Παμφυλίαν διαπλεύσαντες, κατήλθομεν εἰς Μύρα τῆς Λυκίας. Κἀκεῖ εὑρὼν ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος πλοῖον Ἀλεξανδρῖνον πλέον εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν, ἀνεβίβασεν ἡμᾶς εἰς αὐτό. Εὑρὼν πλοῖον, φησὶν, Ἀλεξανδρῖνον. Εἰκότως εὑρίσκεται, ὥστε κἀκείνους ἀπαγγεῖλαι εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν τὰ κατὰ τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τούτους εἰς τὴν Λυκίαν. Ὅρα τὸν Θεὸν οὐδὲν καινίζοντα οὐδὲ μεταβάλλοντα, ἀλλὰ ἀφιέντα αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀνέμους τοὺς ἀνεπιτηδείους πλεῖν. Ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτω θαῦμα ἐργάζεται. Ὥστε γὰρ ἀσφαλῶς πλεῖν, οὐκ ἀφῆκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς πέλαγος, ἀλλ' ἀεὶ παρὰ γῆν ἔπλεον. Ἐν ἱκαναῖς δὲ ἡμέραις βραδυπλοοῦντες, καὶ μόλις γενόμενοι κατὰ τὴν Κνίδον, μὴ προσεῶντος ἡμᾶς τοῦ ἀνέμου, ὑπεπλεύσαμεν τὴν Κρήτην κατὰ Σαλμώνην: μόλις τε παραλεγόμενοι αὐτὴν, ἤλθομεν εἰς τόπον τινὰ καλούμενον Καλοὺς λιμένας, ᾧ ἐγγὺς ἦν πόλις Λασαία. Ἱκανοῦ δὲ χρόνου διαγενομένου, καὶ ὄντος ἤδη τοῦ πλοὸς ἐπισφαλοῦς διὰ τὸ καὶ τὴν νηστείαν ἤδη παρεληλυθέναι, παρῄνει ὁ Παῦλος, αὐτοῖς λέγων: Ἄνδρες, θεωρῶ, ὅτι μετὰ ὕβρεως καὶ πολλῆς ζημίας οὐ μόνον τοῦ φορτίου καὶ τοῦ πλοίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι τὸν πλοῦν. Ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος τῷ κυβερνήτῃ καὶ τῷ ναυκλήρῳ ἐπείθετο μᾶλλον, ἢ τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου λεγομένοις. Τὴν νηστείαν ἐνταῦθα τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων λέγειν ἡγοῦμαι. Μετὰ γὰρ τὴν Πεντηκοστὴν ἐξῆλθον ἐκεῖθεν μετὰ πολὺν χρόνον, ὡς ἐν αὐτῷ σχεδὸν τῷ χειμῶνι παραγενέσθαι εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Κρήτης. Καὶ τοῦτο δὲ οὐ μικρὸν θαῦμα, τὸ διασωθῆναι δι' αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκείνους. Ἄνδρες, θεωρῶ, ὅτι μετὰ ὕβρεως καὶ πολλῆς ζημίας, φησὶν, οὐ μόνον τοῦ φορτίου καὶ τοῦ πλοίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι τὸν πλοῦν. Ὁ μὲν οὖν Παῦλος ἐκέλευσε μένειν, καὶ τὰ μέλλοντα προλέγει: ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐπειγόμενοι, καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ τόπου κωλυόμενοι, ἤθελον εἰς Φοίνικα παραχειμάσαι. βʹ. Καὶ σκόπει τὴν οἰκονομίαν: πρῶτον μὲν ἦραν τὸ σκάφος καὶ ἐξήρχοντο, ἔπειτα ὡς ἐνέπεσεν ἄνεμος, ἐδίδουν τῷ φέροντι, καὶ μόλις ἐσώζοντο. Ἀνευθέτου δὲ τοῦ λιμένος ὑπάρχοντος πρὸς παραχειμασίαν, οἱ πλείους ἔθεντο βουλὴν ἀναχθῆναι ἐκεῖθεν, εἴ πως δύναιντο καταντήσαντες εἰς Φοίνικα παραχειμάσαι, λιμένα τῆς Κρήτης βλέποντα κατὰ λίβα καὶ κατὰ Χῶρον. Ὑποπνεύσαντος δὲ νότου, δόξαντες τῆς προθέσεως κεκρατηκέναι, ἄραντες Ἄσσον, παρελέγοντο τὴν Κρήτην. Μετ' οὐ πολὺ δὲ ἔβαλε κατ' αὐτὴν ἄνεμος τυφωνικὸς, ὁ καλούμενος Εὐροκλύδων: συναρπασθέντος δὲ τοῦ πλοίου καὶ μὴ δυναμένου ἀντοφθαλμεῖν τῷ ἀνέμῳ, ἐπιδόντες ἐφερόμεθα. Νησίον δέ τι ὑποδραμόντες καλούμενον Κλαύδην, μόλις ἰσχύσαμεν περικρατεῖς γενέσθαι τῆς σκάφης: ἣν ἄραντες, βοηθείαις ἐχρῶντο ὑποζωννύντες τὸ πλοῖον: φοβούμενοί τε μὴ εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσι, χαλάσαντες τὰ ἱστία οὕτως ἐφέροντο. Σφοδρῶς δὲ χειμαζομένων ἡμῶν, τῇ ἑξῆς ἐκβολὴν ἐποιοῦντο: καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ αὐτόχειρες τὴν σκευὴν τοῦ πλοίου ἐῤῥίψαμεν. Μήτε δὲ ἡλίου μήτε ἄστρων ἐπιφαινομένων ἐπὶ πλείονας ἡμέρας, χειμῶνός τε οὐκ ὀλίγου ἐπικειμένου, λοιπὸν περιῃρεῖτο πᾶσα ἐλπὶς τοῦ σώζεσθαι ἡμᾶς. Πολλῆς δὲ ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης, τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν, εἶπεν. Ὅρα: μετὰ τὸν τοσοῦτον χειμῶνα οὐκ ἐπεμβαίνων αὐτοῖς διαλέγεται, ἀλλὰ βουλόμενος κἂν εἰς τὸ μέλλον πιστευθῆναι. Ὅθεν καὶ τὰ γεγενημένα παραλαμβάνει εἰς μαρτυρίαν τῆς τῶν ῥηθησομένων ἀληθείας. Καὶ δύο προλέγει, ὅτι τε εἰς νῆσον ἐκπεσεῖν δεῖ, καὶ ὅτι τὸ μὲν πλοῖον ἀπολεῖται, οἱ δὲ ἐνόντες σωθήσονται (ὅπερ οὐκ ἦν στοχασμοῦ, ἀλλὰ προφητείας), καὶ ὅτι αὐτὸν Καίσαρι δεῖ παραστῆναι. Τὸ δὲ, Κεχάρισταί σοι ὁ Θεὸς ἅπαντας, ὅπερ εἶπεν, οὐκ ἀλαζονείας ἐστὶν, ἀλλὰ βουλομένου προσαγαγέσθαι τοὺς ἐμπλέοντας: οὐχ ἵνα γὰρ αὐτῷ χάριν ἔχωσιν, ἀλλ' ἵνα πείθωνται τοῖς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ λεγομένοις, οὕτως εἶπε. Τὸ δὲ, Κεχάρισταί σοι ὁ Θεὸς, τῷ Παύλῳ εἴρηται. Τοῦτο μονονουχὶ λέγων αὐτῷ: Ἄξιοι μὲν εἰσὶν ἀποθανεῖν, ἐπειδὴ παρήκουσαν: πλὴν εἰς τὴν χάριν τὴν σὴν τοῦτο γίνεται. Πολλῆς δὲ, φησὶν, ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης, τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν: Ἔδει μὲν, ὦ ἄνδρες, πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι, μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης, κερδῆσαί τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν. Καὶ τανῦν παραινῶ ὑμᾶς εὐθυμεῖν: ἀποβολὴ γὰρ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν, πλὴν τοῦ πλοίου. Παρέστη γάρ μοι ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι, ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, λέγων: Μὴ φοβοῦ, Παῦλε: Καίσαρί σε δεῖ παραστῆναι: καὶ ἰδοὺ κεχάρισταί σοι ὁ Θεὸς πάντας τοὺς πλέοντας μετὰ σοῦ. Διὸ εὐθυμεῖτε, ἄνδρες: πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ, ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται καθ' ὃν τρόπον λελάληταί μοι. Εἰς νῆσον δέ τινα δεῖ ἡμᾶς ἐκπεσεῖν. Ὡς δὲ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτη νὺξ ἐγένετο, διαφερομένων ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ Ἀδρίᾳ κατὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτὸς, ὑπενόουν οἱ ναῦται προσάγειν τινὰ αὐτοῖς χώραν: καὶ βολίσαντες, εὗρον ὀργυιὰς κʹ: βραχὺ δὲ διαστήσαντες καὶ πάλιν βολίσαντες, εὗρον ὀργυιὰς ιεʹ: φοβούμενοί τε μή πως εἰς τραχεῖς τόπους ἐκπέσωμεν, ἐκ πρύμνης ῥίψαντες ἀγκύρας τέσσαρας, εὔχοντο ἡμέραν γενέσθαι. Τῶν δὲ ναυτῶν ζητούντων φυγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου, καὶ χαλασάντων τὴν σκάφην εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, προφάσει ὡς ἐκ πρώρας μελλόντων ἀγκύρας ἐκτείνειν, εἶπεν ὁ Παῦλος τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις: Ἐὰν μὴ οὗτοι μείνωσιν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, ὑμεῖς σωθῆναι οὐ δύνασθε. Τότε οἱ στρατιῶται ἀπέκοψαν τὰ σχοινία τῆς σκάφης, καὶ εἴασαν αὐτὴν ἐκπεσεῖν. Ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι ἔμελλον οἱ ναῦται φεύγειν ἀπιστοῦντες τῷ λεγομένῳ: ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος πιστεύει σὺν τοῖς στρατιώταις. Διὸ καί φησιν: Ἐὰν οὗτοι φύγωσιν, ὑμεῖς σωθῆναι οὐ δύνασθε: οὐ διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὼν, ἀλλ' ἵνα κατάσχῃ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἡ προφητεία μὴ διαπέσῃ. Ὅρα καθάπερ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ παιδευομένους αὐτοὺς τοῦ Παύλου τὴν φιλοσοφίαν, οὓς καὶ ἐκ μέσων αὐτῶν σώζει τῶν κινδύνων. Καὶ οἰκονομικῶς ἀπιστεῖται ὁ Παῦλος, ἵνα μετὰ τὴν πεῖραν τῶν πραγμάτων πιστευθῇ: ὅπερ οὖν καὶ γέγονε. Καὶ παραινεῖ πάλιν μεταλαβεῖν τροφῆς, καὶ πείθονται: καὶ αὐτὸς πρῶτος μεταλαμβάνει, οὐ λόγῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔργῳ πείθων ὡς οὐδὲν ἔβλαψεν ὁ χειμὼν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον αὐτῶν τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ ὠφέλησεν. Ἄχρι δὲ οὗ ἔμελλεν ἡμέραν γίνεσθαι, παρεκάλει ὁ Παῦλος ἅπαντας μεταλαβεῖν τροφῆς, λέγων: Τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην σήμερον ἡμέραν προσδοκῶντες, ἄσιτοι διατελεῖτε μηδὲν προσλαβόμενοι. Διὸ παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς μεταλαβεῖν τροφῆς: τοῦτο γὰρ πρὸς τῆς ὑμετέρας σωτηρίας ὑπάρχει: οὐδενὸς γὰρ ὑμῶν θρὶξ τῆς κεφαλῆς πεσεῖται. Εἰπὼν δὲ ταῦτα, καὶ λαβὼν ἄρτον, εὐχαρίστησε τῷ Θεῷ ἐνώπιον πάντων, καὶ κλάσας ἤρξατο ἐσθίειν. Εὔθυμοι δὲ γενόμενοι πάντες, καὶ αὐτοὶ προσελάβοντο τροφῆς. Ἦμεν δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ αἱ πᾶσαι ψυχαὶ διακόσιαι ἑβδομηκονταέξ. Κορεσθέντες δὲ τῆς τροφῆς, ἐκούφιζον τὸ πλοῖον, ἐκβαλλόμενοι τὸν σῖτον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν. Ὅτε δὲ ἡμέρα ἐγένετο, τὴν γῆν οὐκ ἐπεγίνωσκον: κόλπον δέ τινα κατενόουν ἔχοντα αἰγιαλὸν, εἰς ὃν ἐβουλεύσαντο, εἰ δυνατὸν, ἐξῶσαι τὸ πλοῖον. Καὶ τὰς ἀγκύρας περιελόντες εἴων εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἅμα ἀνέντες τὰς ζευκτηρίας τῶν πηδαλίων: καὶ ἐπάραντες τὸν ἀρτέμονα, τῇ πνεούσῃ κατεῖχον εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν. Περιπεσόντες δὲ εἰς τόπον διθάλασσον, ἐπώκειλαν τὴν ναῦν: καὶ ἡ μὲν πρῶρα ἐρείσασα, ἔμεινεν ἀσάλευτος, ἡ δὲ πρύμνα ἐλύετο ὑπὸ τῆς βίας τῶν κυμάτων. γʹ. Πάλιν πειρᾶται ὁ διάβολος ἐμποδίσαι τῇ προφητείᾳ: καὶ ἐβουλεύοντό τινας ἀνελεῖν, ἀλλ' οὐκ εἴασεν ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος, ἵνα τὸν Παῦλον σώσῃ: οὕτως ἤδη ᾠκειωμένος ἦν αὐτῷ. Τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν βουλὴ ἐγένετο, ἵνα τοὺς δεσμώτας ἀποκτείνωσι, μή τις ἐκκολυμβήσας διαφύγῃ. Ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος βουλόμενος διασῶσαι τὸν Παῦλον, ἐκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς τοῦ βουλήματος, ἐκέλευσέ τε τοὺς δυναμένους κολυμβᾷν ἀποῤῥίψαντας πρώτους ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐξιέναι, καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς οὓς μὲν ἐπὶ σανίσιν, οὓς δὲ ἐπί τινων τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου. Καὶ οὕτως ἐγένετο πάντας διασωθῆναι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν. Καὶ διασωθέντες, τότε ἐπέγνωσαν, ὅτι Μελίτη ἡ νῆσος καλεῖται. Ὁρᾷς ὅσον γέγονεν ἀγαθὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ χειμῶνος; Οὐκ ἄρα ἐγκαταλείψεως ἦν ὁ χειμών. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, ἔφερον ἄσιτοι ὄντες καὶ μηδενὸς μεταλαβόμενοι; Ὁ φόβος κατεῖχεν αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐκ εἴα εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν τροφῆς ἐμπεσεῖν, μέλλοντας ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐσχάτων κινδυνεύειν. Τὸ μὲν οὖν γενόμενον ἀπὸ τοῦ καιροῦ ἐγένετο: τὸ δὲ θαῦμα μεῖζον, ὅτι ἐν καιρῷ τοιούτῳ ἐκ μέσων ἐσώθησαν τῶν κινδύνων, αὐτός τε καὶ δι' αὐτὸν οἱ λοιποί. Καὶ ἐπάραντες τὸν ἀρτέμονα, τῇ πνεούσῃ κατεῖχον εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν. Τοῦτο εἶπε, τὴν βίαν δεῖξαι βουλόμενος, ἢν ὑπέμενον χειμαζόμενοι: πολλάκις γὰρ οὐχ οὕτω ποιοῦσι. Διὸ καὶ κατήγαγον τὴν ὀθόνην, τουτέστι τὰ ἱστία (ὅταν γὰρ σφοδρὸς ἄνεμος ᾖ, τοῦτο γίνεται), ἐγκόπτοντες τοῦ πνεύματος τὴν ῥύμην. Ταῦτα δὲ πάσχουσιν ἐν τῷ Ἀδρίᾳ, ἔνθα τὸ σώζεσθαι χαλεπόν. Ἦμεν δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ αἱ πᾶσαι ψυχαὶ διακόσιαι ἑβδομηκονταέξ. Καὶ πόθεν δῆλον, ὅτι τοσοῦτοι ἦσαν οἱ συμπλέοντες; Εἰκὸς ἦν αὐτοὺς ἐρωτᾷν τὴν αἰτίαν, δι' ἣν πλέουσι, καὶ μαθεῖν πάντα. Οἱ δὲ οὐδενὸς μετέλαβον, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς φροντὶς τροφῆς, ἅτε οὐ περὶ τῶν τυχόντων ὄντος τοῦ κινδύνου. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς οὐχ ἁπλῶς οὐδὲ ἡ παρολκὴ τοῦ πλοὸς γέγονε τῷ Παύλῳ, οὐδὲ ἄκαιρος ὁ πλοῦς, ἀλλὰ ποιεῖται αὐτὸν διδασκαλίας καιρόν. Οὐ μικρὸν δὲ τοῦτο, εἴ γε πάντες οὗτοι ἐπίστευσαν. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν ἄνωθεν τὰ εἰρημένα. Ἱκανοῦ δὲ χρόνου διαγενομένου, καὶ ὄντος ἤδη ἐπισφαλοῦς τοῦ πλοὸς, παρῄνει ὁ Παῦλος λέγων αὐτοῖς: Ἄνδρες, θεωρῶ, ὅτι μετὰ ὕβρεως καὶ ζημίας μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι τὸν πλοῦν. Ὅρα τὸ ἄτυφον: ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ προφητεύειν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀπὸ στοχασμοῦ λέγειν, Θεωρῶ, φησίν: οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐδέξαντο, εὐθέως εἰ τοῦτο εἶπε. Πρότερον γοῦν προφητεύει, καὶ λέγει: Ὁ Θεὸς, ᾧ λατρεύω, ἐνάγων αὐτούς. Πῶς οὖν οὐκ ἐγένετο μετὰ ζημίας ψυχῶν; Ἐγένετο ἂν, εἰ μὴ ὁ Θεὸς διέσωσεν. Ὅσον γὰρ κατὰ τὴν φύσιν τοῦ πράγματος, ἀπώλοντο ἄν: ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς ἐκώλυσεν. Ὁ δὲ ἑκατοντάρχης, φησὶ, τῷ κυβερνήτῃ μᾶλλον ἐπείθετο ἢ τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου λεγομένοις. Ἵνα δειχθῇ, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπὸ στοχασμοῦ ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, ὁ κυβερνήτης τὰ ἐναντία λέγει, καὶ ταῦτα ἔμπειρος ὤν: οὕτως οὐκ ἀπὸ στοχασμοῦ ἦν τὰ λεγόμενα. Ἀνευθέτου δὲ τοῦ λιμένος, φησὶν, ὑπάρχοντος. Ὅρα καὶ ὁ τόπος διδάσκει μὴ ἀπὸ στοχασμοῦ εἶναι, ἀνεύθετος ὤν: μᾶλλον δὲ ἀπὸ στοχασμοῦ φαίνονται λέγοντες ἐκείνων οἱ πλείους, οἳ καὶ βουλεύονται ἀναχθῆναι ἐκεῖθεν: ἀλλ' οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς πλέον ἐκ τούτου γίνεται: περιπίπτουσι γὰρ κλύδωνι, καὶ ἐκβολὴν ὧν ἐπεφέροντο ποιοῦνται. Διὸ καὶ τοῦτο δηλῶν, ἐπήγαγε: Σφοδρῶς δὲ χειμαζομένων ἡμῶν, αὐτόχειρες τὴν σκευὴν τοῦ πλοίου ἐῤῥίψαμεν. Ἵνα μὴ ἔχωσι μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπειθεῖν, ταῦτα συγχωρεῖται. Καὶ χαλεπὸς χειμὼν ἐγείρεται, καὶ πολὺ τὸ σκότος γίνεται. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ ἀπόλωνται, καὶ ὁ σῖτος ῥίπτεται καὶ πάντα: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι, Τὴν σκευὴν τοῦ πλοίου ἐῤῥίψαμεν. Πολλῆς δὲ ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης, εἶπεν ὁ Παῦλος: Ἔδει πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι κερδῆσαι τὴν ζημίαν. Εἶδες, πῶς οὐ μικρὰ πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόασιν συνεβάλετο καὶ ὁ χειμὼν καὶ τὸ σκότος; Καὶ ὅρα πῶς πείθεται ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος, ὥστε καὶ τὴν σκάφην ἀφεῖναι καὶ ἀπολέσαι. Εἰ δὲ οἱ ναῦται οὐδέπω ἐπείσθησαν, ἀλλ' ὕστερον πείθονται, μὴ θαυμάσῃς: καὶ γὰρ τὸ γένος τὸ τούτων ἰταμόν πώς ἐστι καὶ σκληρὸν πρὸς τὸ πείθεσθαι. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει τὴν σύνεσιν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν τοῦ Παύλου. Οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτιμᾷ καὶ τραχύνεται, ἀλλ' ἡμέρως, Οὕτως ἔδει, φησίν. Ἤ|δει γὰρ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν εὐπαράδεκτος ἐγκαλῶν τις ἐν συμφορᾷ, ἀλλ' ὅταν καὶ τὰ πλείονα παρατρέχῃ τῆς συμφορᾶς, τότε εὐπαράδεκτος γίνεται. Τότε τοίνυν ἐπιτίθεται, ὅτε πᾶσα ἡ ἐλπὶς τοῦ σωθῆναι περιῃρέθη: τότε καὶ τὰ χρηστὰ προλέγει. Ὡς δὲ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτη νὺξ ἐγένετο, φησὶ, φοβούμενοι ηὔχοντο ἡμέραν γενέσθαι. Ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ, ὅτι οὐδὲν γέγονε, τοῦτο ἐπήγαγε, δεικνὺς πάντα γεγονότα. Ὅτι δὲ γέγονε, καὶ ὁ φόβος μαρτυρεῖ: Ηὔχοντο γὰρ, φησὶν, ἡμέραν γενέσθαι φοβούμενοι. Καὶ ὁ τόπος χαλεπός: κατὰ γὰρ τὸν Ἀδρίαν ταῦτα συμβαίνει: καὶ ἡ ἀσιτία ἡ πολλή: Τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην γὰρ σήμερον ἡμέραν προσδοκῶντες ἄσιτοι διατελεῖτε. Ὥστε ἐξ ἁπάντων ἐν μέσῳ ἦσαν θανάτου: διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει: Παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς προσλαβεῖν τροφῆς. Τοῦτο γὰρ πρὸς τῆς ὑμετέρας σωτηρίας ὑπάρχει: τουτέστι, Μή ποτε λιμῷ διαφθαρῆτε, τροφῆς μεταλάβετε. Λαβὼν δὲ ἄρτον, φησὶν, εὐχαρίστησε τῷ Θεῷ. δʹ. Ὅρα, τὸ εὐχαριστῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς γεγενημένοις οὐ μόνον αὐτοὺς ἐπέῤῥωσεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐθύμους ποιεῖ. Ἦμεν δὲ, φησὶ, πᾶσαι αἱ ψυχαὶ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ διακόσιαι ἑβδομηκονταέξ. Περὶ τούτων ἔλεγεν: Ἀποβολὴ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν. Τοῦτο πεπληροφορημένης ψυχῆς, τὸ εἰπεῖν, ὅτι σωθήσονται. Κορεσθέντες δὲ τῆς τροφῆς ἐκούφιζον τὸ πλοῖον ἐκβαλλόμενοι τὸν σῖτον. Ὁρᾷς; πρὸς τὸ λαβεῖν τροφὴν πείθονται μόνον: ἀλλ' οὕτω λοιπὸν τὸ πᾶν ἔῤῥιψαν ἐπὶ τὸν Παῦλον, ὡς καὶ τὸν σῖτον ἐκβαλεῖν. Ὅρα αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ ἀνθρώπινα ποιοῦντας, καὶ οὐ κωλύοντα τὸν Παῦλον. Ὅτε δὲ, φησὶν, ἡμέρα ἐγένετο, ἀνῆκαν τὰς ζευκτηρίας. Διαλύεται τὸ πλοῖον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, ἵνα μὴ τῷ φόβῳ διαλυθῶσιν, ἵνα ἴδῃς ἔργῳ τὴν προφητείαν. Τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν βουλὴ ἐγένετο, ἵνα τοὺς δεσμώτας ἀποκτείνωσιν. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι καὶ κατὰ τοῦτο τῷ Παύλῳ ἐχαρίσθησαν; διὰ γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐκ εἴασεν αὐτοὺς ἀναιρεθῆναι ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος. Οὕτω μοι δοκοῦσιν ὡμολογημένοι εἶναι κακοὶ ἐκεῖνοι, ὥστε ἑλέσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀνελεῖν ἀλλ' οὐδὲν πλέον γέγονε, τοῦ βουλήματος κωλυθέντος, ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν ἐξεκολύμβησαν, οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ σανίδων ἐφέροντο, καὶ πάντες οὕτως ἐσώθησαν, καὶ ἡ προφητεία τέλος ἐλάμβανεν, εἰ καὶ μὴ τῷ χρόνῳ σεμνή τις οὖσα: οὐ γὰρ πρὸ πολλῶν ἐτῶν αὐτὴν προεῖπεν, ἀλλὰ τῇ φύσει τῶν πραγμάτων ἑπόμενος: ἀνέλπιστα γὰρ ἦν πάντα, καὶ διὰ τῆς οἰκείας σωτηρίας ἐμάνθανον τίς ὁ Παῦλος ἦν. Ἀλλ' εἴποι ἄν τις: Διὰ τί μὴ καὶ τὸ πλοῖον διέσωσεν; Ἵνα μάθωσιν οἷον κίνδυνον διέφυγον: ὅτι οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνης βοηθείας ἦν τὸ πᾶν, ἀλλὰ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ χειρὸς χωρὶς πλοίου σωζούσης. Ὥστε οἱ δίκαιοι κἂν ἐν χειμῶνι ὦσι, κἂν ἐν θαλάσσῃ, κἂν ἐν πελάγει, οὐδὲν πάσχουσι δεινὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑτέρους συνδιασώζουσιν. Εἰ πλοῖον κινδυνεῦον καὶ ναυάγιον ὑπομένον, καὶ δεσμῶται διὰ Παῦλον ἐσώθησαν, ἐννόησον, τί ἐστιν ἅγιον ἄνδρα εἶναι ἐν οἰκίᾳ: πολλοὶ γὰρ οἱ χειμῶνες καὶ ἡμῖν ἐφίστανται, καὶ πολλῷ τούτων χαλεπώτεροι, ἀλλὰ δύναται καὶ ἡμᾶς χαρίσασθαι, μόνον ἐὰν πειθώμεθα τοῖς ἁγίοις καθάπερ ἐκεῖνοι, ἂν ποιῶμεν ἃ προστάττουσιν. Οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς σώζονται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ πίστιν εἰσήνεγκαν. Κἂν δέσμιος ᾖ ὁ ἅγιος, τῶν λελυμένων μείζονα ἐργάζεται. Καὶ σκόπει τοῦτο ἐνταῦθα γεγενημένον. Ὁ λελυμένος ἑκατόνταρχος αὐτοῦ ἐδεῖτο τοῦ δεδεμένου: ὁ ἐπιστήμων κυβερνήτης τοῦ μὴ κυβερνήτου ἔχρῃζε, μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦ ὄντως κυβερνήτου. Οὐ γὰρ τοιοῦτον ἐκυβέρνα σκάφος, ἀλλὰ τῆς οἰκουμένης τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, παρ' ἐκείνου μαθὼν τοῦ καὶ θαλάσσης Δεσπότου, οὐκ ἀνθρωπίνῃ τέχνῃ, ἀλλὰ πνευματικῇ σοφίᾳ. Ἐν τῷ σκάφει τούτῳ πολλὰ ναυάγια, πολλὰ κύματα, πνεύματα πονηρίας, Ἔσωθεν μάχαι, ἔξωθεν φόβοι: ὥστε ὁ ὄντως κυβερνήτης ἐκεῖνος ἦν. Ὅρα δὴ τὸν βίον ἡμῶν ἅπαντα πῶς τοιοῦτός ἐστι. Ποτὲ μὲν γὰρ φιλανθρωπίας ἀπολαύομεν, ποτὲ δὲ χειμῶνος, ποτὲ καὶ παρ' οἰκείαν ἀβουλίαν, καὶ παρὰ τὸ ῥᾳθυμεῖν δὲ μυρίοις ἐμπίπτομεν κακοῖς: μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦτο γίνεται, παρὰ τὸ μὴ ἀκούειν Παύλου, ὅταν ἐπειγώμεθά που ἀπελθεῖν, ἔνθα μὴ κελεύει. Συμπλεῖ γὰρ καὶ νῦν ἡμῖν, ἀλλ' οὐ δεδεμένος, καθάπερ τότε: παραινεῖ καὶ νῦν, καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ ταύτῃ: Προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς: εἰσελεύσονται γὰρ μετὰ τὴν ἄφιξίν μου λύκοι βαρεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς: καὶ πάλιν, Ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς ἐνστήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποὶ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες. Τοῦτο πάντων χαλεπώτερον τῶν πνευμάτων. εʹ. Μένωμεν οὖν ἔνθα κελεύει ἐπὶ τῆς πίστεως, ἐπὶ τοῦ λιμένος τοῦ ἀσφαλοῦς: αὐτοῦ μᾶλλον ἀκούωμεν, ἢ τοῦ κυβερνήτου τοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν, τουτέστι τοῦ λογισμοῦ. Μὴ ἅπερ ἂν ὑποβάλλῃ οὗτος, ποιῶμεν, μὴ ἅπερ ὁ ναύκληρος, ἀλλὰ ἅπερ ἂν ὁ Παῦλος: μυρίους τοιούτους διῆλθε χειμῶνας. Μὴ τῇ πείρᾳ μανθάνωμεν, ἀλλὰ πρὸ τῆς πείρας κερδάνωμεν καὶ ὕβριν καὶ ζημίαν. Ἄκουσον τί φησιν: Οἱ βουλόμενοι πλουτεῖν, ἐμπίπτουσιν εἰς πειρασμόν. Πειθώμεθα τοίνυν αὐτῷ, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐκεῖνοι μὴ πεισθέντες, ὁρᾶτε τί ἔπαθον. Καὶ πάλιν ἑτέρωθι λέγει, τί ποιεῖ ναυάγια: Οἵτινες, φησὶν, ἐναυάγησαν περὶ τὴν πίστιν. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης. Πειθώμεθα Παύλῳ: κἂν ἐν μέσῳ ὦμεν χειμῶνι, πάντως ἀπαλλαγησόμεθα τῶν κινδύνων, κἂν τεσσαρεσκαίδεκα ἡμέραις ἄσιτοι διαμένωμεν, κἂν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς σωτηρίας ἐκπέσῃ, κἂν ἐν σκότῳ ὦμεν καὶ γνόφῳ, πεισθέντες αὐτῷ, ἀπαλλαγησόμεθα τῶν κινδύνων. Πλοῖον εἶναι νομίζωμεν τὴν οἰκουμένην πᾶσαν, κἀν τούτῳ τοὺς κακούργους καὶ μυρία ἔχοντας δεινὰ, τοὺς μὲν ἄρχοντας, τοὺς δὲ φύλακας, τοὺς δὲ δικαίους, οἷος Παῦλος, τοὺς δὲ δεσμίους, ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις δεδεμένους: ἂν μὲν οὖν Παύλῳ πειθώμεθα, οὐ δεδεμένοι ἀπολλύμεθα, ἀλλὰ καὶ λυόμεθα: χαριεῖται καὶ ἡμᾶς αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός. Ἢ οὐκ οἴει δεσμὸν εἶναι χαλεπὸν τὰ ἁμαρτήματα καὶ τὰ πάθη; οὐ γὰρ δὴ χεῖρες μόνον εἰσὶ δεδεμέναι, ἀλλ' ὁ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, ὅταν τις χρήματα πολλὰ κεκτημένος μὴ ἀναλίσκῃ μηδὲ δαπανᾷ, ἀλλὰ κατέχῃ, οὐχὶ παντὸς δεσμίου χαλεπώτερον τῇ φειδωλίᾳ δεσμεῖται δεσμῷ ἀῤῥαγεῖ; Τί δαὶ, ὅταν τις εἱμαρμένῃ ἑαυτὸν ὑποβάλλῃ, οὐχὶ πάλιν ἄλλοις οὗτος δεσμοῖς δέδεται; Τί δαὶ, ὅταν παρατηρήσεσι; τί δαὶ, ὅταν συμβόλοις; οὐχὶ παντὸς δεσμοῦ ταῦτα χαλεπώτερα; τί δαὶ, ὅταν ἐπιθυμίᾳ ἀλόγῳ καὶ ἔρωτι; Τίς διαῤῥήξει τούτους ὑμῖν τοὺς δεσμούς; Τοῦ Θεοῦ χρεία ὥστε λυθῆναι. Καὶ ἓν μὲν τούτων ἀρκεῖ κίνδυνον ἐμποιῆσαι: ὅταν δὲ καὶ δεσμὰ καὶ χειμὼν, ἐννόησον ὅσον τὸ τῶν κινδύνων. Τί γὰρ οὐχ ἱκανὸν διαφθεῖραι; οὐχ ὁ λιμὸς, ὁ χειμὼν, ἡ κακία τῶν ἐμπλεόντων, τὸ τοῦ καιροῦ ἀνεπιτήδειον; Ἀλλὰ πρὸς ταῦτα πάντα ἔστη ἡ λαμπρότης Παύλου. Οὕτω δὴ καὶ νῦν: κατέχωμεν παρ' ἑαυτοῖς τοὺς ἁγίους, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται χειμών: μᾶλλον δὲ, κἂν ᾖ χειμὼν, ἔσται εὐδία καὶ γαλήνη πολλὴ, καὶ ἀπαλλαγὴ τῶν κινδύνων: ἐπειδὴ τὸν ἅγιον εἶχε φίλον ἡ χήρα ἐκείνη, καὶ ὁ θάνατος ἐλύθη τοῦ παιδίου, καὶ τὸν παῖδα πάλιν ζῶντα ἀπελάμβανεν. Ἔνθα πόδες ἁγίων ἐπιβαίνουσιν, οὐδὲν ἔσται λυπηρόν: κἂν γένηται, πρὸς δοκιμὴν καὶ πρὸς μείζονα δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἔθισον τὸ ἔδαφος τῆς οἰκίας ὑπὸ τοιούτων πατεῖσθαι ποδῶν, καὶ οὐ πατήσει δαίμων ἐκεῖ: καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἔνθα ἂν εὐωδία ᾖ, οὐχ ἕξει χώραν δυσωδία: οὕτω καὶ ἔνθα μύρον ἐστὶ τὸ ἅγιον, ἀποπνίγεται δαίμων, εὐφραίνει τοὺς συνόντας, διαχέει ψυχὴν, ἀνίησιν. Ἔνθα ἄκανθαι, ἐκεῖ θηρία: ἔνθα φιλοξενία, οὐκ εἰσὶν ἄκανθαι: ἡ γὰρ ἐλεημοσύνη εἰσελθοῦσα παντὸς δρεπάνου τομώτερον ἀναιρεῖ τὰς ἀκάνθας, παντὸς πυρὸς σφοδρότερον. Μὴ φοβηθῇς: αἰδεῖται τὰ ἴχνη τῶν ἁγίων, καθάπερ λέοντας ἀλώπεκες. Δίκαιος γὰρ, φησὶν, ὡς λέων πέποιθεν. Εἰσαγάγωμεν τούτους τοὺς λέοντας εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ πάντα φυγαδεύεται τὰ θηρία, οὐ βοώντων αὐτῶν μεγάλα, ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς φθεγγομένων. Οὐ γὰρ βρυχηθμὸς λέοντος οὕτω φυγαδεύει τὰ θηρία, ὡς εὐχὴ δικαίου φυγαδεύει δαίμονας: ἂν φθέγξηται μόνον, κατεπτήχασι. Καὶ ποῦ νῦν τοιοῦτοι, φησὶ, εἰσί; Πανταχοῦ, ἂν πιστεύωμεν ἡμεῖς, ἂν ζητῶμεν, ἂν περιεργαζώμεθα. Ποῦ ἐζήτησας, εἰπέ μοι; πότε τοῦτο ἔργον ἔσχες; πότε πρᾶγμα τοῦτο ἔθου; Εἰ δὲ οὐ ζητεῖς, μὴ θαυμάσῃς, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρίσκεις: Ὁ γὰρ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει, οὐχ ὁ μὴ ζητῶν. Ἄκουσον τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἐρημίαις ὄντας: ἀπάγαγε χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον: πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης εἰσί. Κἂν μὴ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ δέξῃ, ἄπελθε σὺ πρὸς αὐτὸν, συγγένου τῷ ἀνδρὶ, πρὸς τὸ οἴκημα γένου τὸ ἐκείνου, ἵνα δυνηθῇς ἐπιτυχεῖν, καὶ τῆς παρ' αὐτοῦ εὐλογίας ἀπολαῦσαι. Μεγάλη γὰρ ἡ παρὰ τῶν ἁγίων εὐλογία, ἧς ἐπιτυγχάνειν σπουδάζωμεν, ἵνα διὰ τῶν εὐχῶν τούτων βοηθούμενοι, τῆς παρὰ τοῦ αὐτοὺς ἐνδυναμοῦντος Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας ἀπολαύσωμεν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ μονογενοῦς αὐτοῦ Υἱοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.