[143:3] evidenced their skilful seamanship.  Luke states that, after a long period of anxiety and abstinence, “about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country.” [143:4] The headland they were approaching is very low, and in a stormy night is said to be invisible even at the distance of a quarter of a mile; [143:5] but the sailors could detect the shore by other indications.  Even in a storm the roar of breakers can be distinguished from other sounds by the practised ear of a mariner; [144:1] and it can be shewn that, with such a gale as was then blowing, the sea still dashes with amazing violence against the very same point of land off which Paul and his companions were that night labouring.  In the depth of the water at the place there is another most remarkable coincidence.  We are told that the sailors “sounded and found it twenty fathoms, and when they had gone a little farther, they sounded, and found it fifteen fathoms.” [144:2] “But what,” observes a modern writer, “are the soundings at this point?  They are now twenty fathoms.  If we proceed a little farther we find fifteen fathoms.  It may be said that this, in itself is nothing remarkable.  But if we add that the fifteen-fathom depth is in the direction of the vessel’s drift (W. by N.) from the twenty-fathom depth, the coincidence is startling.” [144:3] It may be stated also that the “creek with a shore” [144:4] or sandy beach, and the “place where two seas met,” [144:5] and where “they ran the ship aground” may still be recognised in what is now called St Paul’s Bay at Malta. [144:6] Even in the nature of the submarine strata we have a most striking confirmation of the truth of the inspired history.  It appears that the four anchors cast out of the stern retained their hold, and it is well known that the ground in St Paul’s Bay is remarkably firm; for in our English sailing directions it is mentioned that “while the cables hold, there is no danger, as the anchors will never start.” [144:7] Luke reports that when the ship ran aground, “the fore-part stuck fast and remained unmoveable” [144:8]—­a statement which is corroborated by the fact that “the bottom is mud graduating into tenacious clay” [145:1]—­exactly the species of deposit from which such a result might be anticipated.

When Paul landed at Puteoli, he must have contemplated with deep emotion the prospect of his arrival in Rome.  The city to which he now approached contained, perhaps, upwards of a million of human beings. [145:2] But the amount of its inhabitants was one of the least remarkable of its extraordinary distinctions.  It was the capital of the mightiest empire that had ever yet existed; one hundred races speaking one hundred languages were under its dominion; [145:3] and the sceptre which ruled so many subject provinces was wielded by an absolute potentate.  This great autocrat was the high priest of heathenism—­thus combining the grandeur of temporal majesty with the