31 Bible Verses about Seafaring

the merchants of the earth shall bewail and mourn over her, because there are none to purchase their cargo: their gold, and silver, precious stones, and pearls, fine linnen, and purple, their silk, scarlet, and all sort of citron wood, their various vessels of ivory, and of precious wood, of brass, iron, and marble: nor their cinnamon, perfumes, essences, and frankincense; nor their wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat; their cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; nor the servile souls of men.

Being imbark'd, he pass'd over, and came to his own town,

being thus appointed missionarys by the holy spirit, they went to Seleucia, where they embark'd for Cyprus.

When Jesus heard that, he embark'd, to retire privately to a desert place: of which the people being inform'd, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

then dismissing the multitude, he embark'd, and came to the coast of Magada.

wherefore, to avoid the inconveniences of the crowd, he order'd his disciples to get a small vessel ready to attend him.

after which Paul and his company set out from Paphos to Perga in Pamphilia, where John quitted them in order to return to Jerusalem.

from thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had been recommended to the favour of God, for the commission, which they had now discharg'd.

and the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated: so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

and sail'd directly to Samothracia, and the next day landed at Neapolis.

Paul still continued a considerable time at Corinth, and then taking his leave of the brethren, he set sail for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila, who had his head shav'd in Cenchrea upon account of a vow.

said he, in taking his leave, I must necessarily keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem: after which I will return to you if God permit.

there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea,

After we were parted from them, and clear of land, we made directly for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara: where finding a vessel bound to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and put off. having made Cyprus, leaving it to the North, we took our course to Syria, and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unlade her cargo.

When it was resolv'd, that we should sail for Italy, Paul and other prisoners were delivered to the custody of one Julius, a centurion of a cohort in Augustus's legion. we embark'd in a vessel of Adramyttium, designing to coast it along Asia, and set sail with Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica. the next day we touch'd at Sidon, where the centurion, who was very civil to Paul, gave him leave to go, and refresh himself at his friends.read more.
from thence we put off, and made our coast north of Cyprus, the wind being contrary. after having travers'd the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we arriv'd at Myra, a city of Lycia. there the centurion met with a ship of Alexandria, bound for Italy, and put us on board. For several days we made very little sail, and having scarce got sight of Cnidus, the wind being against us, we bore away between Salmone and Crete: with much ado we weathered the cape and got to Belhaven near Lasea.

After having been there three months, we embark'd on board the Castor and Pollux from Alexandria, that had put in there by hard weather: we landed at Syracuse, and stay'd there three days. from thence we turn'd to the wind, and arriv'd at Rhegium: the next day the wind being at south, we came in two days to Puteoli:

thrice was I whip'd with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I was shipwreck'd; a night and a day I was floating on the deep:

When he went aboard the vessel, his disciples followed him. and on a sudden so great a storm arose at sea, that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. and his disciples came and awaked him, saying, Lord, save us: we are sinking.read more.
and he answer'd, why are you afraid, o incredulous people? then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. but the crew were all amaz'd; what is this man, said they, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

The same day in the evening, he said to them, let us cross over to the other side of the lake. when they had dismiss'd the people, the bark he was in, set sail, in company with other small barks. at length a violent storm ensued, and the waves beat into the ship, that it began to fill,read more.
whilst Jesus was at the stern, asleep on a pillow: upon which they awak'd him, crying out, master, have you so little concern to let us sink? then he rose, and rebuked the wind, hush, said he, and be still. immediately the wind subsides, and a settled calm ensued. why, said he, are ye so frighted? are ye still so void of faith? and they were exceedingly afraid, and said to one another, who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The same day Jesus went on board a vessel with his disciples, and said to them, let us pass over to the other side of the lake: and so they put off to sea. while they were rowing, Jesus fell asleep: when there blew such a storm of wind upon the lake, as fill'd the boat with water, and endanger'd their lives. then they came to wake him, crying, master, master, we are sinking. then he rose up, and rebuked the wind, and the waves: and both subside to a calm.read more.
but to his disciples he said, where is your faith? while they, seiz'd with fear and admiration, said to one another, who can this man be, that he commands even the winds, and the waves, and they obey? Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which lies opposite to Galilee.

Presently after Jesus obliged his disciples to embark, and cross over to the other side before him, whilst he dismiss'd the people. and when he had dismiss'd them, he retired by himself to a mountain to pray: where he stay'd all alone till the latter part of the evening. by this time the vessel was half sea over, violently toss'd with the waves, for the wind was contrary.read more.
at the dawn of day, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. the disciples seeing him walking on the sea, cry'd out in a fright, an apparition; and they scream'd for fear. but Jesus immediately call'd to them, take courage, said he, it is I, don't be afraid. Peter answered, Lord, said he, if it be you, bid me come upon the water to you. Jesus said, come. and Peter getting out of the ship, walk'd on the water to go to Jesus. but finding the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me. immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him, diffident man, said he, why were you in suspence? and when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. then they that were in the ship, came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the son of God.

Soon after Jesus obliged his disciples to embark for Bethsaida, on the opposite shore, while he was dismissing the people. and when they had taken their leave, he retired to a mountain to pray. It was now late in the evening, and the bark in full sea, when Jesus, who was ashore all alone,read more.
perceived his disciples had much ado to bear up against the wind, which was contrary; about the fourth watch of the night, he came up, and would have pass'd by them. when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, for they all saw him, and were greatly terrified. but at the instant Jesus spoke to them, and said, take courage, it is I, don't be afraid. and as soon as he was got aboard, the wind ceased; which still encreas'd their astonishment and admiration: for they were so stupid, they did not comprehend the miracle of the loaves. Being got to the other side of the lake, they came to the country of Gennasereth, where they landed.

When even was come, his disciples went to the sea, and going on board a ship, they cross'd the sea to Capernaum: now when it was dark, Jesus was not come to them: but the sea ran high, by reason of the wind that blew hard.read more.
so when they had rowed about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs, seeing Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship, they were frightned. but he said to them, it is I, be not afraid. then they readily received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they were bound.

having lost a good deal of time, and sailing being now dangerous, for the fast was now over, Paul gave them this warning, "my friends, said he, I foresee our voyage will be attended with great difficulties, and no small risk of losing not only the ship and cargo, but our lives too." however, the centurion minded the pilot and the ship's owner more than he did Paul's prediction.read more.
for as that haven could not cover us from the storm, most were of opinion to bear away, and try to put in at Phenice, where we could ride safe, the port lying by south-west, and north-west. a gentle breeze at south, secure of gaining their point, they weigh'd anchor, and coasted close under Crete: but soon after it blew a storm from north-east, which bore so upon the ship, we could not go upon the wind, but were forc'd to let her drive. when we were nigh the isle Clauda, we had much ado to hoist in the skiff. this done, all hands aloft they frapp'd the ship tought with her cables, and for fear of striking upon the sands, they struck the main sail, and so drove. the next day the storm work'd the ship with great fury; they threw some of her lading over board: and the third day we lent our hands to send the tackling after. For several days, we had not seen either sun or stars: the tempest still bore hard: all our hopes of escape quite sunk, and our spirits droop with fasting: when Paul presented himself, and said, "well, my friends, it had been, if I could have prevail'd upon you, to have sav'd your selves all this perplexity and loss by staying at Crete. yet now I advise you to discard your fears: your lives are all safe, though the vessel will be lost. for an angel of that God, whose minister I am, and whom I serve, this night appear'd to me, and said, Paul, be not afraid: you must be brought before Cesar: and upon your account, the whole company now with you, will God preserve. take courage then, my friends, for I have this confidence in God, that what has been told me, shall be effected, notwithstanding we must be shipwrack'd upon some island." It was the fourteenth night that we had been driving up and down in the Adriatick sea, when the ship's crew about midnight suspected they were making to land: they threw the line and sounded twenty fathom water: a little further they sounded again, and came to fifteen fathom: then for fear of striking upon the rocks, they dropt four anchors astern, and lay impatient for the day. but the crew under pretext of dropping their anchors to moor, had hoisted out the boat; designing to make off: upon this Paul said to the centurion and his men, "except the crew stay aboard, you can't be safe:" and immediately the soldiers chopt the cable, and set the boat adrift. while they were waiting for day, Paul advis'd the whole company to take some refreshment: "these fourteen days, said he, you have been very abstemious, and not made a meal: therefore, pray, take something to recruit your strength: and be assur'd every one of you shall be preserv'd." having said this, he took bread, and gave thanks to God, the whole company present: then he broke it and began to eat, at which they all took heart and fell a eating likewise, the whole number then on board being two hundred and seventy six. when they had eat enough, they threw the wheat over board to ease the ship: at day-break they made an unknown land, with a creek, where they resolv'd, if it were possible, to run the ship ashore. accordingly, having heaved in their anchors, they drove with the sea, then loos'd the helm, bois'd the mizen-sail to wind, and made to shore: when falling into the confluence of two currents, they ran the ship a-ground: where the fore-castle stuck fast and would not give, but her stern was shatter'd by the violence of the waves. the soldiers propos'd to dispatch the prisoners, for fear any of them should swim for their lives; but the centurion, who had a mind to save Paul, prevented their design: and order'd all that could swim immediately to get off to shore, and the rest to get upon the planks, or other pieces of the wreck: and by this means it happen'd that they all came safe to land.

her wealth is all sunk in a moment! the pilots and the passengers: the ships-crew, and the super-cargo's shall stand afar off, and cry out, when they see the smoke of her burning, what city could be compar'd to this great city? they will scatter dust on their heads, and cry with tears, and bemoaning, "alas, alas, that great city, which enrich'd all the traders by sea, by the consumption she made: how is she reduc'd to a desert, in an instant!"

that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit:

assisted by faith and a good conscience: for some having discarded the one, have entirely lost the other.

might have strong consolation to serve as a sure and stedfast anchor to the soul: till it arrives within the veil,

a ship too of the greatest burthen, tho' the wind bears hard, by means of an inconsiderable helm, veers about as the hand of the pilot directs her. so the tongue is but a small part of the body, yet how grand are its pretensions. a spark of fire! what quantities of timber will it blow into a flame?

but let him be fully persuaded of the lawfulness of what he asks: for he that is diffident about that, is like the waves that fluctuate with the wind.

those antient rebels in the time of Noah, when the divine forbearance waited, till the ark was quite finish'd, in which only eight persons were saved by means of the water.