Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 269
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262 LIFE OF PAUL . time. The artsof ship-buildingand navigation were not then matured as now . Mariners directedtheircourseby the sun and stars; and when thesedidnot appear,and therewereindicationsof storm, they were fearfulof trusting theirvesselsto the open sea. The seasonof safenavigationwas alreadyfar advanced,beforethe apostle'sshipleftCæsarea, and thetime was fastapproachingwhen travel by sea would be closedforthe year. Every day's delayincreasedtheperilofthevoyage. But the journeywhich would be difficultand dangerous totheordinarytraveler,would be doublytrying to the apostleas a prisoner. Roman soldiers were held responsiblewith theirown livesfor thesecurityof theirprisoners,and thishad led tothecustomof chainingprisonersby theright wrist to the leftwristof soldiers, who relieved each otherin turn. Thus not only could the apostlehave no movement free, but he was placed in closeand constantconnectionwith men ofthemost uncongenialand absolutelyrepulsive character; men who were not only uneducated and unrefined,but who , from the demoralizing influenceoftheirsurroundings,had becomebrutal and degraded. This custom,however,was less rigidlyobservedon shipboardthan when prisoners were ashore. One circumstancegreatly lightenedthe hardshipsof his lot. He was permittedto enjoy the companionshipof his brethren , Luke and Aristarchus. In his letter to the Colossians,he speaks of the latteras his "fellow-prisoner." But it was as an act of choice, because of his affectionfor Paul, that Aristarchussharedhis bondage,and ministered to him in his afflictions.