SHIPWRECK! “ Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘ Do not be afraid, Paul…. God has graciously given you the live of all who sail with you.’ So keep up our courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” “ Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘ Do not be afraid, Paul…. God has graciously given you the live of all who sail with you.’ So keep up our courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27: 23-25)

The Facts, Please! Because boats in ancient days were not very sturdy, sailing was always dangerous. At first, the sailing was done only on rivers. Finally, some sailors ventured into the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians were the first to develop trade along the shores of the Mediterranean. In Greek and Roman times, larger and better vessels were built, and shipping was extended even farther.

The Facts, Please! Early boats were made of fir, pine, or cedar boards over a hardwood frame, Ropes, cables, or chains (called “ helps” in the King James Version) were usually kept on board to strengthen the hull in a storm. They were passed around the hull and tightened with wooden levers.

The Facts, Please! The ship on which Paul sailed was a cargo vessel that carried grain. It had a huge mast with a large, square sail. There was a small sail, called a “foresail”, that could be hoisted instead of the larger one in stormy weather. Four anchors were carried on the stern (the rear end), and two of more were on the prow (the front end). A small rowboat, for use when the ship was in harbor, was towed behind the big ship. In a storm it was kept on board. Navigation (plotting the ship’s course) was done by looking at the position of the sun or stars.

Phoenician Cargo Ship Not exactly the same as the boat Paul was on, but it has the large square sail like his did.

Bible Story: Abandon Ship! Acts 27 Acts 27

Activity: Match-up Get out a piece of paper. Do match-up on next slide. Turn it into the box after checking answers.

sterna ship that carries freight prow (bow)the frame of a ship mainsailmovable paddles for steering a ship foresailthe large, principal sail hullthe front of a ship mastplotting a ship’s course ruddersthe back of a ship anchora small, auxiliary sail “helps”tall spar, rising vertically from a ship’s deck cargo vesselropes or chains tied around a ship’s hull in a storm navigationa weight to keep a ship from drifting

Click once more to see the answers

stern the back of a ship prow (bow) the front of a ship mainsail the large, principal sail foresail a small, auxiliary sail hull the frame of a ship mast tall spar, rising vertically from a ship’s deck rudders movable paddles for steering a ship anchor a weight to keep a ship from drifting “helps” ropes or chains tied around a ship’s hull in a storm cargo vessel a ship that carries freight navigation plotting a ship’s course