Acts 27:1-44
ST PAUL’S VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK... [ Continue Reading ]
ST PAUL’S VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΔῈ ἘΚΡΊΘΗ ΤΟΥ͂�, _and when it was determined that we should sail_. No other instance of this infinitive with τοῦ prefixed is found after κρίνω except in the _Text. recept_. of 1 Corinthians 2:2, where it is rejected by Lachmann, Tischendorf and Tregelles. But in the LXX. the construction is commo... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΈΛΛΟΝΤΙ for μέλλοντες with אAB. _Vulg_. ‘incipientes.’ 2. ἘΠΙΒΆΝΤΕΣ ΔΈ, _and embarking in_. This verb is the technical term for ‘going on board ship.’ ἈΔΡΑΜΥΤΤΗΝΩ͂Ι, _of Adramyttium_. This was a seaport on the coast of that district of Asia Minor called Mysia, and in early times Aeolis. It appear... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΉΧΘΗΜΕΝ ΕἸΣ ΣΙΔΩ͂ΝΑ, _we touched at Sidon_. This is the well-known seaport on the coast of Phœnicia. κατάγειν here is a technical term for ‘putting in a ship to shore,’ as ἀνάγειν just before is for ‘setting sail.’ ΦΙΛΑΝΘΡΏΠΩΣ ΧΡΗΣΆΜΕΝΟΣ, _treating kindly_. φιλανθρώπως is only found here in N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠΕΠΛΕΎΣΑΜΕΝ ΤῊΝ ΚΎΠΡΟΝ, _we sailed under Cyprus_, i.e. between Cyprus and the mainland, so as to have the shelter of the island on their left to protect them from the contrary winds. Rev. Ver. ‘under the lee of Cyprus.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌ ΤΕ ΠΈΛΑΓΟΣ ΤῸ ΚΑΤᾺ ΤῊΝ ΚΙΛΙΚΊΑΝ ΚΑῚ ΠΑΜΦΥΛΊΑΝ, _the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia_. These two countries formed the coast of Asia Minor in that portion which is opposite to Cyprus. ΕἸΣ ΜΎΡΡΑ, _to Myrrha_, which lies about 20 stadia (2½ miles) from the coast on the river Andriacus.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΛΟΙ͂ΟΝ ἈΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΙΝΌΝ, _a ship of Alexandria_. They found a means of transport into Italy sooner perhaps than they had expected. It may be that the same strong contrary winds from the west, which had altered already the course of their own voyage from Sidon, had carried this vessel across the Mediter... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ἹΚΑΝΑΙ͂Σ ΔῈ ἩΜΈΡΑΙΣ ΒΡΑΔΥΠΛΟΟΥ͂ΝΤΕΣ, _and sailing slowly for many days_, kept back by the same head-winds. ΚΑῚ ΜΌΛΙΣ ΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΙ ΚΑΤᾺ ΤῊΝ ΚΝΊΔΟΝ, _and with difficulty being come over against Cnidus_. They had been forced to hug the coast all the way from Myrrha, and when off Cnidus they were only... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΌΛΙΣ ΤΕ ΠΑΡΑΛΕΓΌΜΕΝΟΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΉΝ, _and with difficulty coasting along it_. παραλέγεσθαι describes a voyage made by keeping close to the shore of the island. Against a wind N.W., or nearly so, the island of Crete would afford them some protection. ἬΛΘΟΜΕΝ ΕἸΣ ΤΌΠΟΝ ΤΙΝΆ, _we came to a place_, i.e. on t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἹΚΑΝΟΥ͂ ΔῈ ΧΡΌΝΟΥ ΔΙΑΓΕΝΟΜΈΝΟΥ, _now when much time had been spent_, i.e. waiting for a change of wind, and in debating what course should next be taken. ΚΑῚ ὌΝΤΟΣ ἬΔΗ ἘΠΙΣΦΑΛΟΥ͂Σ ΤΟΥ͂ ΠΛΟΌΣ, _and when the voyage was now dangerous_. It had come to be dangerous by the late season of the year. In St... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΝΔΡΕΣ, ΘΕΩΡΩ͂ … ΖΗΜΊΑΣ, _Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss_. Evidently the character of the Apostle had won him the regard and respect of those in charge of the vessel as well as of the centurion. He must have had some experience of sailing in the Mediterranean, and... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ι ΚΥΒΕΡΝΉΤΗΙ, _to the pilot_. By ‘master’ the A.V. means ‘sailing master,’ the officer who had charge of the vessel’s navigation. ΚΑῚ ΤΩ͂Ι ΝΑΥΚΛΉΡΩΙ, _and to the owner of the ship_, who was probably owner of the cargo too, and if, as is most likely, this was corn, he would be sailing with it, th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΕΥΘΈΤΟΥ ΔῈ … ΠΡῸΣ ΠΑΡΑΧΕΙΜΑΣΊΑΝ, _and the haven not being commodious to winter in_. And to tarry through the winter was what they were most likely to have to do, wherever they stopped. The season for sailing was now nearly over. ἈΝΕΎΘΕΤΟΣ is found only here. But εὔθετος = _convenient_ is common i... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠΟΠΝΕΎΣΑΝΤΟΣ ΔῈ ΝΌΤΟΥ, _and when the south wind blew softly_. The storm appeared to have in some degree abated, and the change of wind must have been very complete, for (see Acts 27:7-8) they had previously sailed under the lee of Crete to get shelter from the _north_ wind. For ὑπὸ in composition... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΡΑΚΎΛΩΝ with אAB. _Vulg_. ‘Euroaquilo.’ 14. ἜΒΑΛΕΝ ΚΑΤ' ΑΥ̓ΤΗ͂Σ, _there beat down from it_. αὐτῆς can only here refer to Κρήτη. And whatever sense is to be given to the preposition must be determined by the context. The effect of the wind described in this verse was to carry the vessel to the is... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΤΟΦΘΑΛΜΕΙ͂Ν ΤΩ͂Ι�, _to face the wind_. Literally, ‘to look the wind in the eye.’ The verb is found Wis 12:14, οὔτε βασιλεὺς ἢ τύραννος�. ἘΠΙΔΌΝΤΕΣ ἘΦΕΡΌΜΕΘΑ, _we gave way to it and were driven_. The verb ἐπιδίδωμι has constantly the sense of yielding to a superior force. That force here is the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΥ͂ΔΑ with אB. _Vulg_. ‘Cauda.’ 16. ΝΗΣΊΟΝ ΔΈ ΤΙ ὙΠΟΔΡΑΜΌΝΤΕΣ ΚΑΛΟΎΜΕΝΟΝ ΚΑΥ͂ΔΑ, _and running under the lee of a small island named Cauda_. For the verb cf. above on Acts 27:4; Acts 27:7. νησίον is a rare word, found only here and in Strabo. The name ‘Cauda’ which has the best MS. support agrees w... [ Continue Reading ]
ἭΝ ἌΡΑΝΤΕΣ, _and when they had hoisted it up_, i.e. from the sea and on board the vessel. ΒΟΗΘΕΊΑΙΣ ἘΧΡΩ͂ΝΤΟ, _they used helps_. These were strong cables, which were drawn several times round the hulls of vessels, to help in keeping the timbers from parting. The technical term for the operation is... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΦΟΔΡΩ͂Σ ΔῈ ΧΕΙΜΑΖΟΜΈΝΩΝ ἩΜΩ͂Ν, _and as we laboured exceedingly with the storm_, i.e. because it continually increased in violence. ἘΚΒΟΛῊΝ ἘΠΟΙΟΥ͂ΝΤΟ, _they lightened the ship_. Literally ‘they made a casting overboard.’ For the expression see LXX. Jonah 1:5 ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΡ̓ῬΙΨΑΝ with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘projecerunt.’ 19. ΑΥ̓ΤΌΧΕΙΡΕΣ … ἜΡΡΙΨΑΝ, _they cast out with their own hands_. This reading, supported by the oldest MSS., is much more probable than the first person of the _Text. recept_. It is not likely that the writer of the narrative, even if he were a fellow-trav... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΉΤΕ ἌΣΤΡΩΝ ἘΠΙΦΑΙΝΌΝΤΩΝ ἘΠῚ ΠΛΕΊΟΝΑΣ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ, _nor stars shone upon us for many days_. This does not imply a continuous darkness like night, but that the mist and spray made the whole sky obscure both by day and night. In such a state of things we can understand how hopeless seemed the case of the A... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΛΛΗ͂Σ ΤΕ�, _and when they had been long without food_. This was in consequence of the excitement which made it impossible to eat, as well as the condition of the vessel which made the preparation of food very difficult. They had been living on anything that happened to be attainable, and that had... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤᾺ ΝΥ͂Ν, _and now_, i.e. though my advice was rejected before I offer it again. ἈΠΟΒΟΛῊ ΓᾺΡ ΨΥΧΗ͂Σ ΟΥ̓ΔΕΜΊΑ ἜΣΤΑΙ ἘΞ ὙΜΩ͂Ν, ΠΛῊΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΠΛΟΊΟΥ, _for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship_. The Apostle now speaks in the confidence of a revelation. Before (Acts 27:10) he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂ ΟὟ ΕἸΜῚ ἘΓΏ, ὯΙ ΚΑῚ ΛΑΤΡΕΎΩ, ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ, _an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve_. In speaking to heathens this would be the sense which the Apostle designed to convey. They had their own gods. But St Paul stood in a different relation to his God from any which they would acknowle... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΊΣΑΡΊ ΣΕ ΔΕΙ͂ ΠΑΡΑΣΤΗ͂ΝΑΙ, _thou must stand before Cæsar_, and that this may come to pass thou shalt be saved from the present danger. For παρίστημι with a dative, in this sense, cf. LXX. Proverbs 22:29, ὁρατικὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ὀξὺν ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ βασιλεῦσι δεῖ παρεστάναι, καὶ μὴ παρεστάναι�. Κ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΙΣΤΕΎΩ ΓᾺΡ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι, _for I believe God_. And he implies ‘I would have you do so too, that you may be of good cheer.’ In the midst of danger, few things could be more inspiriting than such an address. And by this time all in the ship must have learnt that they had no common prisoner in the Jew wh... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΝΗ͂ΣΟΝ ΔΈ ΤΙΝΑ ΔΕΙ͂ ἩΜΑ͂Σ ἘΚΠΕΣΕΙ͂Ν, _but we must be cast upon a certain island_. Hence it appears that in the vision some details of the manner of their preservation had been made known to St Paul by the divine messenger; and more evidence of this is seen in the remainder of the narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΕΣΣΑΡΕΣΚΑΙΔΕΚΆΤΗ ΝΎΞ, _the fourteenth night_, i.e. from the time when they set sail from Fair Havens. Since that time they had been constantly driven to and fro. ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ἈΔΡΊΑΙ, _in the sea of Adria_. That part of the Mediterranean which lies between Greece, Italy and Africa is so called. The name... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒΟΛΊΣΑΝΤΕΣ, _having sounded_. In ancient times this must have been the only means of feeling their way in dark and stormy weather. The lead must have been in constant use. ΕὟΡΟΝ ὈΡΓΥΙᾺΣ ΕἼΚΟΣΙ, _they found it twenty fathoms_. Literally ‘they found twenty fathoms,’ i.e. depth of water. ΒΡΑΧῪ ΔῈ ΔΙΑ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΠΈΣΩΜΕΝ for ἐκπέσωσιν with אABCHLP. _Vulg_. ‘incideremus.’ 29. ΦΟΒΟΎΜΕΝΟΊ ΤΕ ΜΉΠΟΥ ΚΑΤᾺ ΤΡΑΧΕΙ͂Σ ΤΌΠΟΥΣ ἘΚΠΈΣΩΜΕΝ, _and fearing lest we should be cast ashore somewhere on rocky ground_. That rocks were near was evident from the dashing of the waves. But the morning, even with the faint light whic... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ν ΔῈ ΝΑΥΤΩ͂Ν ΖΗΤΟΎΝΤΩΝ ΦΥΓΕΙ͂Ν, _and when the shipmen were seeking to flee_. They had hit upon a device which they thought would enable them to have the first chance for safety, and now they set about to carry it out. Everybody would agree that it was the most important matter at the moment to ho... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ Ὁ ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΣ ΤΩ͂Ι ἘΚΑΤΟΝΤΆΡΧΗΙ ΚΑῚ ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΏΤΑΙΣ, _Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers_. These would probably be able to stop the intended desertion better than the captain of the vessel. At all events they were strong enough in numbers to take the matter into their own hands, and... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ�, _then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat_, i.e. cut asunder the ropes which attached the boat to the ship. Thus the boat was cast away.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΧΡΙ ΔῈ ΟὟ ἩΜΈΡΑ ἬΜΕΛΛΕΝ ΓΊΝΕΣΘΑΙ, _and while the day was coming on_, i.e. before it was light enough to see what had best be done. Here again we may notice how every means was to be employed for safety. Paul urges them to take now a proper meal that when the time for work arrives they may be in a c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΓᾺΡ ΠΡῸΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ὙΜΕΤΈΡΑΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΣ ὙΠΆΡΧΕΙ, _for this is for your safety_; because the men when they had been strengthened by a proper meal would be able to do more towards their own preservation. For πρός with a genitive, meaning ‘in the interest of,’ ‘to the advantage of,’ cf. Thuc. II. 86, ἡ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΧΑΡΊΣΤΗΣΕΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι, _he gave thanks to God_. As he had advised, so he set the example of taking food. But he did more than this. He made an Eucharist of this meal. In the sight of the heathen soldiers and sailors, he brake the bread in solemn thanksgiving, and thus converted the whole into a r... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓́ΘΥΜΟΙ ΔῈ ΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΙ ΠΆΝΤΕΣ, _and all becoming of good cheer_. Paul’s hopeful spirit had breathed hope into the whole company, and doubtless the religious character infused into the meal was not without a calming influence. ΠΡΟΣΕΛΆΒΟΝΤΟ ΤΡΟΦΗ͂Σ, _took some food_. The ‘some’ is due to the partitiv... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΑΚΌΣΙΑΙ ἙΒΔΟΜΉΚΟΝΤΑ ἝΞ, _two hundred threescore and sixteen_. As we do not know the number of prisoners and soldiers, it is impossible to form any conclusion about the manning of such a ship as this. The number here mentioned is very large, and we cannot suppose that a merchantman from Alexandria... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΟΡΕΣΘΈΝΤΕΣ ΔῈ ΤΡΟΦΗ͂Σ, _and when they had eaten enough_. Literally ‘having been satisfied with food.’ When they had satisfied their present need, there was no use in trying to save more of the food which they had. So they set about lightening the ship. This is implied by the tense of the verb (ἐκού... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ΓΗ͂Ν ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΠΕΓΊΝΩΣΚΟΝ, _they knew not the land_. We need not from this suppose that none of the sailors were acquainted with the island of Malta, but that the point of the land, close to which they were, was unrecognised by them. When they were close in shore, and amid stormy weather, this could... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤᾺΣ�, _and casting off the anchors_. περιαιρέω indicates that they now cast loose all the anchors round about the stern of the vessel, where they had before laid them out. When they had thrown overboard a load of corn, there was no likelihood that they would trouble themselves with the weight of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ν ΚΥΜΆΤΩΝ omitted with אAB. _Vulg_. has ‘a vi maris.’ 41. ΠΕΡΙΠΕΣΌΝΤΕΣ ΔῈ ΕἸΣ ΤΌΠΟΝ ΔΙΘΆΛΑΣΣΟΝ, _but lighting upon a place where two seas met_. This is one of the features of the narrative by which the locality can almost certainly be identified. The little island of Salmonetta forms with the Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ ΤΟῪΣ ΔΕΣΜΏΤΑΣ�, _that they should kill the prisoners_. This advice was given because, by the Roman law, the soldiers were answerable with their own lives for the prisoners placed under their charge. For ἵνα after a word or phrase signifying ‘to counsel’ or ‘decree’ cf. John 9:22. Also Sir 44:18... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΔῈ ἙΚΑΤΟΝΤΆΡΧΗΣ ΒΟΥΛΌΜΕΝΟΣ ΔΙΑΣΩ͂ΣΑΙ, _but the centurion, desiring to save_. The centurion could not fail to see that it was to the Apostle that the safety of the whole party was due, and he could hardly help feeling admiration for the prisoner, after all he had seen of him. From the first (see Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤΟῪΣ ΛΟΙΠΟΎΣ, _and that the rest_. The case is left pendent, because of the long apposition which immediately follows. Some needful words = ‘should get to the land’ are readily supplied in thought. ΟὛΣ ΜῈΝ ἘΠῚ ΣΑΝΊΣΙΝ, ΟὝΣ ΔῈ ἘΠΊ ΤΙΝΩΝ ΤΩ͂Ν�, _some on planks, some on broken pieces of the ship_.... [ Continue Reading ]