Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/31790
Title: A meteorological appraisal of acts 27, 5-26
Authors: White, R. W.
Keywords: Paul, the Apostle, Saint
Weather in the Bible
Issue Date: 2001
Publisher: University of Malta. Faculty of Theology
Citation: White, R. W. (2001). A meteorological appraisal of acts 27, 5-26. Melita Theologica, 52(1), 3-16.
Abstract: Paul was an experienced traveler. He was taking his last, recorded journey after accumulating more frequent sailing points than anyone else in The Way. He had been transferred to an Egyptian grain ship in Lycia for the continuation of his trip to Rome, in order to stand trial before Caesar. Within these verses is a story ground in faith and hope, challenged by human desire and unpredictable weather and held together by prophecy and an indestructible belief in God. My interest in this narrative arose from what was planned to be a fortnight in Crete. The more my wife and I looked at holiday brochures, the more we were determined to escape the disco scenes and get as close to Cretan village life as possible. This brought us to the southernmost point on the Island and the village of Matala. When I realized that we would be staying near to where Paul's ship was to have anchored during his unsuccessful attempt to convince the sailors to Winter-over, I began reading various commentaries. It soon became apparent that there were considerable variations given the weather-related events in the narrative, e.g., the word "Northeaster" in verse 14 was listed in various commentaries as "Euraquilo, Meltemi, Livas and Eums" Each means something different meteorologically, as noted in the following section. What follows is not intended to alter the import of the journey or the spiritual power of the Apostle's words. Rather, it is intended to serve as a technical commentary which other than having the potential for a tedious read, might help the reader better understand how the weather-related events of this ancient narrative could have come about.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/31790
Appears in Collections:MT - Volume 52, Issue 1 - 2001
MT - Volume 52, Issue 1 - 2001

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