31 Bible Verses about Seafaring

And the merchants of the earth wept and wailed over her: because no man buyeth their merchandise any more: the merchandise of gold and of silver, and of precious stones, and of pearl, and of fine linen, and of purple, and of silk, and of scarlet, and every sweet scented wood, and every ivory vessel, and every vessel of most precious wood, and of gold, and of iron, and of marble, and cinnamon, and perfumes, and myrrh, and libanum, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and of horses, and of chariots, and of bodies, and the souls of men.

AND going on board the vessel, he passed over, and came to his own city.

They then being sent forth indeed by the Holy Ghost, went down to Seleucia; and from thence sailed to Cyprus.

And when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a vessel into a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

And dismissing the multitudes he went on board a vessel, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

And he spoke to his disciples that a little boat should be ready for him, because of the crowd, lest they should press upon him:

Hereupon sailing from Paphos, they who were about Paul came to Perga in Pamphylia: but John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

and thence sailed for Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God for the service which they had performed.

So there grew up a sudden quarrel, insomuch that they separated from each other: and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus:

Therefore sailing from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis;

Then Paul abode there yet many days, and taking leave of the disciples, he set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having cut off his hair at Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

but took his leave of them, saying, I must by any means keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem: but I mean to return to you again, if God so please. So he sailed from Ephesus.

And after three months stay, as the Jews were lying in wait for him, when he was just embarking for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

AND tearing ourselves away from them, when we had set sail, we came in a direct course to Coos, and the day after to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara. And finding a ship passing over to Phenice, we went on board and set sail: and coming in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it on the left, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to discharge her cargo.

NOW as it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan cohort. And embarking in a ship of Adrymittium, ready to sail for the coast of Asia, we proceeded on our voyage, Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we arrived at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul with the greatest humanity, and permitted him to go to his friends, to enjoy the benefit of their care.read more.
And taking our departure from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And traversing the sea opposite to Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arrived at Myra, a city of Lycia. And the centurion finding there a ship of Alexandria bound for Italy, he put us on board of it. Then for many days making very slow way, and scarce reaching over against Knidos, the wind not favouring us, we coasted Crete, opposite Cape Salmone: and weathering it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called, The fair havens; near to which is the city Lasea.

And after three months stay we sailed in a ship which had wintered in the island, from Alexandria, whose sign was Castor and Pollux: and proceeding on our voyage to Syracuse, we tarried there three days: from whence we came round, and arrived opposite to Rhegium; and after one day the south wind arising, we came in two more to Puteoli:

Thrice I have been scourged with rods, once I have been stoned, thrice I have suffered shipwreck, a whole night and day I have passed in the deep;

And going on board a vessel, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there was a great tempest in the sea, so that the vessel was hid by the waves; but he was asleep. And his disciples coming, awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we are perishing!read more.
And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then arising, he issued his mandate to the winds, and to the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying, What a wondrous man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And the same day he saith unto them, as the evening shut in, Let us pass over to the other side. And sending the multitude away, they took him just as he was in the vessel; and there were also some other little vessels with him. And a great hurricane arose, and the waves broke into the vessel, so that it was now full of water:read more.
and he was in the stern, sleeping on a pillow: and they awoke him, and say unto him, Master, is it no concern to thee that we are perishing? And rising, he with authority charged the wind, and said to the sea, Silence! be still! And the wind subsided, and there was a great calm. And he said to them, Why are ye so timorous? How is it that ye have not confidence? And they were filled with the most reverential awe, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

And it came to pass on one of the days, that he went himself into a ship, and his disciples, and said unto them, Let us pass over to the farther side of the lake. And they set fail. And while they were on the passage, he went to sleep: and a hurricane of wind rushed down on the lake; and they were filled with water, and imminent danger. Then they came and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing. Then arising, he issued his command to the wind, and the billows of water, and they subsided, and there was a calm.read more.
And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they feared and were astonished, saying one to another, Well! what a man is this! that he commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him. And they sailed over unto the region of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

And immediately Jesus compelled his disciples to go on board the vessel, and pass before him to the other side, while he dismissed the people. And when he had sent away the multitude, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening came, he was there alone. But the vessel was already in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary.read more.
Then at the fourth watch of the night came Jesus unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were greatly agitated, saying, It is his apparition. And they cried out with terror. And immediately Jesus spake to them, saying, Be of good courage: it is I; be not terrified. Then Peter answering, said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come unto thee upon the waters. And he said, Come. And descending from the vessel, Peter walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink in the deep, he cried out, saying, Lord save me. Then immediately Jesus stretching out his hand, laid hold on him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt? And when they came aboard the vessel, the wind ceased. And they who were in the vessel, came and worshipped him, saying, Truly thou art the Son of God.

And immediately he compelled his disciples to go on board the vessel, and to go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent the multitude away. And having bid them farewell, he went into a mountain to pray. And when the evening was come, the vessel was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land.read more.
And he saw them greatly fatigued with rowing, for the wind was contrary to them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh to them, walking upon the sea, and seemed intending to pass by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and screamed out: for they all saw him, and were greatly agitated: and straitway he spoke to them, and said, Take courage, it is I, be not terrified. And he went up to them into the vessel, and the wind ceased and they were beyond all imagination amazed in themselves, and lost in wonder. For they reflected not upon the loaves, for their heart was hardened. And when they had passed over, they came to the land of Gennesareth, and went on shore.

So when evening was now come, his disciples went down to the sea-side, and embarking on a vessel were coming across the sea to Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea was greatly agitated by a tempestuous wind that blew.read more.
Having rowed therefore about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and coming near the vessel, and they were affrighted. But he saith to them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they desired to take him into the vessel: and instantly the vessel was at the land whither they were going.

And much time being consumed, and sailing now becoming dangerous, because the fast was already past, Paul admonished them, saying unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be attended with much damage and loss, not only of the cargo and of the ship, but [danger] of our lives also. But the centurion paid more attention to the master and to the pilot than to the things which were spoken by Paul.read more.
And the harbour not being well situated for a winter station, the greater part advised to sail from thence, if they possibly could reach as far as Phenice to pass the winter, a harbour open to the south-west and north-west. So when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor, and kept near the coast of Crete. But not long after a hurricane wind, called Euroclydon, drove us towards the island, and the ship becoming ungovernable, and unable to bear up in the eye of the wind, we gave up the attempt, and let her drive. And running under a little island called Clauda, it was with difficulty we were able to come at the boat: which when they had hoisted out, they used all helps, carrying ropes round the ship's bottom; and fearing lest they should run on the quick-sands, they lowered the mast, and so were driven. And being exceedingly tossed with the storm, we the next day threw out the cargo. And the third day with our own hands we threw overboard the tackling of the vessel. So when neither sun nor stars had appeared for many days, and no small tempest beating on us, all hope of our being preserved was entirely taken from us. Now after being a long while without food, then stood up Paul in the midst of them, and said, Ye ought, my friends, to have been persuaded by me, and not have sailed from Crete, and got this loss and damage. Yet even now I exhort you to be of good courage: for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and behold! God hath graciously given thee all who are sailing with thee. Wherefore, sirs, cheer up: for I believe God that it will be so, exactly as he hath spoken to me. But we must be cast on a certain island. Now as the fourteenth night was passing, whilst we were driving about in the Adriatic sea, about midnight the sailors imagined that some land was near to them: and sounding, had twenty fathoms; then passing on a little farther, and sounding again, they had fifteen fathoms. And fearing lest they might run on some rocky coast, they cast out four anchors astern, and wished eagerly for the day to break. Now as the sailors were seeking to escape out of the ship, and had hoisted out the boat into the sea, under pretence as if they were going to carry out anchors a-head, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these men abide in the ship, ye cannot be preserved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while they waited until the day should break, Paul exhorted them all to take some nourishment, saying, To day, expecting the fourteenth day, ye are continuing without food, taking nothing. Wherefore I exhort you to take some food, for this is for your preservation: for a hair shall not fall from the head of any one of you. And so saying, and taking a loaf, he gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it, began to eat. Then were they all cheered up, and they too took refreshment. Now all the souls which were in the ship amounted to two hundred seventy-six: and having made a hearty meal, they lightened the vessel, throwing the wheat into the sea. And when the day broke, they knew not the land: but they observed a certain creek with a beach, into which they resolved, if they could, to run the vessel aground. And weighing the anchors, they committed her to the sea, and loosing at the same time the chains of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the breeze, they made for the beach. But falling on a shoal where two currents met, they ran the ship aground; and the forecastle stuck fast, and remained immoveable, but the stern was stove in by the violence of the waves. Then the soldiers' design was to have murdered the prisoners, lest any of them should swim ashore and escape. But the centurion, desirous to preserve Paul, withheld them from their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim to jump overboard first, and reach the land: and that the rest should make the attempt, some on planks, and some on the floating materials of the ship: and in this manner so it was that they all safely reached the shore.

And every pilot, and all the crew in the ships, and the mariners, and as many as exercise their labours on the sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like that great city! And they cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, by which all who occupied ships on the sea were enriched from her opulence! how in one hour is she made desolate!

that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error;

holding faith and a good conscience, which some having renounced, as touching the faith, have been shipwrecked:

which, as an anchor for our soul, we hold both sure and stedfast, and entering into the sanctuary within the vail,

Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth. So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth!

But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation.

who in time of old were disobedient, when the long suffering of God in the days of Noe waited, while the ark was preparing, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were preserved through the water.