Acts 27:16

The modern name of this small island is Gavdho and is about 23 miles southwest of Crete. "Once they were in the shelter of the island, they would have had relatively smooth water for ten or fifteen miles, and in this stretch of smooth water they make what preparations they can for riding out the storm" (Reese pp. 901-902). "We were" Indicating that the passengers may have been pressed into service. "Scarcely able to get the ships boat under control" This is the first of three precautions and most feel this refers to getting the ship's life boat which was usually towed back on board. "The dinghy was normally towed astern, but taken aboard in bad weather. By this time it must have been full of water, and this made it all the more difficult to secure it" (Bruce p. 509). Compare with Acts 27:30.