Ship/Boat

The Israelites were farmers rather than sailors because they had no harbors. Most of the Mediterranean coast was usually controlled by their enemies, the Philistines and the Phoenicians, who were the main shipbuilders and sailors of the Mediterranean world.

The New Testament mentions Galilean fishing boats and merchant ships. The Galilean boats had small sails and oars, and could carry about twelve men and a load of fish. Jesus sometimes preached from these boats. Many of His disciples were fishermen and were used to sailing on the Sea of Galilee. Once they were terrified during a squall and feared that their boat would sink. Jesus, however, calmed the storm and kept the boat afloat.

Ships were important to Paul’s journeys across the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. There were no special ships for passengers, so Paul traveled on merchant ships that carried grain and other cargo.