A harbor or haven provided essential shelter for ancient ships, offering protection from storms and a place to anchor safely. In an age when navigation was dangerous and shipwreck common, finding a good harbor could mean the difference between life and death. All three New Testament occurrences appear in Acts 27, Paul's harrowing voyage to Rome. Fair Havens (27:8) was an inadequate harbor for wintering, leading to the decision to sail for Phoenix, a better harbor in Crete (27:12, twice). That fateful decision to seek a better harbor resulted in the storm and shipwreck that dominates the chapter, though God preserved everyone aboard.