Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Acts 27:30

ζητούντων : “and as the sailors were seeking,” R.V.; “about to flee,” A.V. is incorrect, for they were planning possible means of escape, and could scarcely be said to be about to escape, cf. [418] text if they succeeded the passengers and the soldiers would thus be left to their fate. προφ. ὡς : under colour, under pretence, specie, cf. Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; John 15:22; Philippians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5. Cf. for its use here Thuc., v., 53, vi., 76. For ὡς cf. Acts 17:14; Acts 28:19; Luke 23:14, and ὡς μέλλων with present infinitive active as here, Acts 23:15; Acts 23:20, Klostermann, Vindiciæ Lucanæ, p. 54. ἐκτείνειν : “lay out anchors,” R.V., Ramsay, i.e., at the full length of the cable. The sailors pretended that more anchors from the prow would help to steady the ship, and that they must go off in a boat to carry them out to cable's length, rather than drop them out as in Acts 27:29. ἐκτ.: a technical expression (cf. éonger, Vars, p. 248, and so ῥίπτειν in Acts 27:29, mouiller), Breusing, p. 195. It seems impossible to suppose with Breusing, p. 194, and Vars, p. 248 (so also Goerne), that the sailors may have been actuated by an honourable motive, and that they wished to put off in the boat to see if the soundings and the nature of the ground allowed the ship to get nearer shore, for although St. Paul's words do not expressly accuse them of treachery, yet the narrative of his companion does so, cf. προφάσει, etc. But, as Breusing himself points out, St. Paul's words issued in the best result, for the centurion's counsel prevented a terrible scene of sauve qui peut (as in the stranding of the Cimbria, Goerne).

[418] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Acts 27:30

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