27:1 {That we should sail} (tou apoplein hemas). this genitive articular infinitive with ekriqe like the LXX construction translating the Hebrew infinitive construct is awkward in Greek. Several similar examples in #Lu 17:1; Ac 10:25; 20:3 (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1068). Luke alone uses this old verb in N.T. He uses nine compounds of plew, to sail. Note the reappearance of "we" in the narrative. It is possible, of course, that Luke was not with Paul during the series of trials at Caesarea, or at least, not all the time. But it is natural for Luke to use "we" again because he and Aristarchus are travelling with Paul. In Caesarea Paul was the center of the action all the time whether Luke was present or not. The great detail and minute accuracy of Luke's account of this voyage and shipwreck throw more light upon ancient seafaring than everything else put together. Smith's _Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul_ is still a classic on the subject. Though so accurate in his use of sea terms, yet Luke writes like a landsman, not like a sailor. Besides, the character of Paul is here revealed in a remarkable fashion. {They delivered} (paredidoun). Imperfect active wmega form rather than the old -mi form paredidosan as in #4:33, from paradidwmi. Perhaps the imperfect notes the continuance of the handing over. {Certain other prisoners} (tinas heterous desmwtas). Bound (desmwtas) like Paul, but not necessarily appellants to Caesar, perhaps some of them condemned criminals to amuse the Roman populace in the gladiatorial shows, most likely pagans though heterous does not have to mean different kind of prisoners from Paul. {Of the Augustan band} (speires sebastes). Note Ionic genitive speires, not speiras. See on ¯Mt 27:1; Ac 10:1. cohortis augustae. We do not really know why this cohort is called "Augustan." It may be that it is part of the imperial commissariat (_frumentarii_) since Julius assumes chief authority in the grain ship (verse #11). These legionary centurions when in Rome were called _peregrini_ (foreigners) because their work was chiefly in the provinces. this man Julius may have been one of them.

27:2 {In a ship of Adramyttium} (ploiwi hadramuntenwi). A boat belonging to Adramyttium, a city in Mysia in the province of Asia. Probably a small coasting vessel on its way home for the winter stopping at various places (topous). Julius would take his chances to catch another ship for Rome. The usual way to go to Rome was to go to Alexandria and so to Rome, but no large ship for Alexandria was at hand. {We put to sea} (anecqemen). First aorist passive of anagw, usual word in Luke. {Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us} (ontos sun hemin aristarcou makedonos qessalonikews). Genitive absolute. Ramsay suggests that Luke and Aristarchus accompanied Paul as his slaves since they would not be allowed to go as his friends. But Luke was Paul's physician and may have gained permission on that score.

27:3 {The next day} (tei heterai). Locative case with hemerai understood. {We touched} (katecqemen). First aorist passive of katagw, the usual term for "coming down" from the seas as anagw above (and verse #4) is for "going up" to sea. So it _looks_ to sailors. Sidon was 67 miles from Caesarea, the rival of Tyre, with a splendid harbor. The ship stopped here for trade. {Treated Paul kindly} (philanthr"p"s t"i Paul"i chrˆsamenos). "Using (cresamenos, first aorist middle participle of craomai, to use) Paul (instrumental case used with this verb) kindly" (filanqrwpws, "philanthropically," adverb from phil-anqrwpos, love of mankind). He was kindly to Paul throughout the voyage (verse #43; 28:16), taking a personal interest in his welfare. {Refresh himself} (epimeleias tucein). Second aorist active infinitive of tugcanw (to obtain) with the genitive epimeleias, old word from epimeles, careful, only here in the N.T. Whether it was mere hospitality we do not know. It may have been medical attention required because of Paul's long confinement. this is Paul's first visit to Sidon, but Christians were already in Phoenicia (#11:19) and so Paul had "friends" here.

27:4 {We sailed under the lee of Cyprus} (hupepleusamen ten kupron). First aorist active indicative of hupoplew, to sail under. Cyprus was thus on the left between the ship and the wind from the northwest, under the protection of Cyprus. {Because the winds were contrary} (dia to tous anemous einai enantious). The articular infinitive after dia and the accusative of general reference (anemous) with predicate accusative (enantious, facing them, in their very teeth if they went that way). The Etesian winds were blowing from the northwest so that they could not cut straight across from Sidon to Patara with Cyprus on the right. They must run behind Cyprus and hug the shore of Cilicia and Pamphylia.

27:5 {When we had sailed across} (diapleusantes). First aorist active participle of diaplew (another compound of plew). {The sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia} (to pelagos to kata ten kilikian kai pamfulian). pelagos is properly the high sea as here. In #Mt 18:6 (which see) Jesus uses it of "the depth of the sea." Only these examples in the N.T. The current runs westward along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia and the land would protect from the wind. {We came to Myra of Lycia} (katelqamen eis murra tes lukias). Literally, "We came down." this town was two and a half miles from the coast of Lycia. The port Andriace had a fine harbor and did a large grain business. No disciples are mentioned here nor at Lasea, Melita, Syracuse, Rhegium.

27:6 {Sailing for Italy} (pleon eis ten italian). this was the opportunity for which Lysias had been looking. So he put (enebibasen, first aorist active of embibazw, to cause to enter. Cf. epibantes in verse #2) prisoners and soldiers on board. this was a ship of Alexandria bound for Rome, a grain ship (#38) out of its course because of the wind. Such grain ships usually carried passengers.

27:7 {When we had sailed slowly} (braduploountes). Present active participle of braduploew (bradus, slow, plous, voyage). Literally, "sailing slowly," not "having or had sailed slowly." Only here and in Artemidorus (sec. cent. A.D.). It may mean "tacking" before the wind. Polybius uses tacuploew, to sail swiftly. {Many days} (en hikanais hemerais). See on ¯Lu 7:6 for hikanos. Literally, "in considerable days." {With difficulty} (molis). Used in old Greek, like mogis (#Lu 9:39) from molos, toil (see #Ac 14:18). {Over against Cnidus} (kata ten knidon). "Down along Cnidus." A hundred and thirty miles from Myra, the southwest point of Asia Minor and the western coast. Here the protection of the land from the northwest wind ceased. {The wind not further suffering us} (me prosewntos hemas tou anemou). Genitive absolute with present active participle of proseaw, one of the few words still "not found elsewhere" (Thayer). Regular negative me with participles. They could not go on west as they had been doing since leaving Myra. {We sailed under the lee of Crete} (hupepleusamen ten kreten). See under verse ¯4. Instead of going to the right of Crete as the straight course would have been they sailed southwest with Crete to their right and got some protection against the wind there. {Over against Salmone} (kata salmwnen). Off Cape Salmone, a promontory on the east of the island.

27:8 {Coasting along} (paralegomenoi). Present middle participle of paralegw, to lay beside, not from legw, to collect or legw, to say. Diodorus Siculus uses paralegomai in precisely this sense of coasting along, like Latin _legere oram_. In N.T. only here and verse #13. {Fair Havens} (kalous limenas). this harbor is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. this harbor would protect them for a time from the winds. {The city of Lasea} (polis lasea). Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete.

27:9 {Where much time was spent} (hikanou cronou diagenomenou). Genitive absolute again with second aorist middle participle of diaginomai, to come in between (dia). "Considerable time intervening," since they became weatherbound in this harbor, though some take it since they left Caesarea. {And the voyage was now dangerous} (kai ontos ede episfalous). Genitive absolute, "and the voyage being already (ˆdˆ=Latin _jam_) dangerous" (old word from epi and sfallw, to trip, to fall, and so prone to fall, here only in N.T.). {Because the Fast was now already gone by} (dia to kai ten nesteian ede pareleluqenai). Accusative (after dia) of the articular infinitive perfect active of parercomai, to pass by, with the accusative of general reference (nesteian, the great day of atonement of the Jews, #Le 16:29ff.) occurring about the end of September. The ancients considered navigation on the Mediterranean unsafe from early October till the middle of March. In A.D. 59 the Fast occurred on Oct. 5. There is nothing strange in Luke using this Jewish note of time as in #20:6 though a Gentile Christian. Paul did it also (#1Co 16:8). It is no proof that Luke was a Jewish proselyte. We do not know precisely when the party left Caesarea (possibly in August), but in ample time to arrive in Rome before October if conditions had been more favorable. But the contrary winds had made the voyage very slow and difficult all the way (verse #7) besides the long delay here in this harbor of Fair Havens. {Paul admonished them} (pareinei ho paulos). Imperfect active of parainew, old word to exhort from para and ainew, to praise (#3:8), only here and verse #22 in N.T. It is remarkable that a prisoner like Paul should venture to give advice at all and to keep on doing it (imperfect tense inchoative, began to admonish and kept on at it). Paul had clearly won the respect of the centurion and officers and also felt it to be his duty to give this unasked for warning. {I perceive} (qewrw). Old word from qewros, a spectator. See #Lu 10:18. Paul does not here claim prophecy, but he had plenty of experience with three shipwrecks already (#2Co 11:25) to justify his apprehension. {Will be} (mellein esesqai). Infinitive in indirect assertion followed by future infinitive after mellein in spite of hoti which would naturally call for present indicative mellei, an anacoluthon due to the long sentence (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 478). {With injury} (meta hubrews). An old word from huper (above, upper, like our "uppishness") and so pride, insult, personal injury, the legal word for personal assault (Page). Josephus (_Ant_. III. 6, 4) uses it of the injury of the elements. {Loss} (zemian). Old word, opposite of kerdos, gain or profit (#Php 3:7f.). Nowhere else in N.T. {Lading} (fortiou). Diminutive of fortos (from ferw, to bear) only in form. Common word, but in N.T. only here in literal sense, as metaphor in #Mt 11:30; 23:4; Lu 11:46; Ga 6:5. {But also of our lives} (alla kai twn yucwn). Common use of yuce for life, originally "breath of life" (#Ac 20:10), and also "soul" (#14:2). Fortunately no lives were lost, though all else was. But this outcome was due to the special mercy of God for the sake of Paul (verse #24), not to the wisdom of the officers in rejecting Paul's advice. Paul begins now to occupy the leading role in this marvellous voyage.

27:11 {Gave more heed} (mallon epeiqeto). Imperfect middle of peiqw, to yield to (with the dative case). The "Frumentarian" centurion ranked above the captain and owner. As a military officer the centurion was responsible for the soldiers, the prisoners, and the cargo of wheat. It was a government ship. Though the season was not advanced, the centurion probably feared to risk criticism in Rome for timidity when the wheat was so much needed in Rome (Knowling). {To the master} (twi kubernetei). Old word from kubernaw, to steer, and so steersman, pilot, sailing-master. Common in this sense in the papyri. In N.T. only here and #Re 18:17. {And to the owner of the ship} (kai twi nauklerwi). Old word compounded of naus and kleros and used for owner of the ship who acted as his own skipper or captain. The papyri examples (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_) all have the meaning "captain" rather than "owner."

27:12 {Because the haven was not commodious to winter in} (aneuqetou tou limenos huparcontos pros paraceimasian). Genitive absolute again present tense of huparcw: "The harbor being unfit (aneuqetou, this compound not yet found elsewhere, simplex in #Lu 9:62; 14:35; Heb 6:7) for wintering" (paraceimasia, only here in N.T., but in Polybius and Diodorus, in an inscription A.D. 48, from paraceimazw). {The more part advised} (hoi pleiones eqento boulen). Second aorist middle indicative of tiqemi, ancient idiom with boulen, to take counsel, give counsel. Lysias held a council of the officers of the ship on the issue raised by Paul. {If by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there} (ei pws dunainto katantesantes eis foinika paraceimasai). The optative dunainto (present middle of dunamai) here with ei is a condition of the fourth class with the notion of purpose implied and indirect discourse (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1021). "We vote for going on the chance that we may be able" (Page). Phoenix is the town of palms (#Joh 12:13), the modern Lutro, the only town in Crete on the southern coast with a harbor fit for wintering, though Wordsworth and Page argue for Phineka which suits Luke's description better. The verb paraceimazw, to winter, is from para and ceimwn (see also #28:11). Used in several _Koin‚_ writers. {Looking northeast and southeast} (bleponta kata liba kai kata cwron). There are two ways of interpreting this language. liy means the southwest wind and cwros the northwest wind. But what is the effect of kata with these words? Does it mean "facing" the wind? If so, we must read "looking southwest and northwest." But kata can mean down the line of the wind (the way the wind is blowing). If so, qen it is proper to translate "looking northeast and southeast." this translation suits Lutro, the other suits Phoenike. Ramsay takes it to be Lutro, and suggests that sailors describe the harbor by the way it looks as they go into it (the subjectivity of the sailors) and that Luke so speaks and means Lutro which faces northeast and southeast. On the whole Lutro has the best of the argument.

27:13 {When the south wind blew softly} (hupopneusantos notou). Genitive absolute with aorist active participle of hupopnew, old verb to blow under, qen to blow gently, here only in N.T. "A south wind having blown gently," in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. They were so sure of the wisdom of their decision that they did not even draw up the small boat attached by a rope to the vessel's stern (verse #16). It was only some forty miles to Lutro. {Their purpose} (tes proqesews, set before them, from protiqemi), genitive after kratew (kekratekenai, perfect active infinitive in indirect discourse). {They weighed anchor} (arantes). First aorist active participle of air", old verb used in technical sense with tas agkuras (anchors) understood as in Thucydides I. 52; II. 23, "having lifted the anchors." Page takes it simply as "moving." {Sailed along Crete} (parelegonto ten kreten). Imperfect middle. See verse #8, "were coasting along Crete." {Close in shore} (asson). Comparative adverb of agki, near, and so "nearer" to shore. Only here in N.T.

27:14 {After no long time} (met' ou polu). Litotes again. {Beat down from it} (ebalen kat' autes). Second aorist active indicative of ballw, to throw. Here "dashed" (intransitive). autes is in the ablative, not genitive case, beat "down from it" (Crete), not "against it or on it." (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 606). autes cannot refer to ploion (boat) which is neuter. So the ablative case with kata as in #Mr 5:13, Homer also. The Cretan mountains are over 7,000 feet high. {A stormuous wind which is called Euraquilo} (anemos tufwnikos ho kaloumenos eurakulwn). tufwn=tufws was used for the typhoon, a violent whirlwind (turbo) or squall. this word gives the character of the wind. The eurakulwn (reading of Aleph A B against the Textus Receptus Euroklud"n) has not been found elsewhere. Blass calls it a hybrid word compounded of the Greek euros (east wind) and the Latin aquilo (northeast). It is made like euronotos (southeast). The Vulgate has _euroaquilo_. It is thus the east north east wind. Page considers Euroclydon to be a corruption of Euraquilo. Here the name gives the direction of the wind.

27:15 {When the ship was caught} (sunarpasqentos tou ploiou). Genitive absolute again with first aorist passive of sunarpazw, old word, in N.T. only #Lu 8:29; Ac 6:12; 19:29, and here. Graphic picture as if the ship was seized by a great monster. {Face the wind} (antofqalmein twi anemwi). Dative case with the vivid infinitive of antofqalmew from antofqalmos, looking in the eye, or eye to eye (anti, facing and opqalmos, eye). Eyes were painted on the prows of vessels. The ship could not face the wind enough to get to Phoenix. Modern sailors talk of sailing into the eye of the wind. We were not able to look the wind in the eye. _Koin‚_ verb used by Polybius. Some MSS. have it in #Ac 6:11, but only here in N.T. In Wisdom of Sol. 12:14 it is used of a prince who cannot look God in the face. Clement of Rome 34 uses it of an idle workman not able to look his employer in the face (Milligan and Moulton's _Vocabulary_). {We gave way} (epidontes). Second aorist active participle of epididwmi, giving way to the wind. {Were driven} (eferomeqa). Imperfect passive of ferw, "we were being borne along." We "scudded before the gale" (Page). "The suddenness of the hurricane gave no time to furl the great mainsail" (Furneaux).

27:16 {Running under the lee of} (hupodramontes). Second aorist active participle of hupotrecw. Same use of hupo as in hupepleusamen (verses #4,8) for "under the lee", under the protection of. nesion is diminutive of nesos, a small island. The MSS. vary between Cauda (B) and Clauda (Aleph). {To secure the boat} (perikrateis genesqai tes skafes). "To become masters (perikrateis from peri and kratos, power over, found in Susannah and ecclesiastical writers, and here only in N.T.) of the boat ("dug out," like Indian boats, literally, from skaptw, to dig, old word, here only in N.T. and verses #30,32). The smooth water behind the little island enabled them to do this . {When they had hoisted it up} (hen arantes). "Which (the little boat) having hoisted up (arantes, verse #13)." Even so it was "with difficulty" (molis). Perhaps the little boat was waterlogged. {Used helps} (boeqeiais ecrwnto). Imperfect middle of craomai with instrumental case. The "helps" were ropes or chains, no doubt. {Under-girding the ship} (hupozwnnuntes to ploion). Present active participle of hupozwnnumi. Old verb, here only in N.T. Probably cables (hupozwmata) or ropes were used under the hull of the ship laterally or even longitudinally, tightly secured on deck. this "frapping" was more necessary for ancient vessels because of the heavy mast. The little island made it possible to do this also. {Lest we be cast upon the Syrtis} (me eis ten surtin ekpeswsin). Final clause after verb of fearing (foboumenoi) with me and the second aorist active subjunctive of ekpiptw, old verb to fall out or off, to be cast away. So here and verses #26,29, a classical use of the verb for a ship driven out of its course on to shoals or rocks (Page who cites Xenophon, _Anab_. VII. 5, 12). The Syrtis was the name for two quicksands between Carthage and Cyrenaica, this clearly being the Syrtis Major most dangerous because of the sandbanks (surtis, from surw). The wind would drive the ship right into this peril if something were not done. {They lowered the gear} (calasantes to skeuos). First aorist active participle of calaw (cf. #Lu 5:4 for lowering the nets). skeuos means vessel or gear. They slackened or reduced sail, especially the mainsail, but leaving enough to keep the ship's head as close to the wind as was practicable. {So were driven} (houtws eferonto). Imperfect passive indicative again as in verse #15 with the addition of houtws (thus). The ship was now fixed as near to the wind (E N E) as possible (seven points). That would enable the ship to go actually W by N and so avoid the quicksands. J. Smith has shown that, a day being lost around Cauda, the ship going 36 miles in 24 hours in 13 days would make 468 miles. The Island of Malta (Melita) is precisely in that direction (W by N) from Cauda and is 480 miles. Page sees a difficulty about this explanation of the steady drift of the ship in the word diaferomenon in verse #27, but that was at the end of the drifting and the varied winds could have come qen and not before. The whole narrative as explained carefully in Smith's _Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul_ is a masterpiece of precise and accurate scholarship. A resume of his results appears in my _Luke the Historian in the Light of Research_.

27:18 {As we labored exceedingly with the storm} (sfodrws ceimazomenwn hemwn). Genitive absolute with present passive participle of ceimazw, old verb to afflict with a storm (ceima, stormy weather), to toss upon the waves, here alone in N.T. {They began to throw overboard} (ekbalen epoiounto). Literally, "They began to make (inchoative imperfect middle of poiew) a casting out" (ekbolen from ekballw, to cast out, old word, only here in N.T.). Cf. Latin _jacturam facere_. this to lighten the ship by throwing overboard the cargo. The grain in the ship would shift and make it list and so added to the danger. {They cast out} (eriyan). Third person plural aorist active of riptw, not eriyamen as Textus Receptus. {With their own hands} (autoceires). Old word (autos, ceir) but here alone in N.T. Vivid and graphic touch by Luke who, of course, watched every movement day by day. {The tackling} (ten skeuen). The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate.

27:20 {When neither sun nor stars shone upon us} (mete heliou mete astrwn epifainontwn). Genitive absolute again. {For many days} (epi pleionas hemeras). For more days than a few. {No small storm} (ceimonos ouk oligou). Litotes again. {All hope that we should be saved was now taken away} (loipon perieireito elpis pasa tou swzesqai hemas). "For the rest (or future) there began to be taken from around us (perieireito inchoative imperfect and see use of the verb in #2Co 13:16 of the veil) all hope of the being saved so far as we were concerned." Despair was beginning to settle like a fog on all their hopes. Had Paul lost hope?

27:21 {When they had been long without food} (polles te asitias huparcouses). Genitive absolute, the old word asitia from asitos (verse #33) a privative and sitos, food, here alone in N.T. Literally, "There being much abstinence from food." They had plenty of grain on board, but no appetite to eat (sea-sickness) and no fires to cook it (Page). "Little heart being left for food" (Randall). Galen and other medical writers use asitia and asitos for want of appetite. {Stood forth} (staqeis). As in #1:15; 2:14; 17:22. Pictorial word (Page) that sets forth the vividness and solemnity of the scene (Knowling). {Ye should have hearkened unto me} (edei men peiqarcesantas moi). Literally, "It was necessary for you hearkening unto me not to set sail (me anagesqai)." It was not the "I told you so" of a small nature, "but a reference to the wisdom of his former counsel in order to induce acceptance of his present advice" (Furneaux). The first aorist active participle is in the accusative of general reference with the present infinitive anagesqai. {And have gotten this injury and loss} (kerdesai te ten hubrin tauten kai ten zemian). this Ionic form kerdesai (from kerdaw) rather than kerdenai or kerdanai is common in late Greek (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 349). The Revised Version thus carries over the negative me to this first aorist active infinitive kerdesai from kerdaw (cf. on ¯Mt 16:26). But Page follows Thayer in urging that this is not exact, that Paul means that by taking his advice they ought to have escaped this injury and loss. "A person is said in Greek 'to gain a loss' when, being in danger of incurring it, he by his conduct saves himself from doing so." this is probably Paul's idea here.

27:22 {And now} (kai ta nun). Accusative plural neuter article of general reference in contrast with men in verse #21. Paul shows modesty (Bengel) in the mild contrast. {No loss of life} (apobole yuces oudemia). Old word from apoballw, to throw away, only twice in N.T. #Ro 11:15 (rejection) and here. He had foretold such loss of life as likely (verse #10), but he now gives his reason for his changed view.

27:23 {For there stood by me} (pareste gar moi). Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of paristemi with the locative case (beside me). The very form used by Paul of his trial (#2Ti 4:17) when "the Lord stood by me" (ho de kurios moi pareste) when others deserted him. this angel of the God whom Paul serves (in distinction from the heathen gods) is the reason for Paul's present confidence.

27:24 {Thou must stand before Caesar} (kaisari se dei parastenai). Note the same dei (must) as in #23:11 when Jesus appeared to Paul in Jerusalem and the same verb parastenai (second aorist active infinitive) used in verse #23. {Hath granted thee} (kecaristai soi). Perfect middle indicative of carizomai and that from caris, a gift or grace. The lives of those that sailed with Paul God had spared as a gift (caris) to Paul.

27:25 {Wherefore be of good cheer} (dio euqumeite). God had spoken. That was enough. this old verb from euqumos in the N.T. only here, verse #25; Jas 5:13. See the adjective #27:36. {For I believe God} (pisteuw gar twi qewi). this is Paul's reason for his own good cheer and for his exhortation to confidence in spite of circumstances so untoward. Paul had doubtless prayed for his own life and for the lives of all. He was sure that he was to bear his witness in Rome.

27:26 {We must be cast} (dei hemas ekpesein). It is necessary for us to fall out (ekpesein, second aorist active infinitive of ekpiptw). It was not revealed to Paul what island it would be.

27:27 {As we were driven to and fro} (diaferomenwn hemwn). Genitive absolute with present passive participle of diaferw, old verb to bear different ways (dia=duo, two), this way and that. Continued to be tossed to and fro in the rough seas. It would seem so to those on board. It does not necessarily mean that the wind had changed. The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. {In the sea of Adria} (en twi hadriai). Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Luke's usage is like that of Strabo. {Surmised} (hupenooun). Imperfect active indicative of huponoew, inchoative, began to suspect. {That they were drawing near to some country} (prosagein tina autois ch"ran). Infinitive with accusative of general reference in indirect assertion. prosagw is here used intransitively and Luke writes from the sailor's standpoint that a certain land was drawing near to them (autois, dative). The sailors heard the sound of breakers and grew uneasy.

27:28 {They sounded} (bolisantes). First aorist active participle of bolizw rare verb only here and in Eustathius who says it was familiar in ancient Greek. Apparently from bolis, a missile or dart, and so to throw down the lead into the sea, to heave the lead, to take soundings. The inscriptions give bolimos for "leaden." {Twenty fathoms} (orguias eikosi). this old word, from oregw, to stretch, means the distance from one outstretched middle finger tip to the other likewise out-stretched. {After a little space} (bracu diastesantes). Literally, "standing apart a little" (second aorist active participle of diistemi), that is, the ship going a short distance further on. A ship today approaching St. Paul's Bay by the rocky point of Koura would pass first twenty, qen fifteen fathoms (Furneaux).

27:29 {Lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground} (me pou kata traceis topous ekpeswmen). The usual construction after a verb of fearing (me and the aorist subjunctive ekpes"men). Literally, "Lest somewhere (pou) we should fall out down against (kata) rocky places." The change in the soundings made it a very real fear. traceis (rough) is old adjective, but in the N.T. only here and #Lu 3:5 (from #Isa 40:4). {Four anchors} (agkuras tessaras). Old word from agke. In N.T. only in this chapter, with rhiptw here, with ekteinw in verse #30, with periairew in verse #40; and #Heb 6:19 (figuratively of hope). {From the stern} (ek prumnes). Old word, but in N.T. only in #Mr 4:38; here and #41 in contrast with prwira (prow). The usual practice was and is to anchor by the bows. "With a view to running the ship ashore anchoring from the stern would, it is said, be best" (Page). Nelson is quoted as saying that he had been reading #Ac 27 the morning of the Battle of Copenhagen (April, 1801) where he anchored his ships from the stern. {Wished for the day} (euconto). Imperfect middle, kept on praying for "day to come" (hemeran genesqai) before the anchors broke under the strain of the storm or began to drag. If the ship had been anchored from the prow, it would have swung round and snapped the anchors or the stern would have faced the beach.

27:30 {The sailors} (twn nautwn). Old word from naus (ship), in N.T. only here, verse #30; Re 18:17. {Were seeking} (zetountwn). Genitive absolute again with present active participle of zetew to seek. {Had lowered} (calasantwn). Aorist active participle of calazw. {Under color} (profasei). Possibly the same word as "prophecy" (from pro-femi, to speak forth), but here pretence, pretext, although it may come from profainw, to show forth. The use here is an old one and appears also in #Mr 12:40; Lu 20:47; 1Th 2:5; Php 1:18. {As though} (hws). The alleged reason, a common Greek idiom with hws and the participle (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 966). Here with mellontwn. {From the foreship} (ek prwires). Old word for prow of the ship. In the N.T. only here and verse #41. Note here ekteinein (lay out, stretch out) rather than rhiyantes (casting) in verse #29, for they pretended to need the small boat to stretch out or lay out the anchors in front.

27:31 {Except these abide in the ship} (ean me houtoi meinwsin en twi ploiwi). Condition of the third class (undetermined, but with hope, etc.). Paul has no hesitancy in saying this in spite of his strong language in verse #24 about God's promise. He has no notion of lying supinely down and leaving God to do it all. Without the sailors the ship could not be properly beached.

27:32 {The ropes} (ta scoinia). Diminutive of scoinos, old word, but in N.T. only here and #Joh 2:15. Paul is now savior of the ship and the soldiers quickly cut loose the skiff and "let her fall off" (eiasan auten ekpesein) rather than be the means of the escape of the sailors who were needed. this dastardly scheme of the sailors would have brought frightful loss of life.

27:33 {While the day was coming on} (acri hou hemera emellen ginesqai). More likely here acri hou (for acri toutou h"i) with the imperfect emellen, has its usual meaning, "until which time day was about to come on (ginesqai, present middle infinitive, linear action)." That is Paul kept on exhorting or beseeching (parekalei, imperfect active) them until dawn began to come on (cf. verse #39 when day came). In #Heb 3:13 acri hou with the present indicative has to mean "so long as" or while, but that is not true here (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 975). See on ¯Ac 2:46 for the same phrase for partaking food (metalambanw trofes, genitive case) as also in #27:34. Paul wanted them to be ready for action when day really came. "Fourteenth day" repeated (verse #27), only here in the accusative of duration of time (hemeran). It is not clear whether the "waiting" (prosdokwntes, present active participle predicate nominative complementary participle after diateleite, Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1121) means fourteen days of continuous fasting or only fourteen successive nights of eager watching without food. Galen and Dionysius of Halicarnassus employ the very idiom used here by Luke (asitos diatelew). {Having taken nothing} (meqen proslabomenoi). Second aorist middle participle of proslambanw with the accusative meqen rather than the more usual meden. Probably Paul means that they had taken no regular meals, only bits of food now and qen.

27:34 {For this is for your safety} (touto gar pros tes humeteras swterias huparcei). Note swteria in sense of "safety," literal meaning, not spiritual salvation. this is the only instance in the N.T. of the use of pros with the ablative meaning "from the side of" your safety, though a classic idiom (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 623), an example of Luke's literary style. {Perish} (apoleitai). Future middle (intransitive) of apollumi (-uw), to destroy. So the oldest MSS. rather than peseitai from piptw, to fall. this proverbial expression occurs also in #Lu 21:18 which see and in #1Sa 14:45; 2Sa 14:11; 1Ki 1:52.

27:35 {Gave thanks to God} (eucaristesen twi qewi). First aorist active indicative of eucaristew from which our word "eucaristw comes. It was saying grace like the head of a Hebrew family and the example of Paul would encourage the others to eat. Probably Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus had memories of the Lord's supper (#Ac 2:42) while to others it was only an ordinary meal (#Lu 24:30).

27:36 {qen were they all of good cheer} (euqumoi de genomenoi). More exactly, "qen all becoming cheerful," because of Paul's words and conduct. {Took food} (proselabonto trofes). Partitive genitive here (some food), not accusative as verse #33. Paul's courage was contagious.

27:37 {Two hundred three-score and sixteen souls} (diakosiai hebdomekonta hex). The Vatican Manuscript (B) has hws in place of diakosiai (two hundred) which Westcott and Hort put in the margin. But Alford is probably correct in suggesting that the scribe of B wrote hws by repeating the omega in ploiwi with s = 200 (Greek numeral). If the number 276 seems large, it is to be remembered that we do not know the size of the ship. Josephus (_Life_, 3) says that there were 600 on the ship that took him to Italy. The grain ships were of considerable size. The number included sailors, soldiers, and prisoners. A muster or roll call may have been made.

27:38 {When they had eaten enough} (koresqentes trofes). First aorist passive of korennumi, old verb to satisfy, to satiate, with the genitive. Literally, "Having been satisfied with food." Here only in the N.T. {They lightened} (ekoufizon). Inchoative imperfect active, began to lighten. Old verb from koufos and originally to be light, but transitive to lighten, as here, from Hippocrates on. {Throwing out the wheat} (ekballomenoi ton siton). The cargo of wheat. The second ekbole (verse #18) or casting out and overboard which was only partially done at first.

27:39 {They knew not} (ouk epeginwskon). Imperfect active of epiginwskw, to recognize. Probably conative, tried to recognize and could not (Conybeare and Howson). The island was well-known (#28:1, epegn"men), but St. Paul's Bay where the wreck took place was some distance from the main harbor (Valetta) of Melita (Malta). {They perceived} (katenooun). Imperfect active of katanoew, gradually perceived after some effort as in #11:16. this beach seemed their only hope. {They took counsel} (ebouleuonto). Imperfect middle showing the process of deliberation and doubt. The bay "having a beach" (econta aigialon) is a phrase found in Xenophon's _Anabasis_ VI. 4, 4. {Whether they could drive} (ei dunainto ekswsai). this use of the optative with ei in questions of this sort (implied indirect) is a neat Greek idiom (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1021). B C Bohairic read ekswsai (first aorist active infinitive of eks"z"), to save out (so Westcott and Hort), instead of exwsai (from exwqew, to push out, as Textus Receptus).

27:40 {Casting off} (perielontes). Second aorist active of periairew. Literally, "Having taken away from around," that is all four anchors from around the stern. Cf. the other verbs with agkuras in verse #29,30. {They left them in the sea} (eiwn eis ten qalassan). Imperfect active of ea", either descriptive or inchoative. They let the anchors go and the ropes fell down into the sea. {At the same time loosing the bands of the rudders} (hama anentes tas zeukterias twn pedaliwn). On the use of hama with the participle, old Greek idiom see Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1139. The second aorist active participle of aniemi, to relax, loosen up. Old verb, in N.T. #Ac 16:26; 27:40; Eph 6:9; Heb 13:5. Thayer notes that zeukterias (bands) occurs nowhere else, but several papyri use it of yokes and waterwheels (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_). The word for rudders (pedalion) is an old one (from pedon, the blade of an oar), but in the N.T. only here and #Jas 3:4. Page notes that the ancient ships had a pair of paddle rudders like those of the early northmen, one on each quarter. The paddle rudders had been fastened while the ship was anchored. {Hoisting up the foresail to the wind} (eparantes ton artemwna tei pneousei). Supply aurai (breeze) after pneousei (blowing). It is not clear what "sail" is meant by "artem"na." No other example in Greek is known, though the scholiast to Juvenal XII. 68 explains velo prora suo by _artemone solo_. Hence "foresail" is probably correct. {They made for the beach} (kateicon eis ton aigialon). Imperfect active of katecw, to hold down, perhaps inchoative. "They began to hold the ship steadily for the beach."

27:41 {But lighting upon} (peripesontes de). Second aorist active participle of peripiptw, old verb to fall into and so be encompassed by as in #Lu 10:30; Jas 1:2. There is a current on one side of St. Paul's Bay between a little island (Salmonetta) and Malta which makes a sand bank between the two currents. Unexpectedly the ship stuck in this sandbar. {Where two seas met} (diqalasson). Used in Strabo and Dio Chrysostom for divided seas (dis, qalassa). {They ran the vessel aground} (epekeilan ten naun). First aorist active indicative of old verb epikellw, to run a ship ashore. Only here in N.T. Here also we have the only N.T. use of naus for ship (from naw, new, to swim) so common in ancient Greek. Our word navy is from this word through the Latin. {Struck} (ereisasa). First aorist active participle of ereidw, old verb to fix firmly. Only here in N.T. {Unmoveable} (asaleutos). From a privative and saleuw to shake. Old word. In N.T. only here and #Heb 12:28. {Began to break up} (elueto). Inchoative imperfect passive of the old verb luw, to loosen. The prow was stuck in the sand-bar, and the stern was breaking to pieces by the opposing waves lashing on both sides. It was a critical moment.

27:42 {Counsel was to kill} (boule egeneto hina--apokteinwsin). The soldiers did not relish the idea of the escape of the prisoners. Hence there came this "counsel" (boule). Regular Greek idiom for purpose (hina and aorist active subjunctive of apokteinw, to kill). Soldiers were responsible for the lives of prisoners (#Ac 12:19). {Swim out} (ekkolumbesas). First aorist active participle of ekkolumbaw, old verb to swim out and so away. {Escape} (diafugei). Second aorist (effective) active subjunctive of diafeugw, to make a clean (dia) escape.

27:43 {To save Paul} (diaswsai ton paulon). Effective first aorist active infinitive of diaswzw. And no wonder for the centurion knew now how much they all owed to Paul. {Stayed them from their purpose} (ekwleusen autous tou boulematos.) Ablative case of boulema after ekwleusen (from kwleuw, to hinder, common verb). {And get first to land} (prwtous eis ten gen exienai). this classic verb exeimi occurs four times in Acts (#13:42; 17:15; 20:7; 27:32) and nowhere else in the N.T. It was a wise command.