Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Then were the men exceedingly afraid - when made aware of the wrath of so powerful a God at the flight of Jonah. They had known previously, from his own information, the fact that Jonah had fled "from before the presence of the Lord:" but now first they learned that God's power extended to the sea, on which they were now in such peril, as well as to His own special land-namely, that of Israel. Hence, arises their 'exceeding fear.'
And said unto him, Why hast thou done this? If professors of religion do wrong, they will hear of it from those who make no such profession.