SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:16
Y llevados de la corriente hacia una pequea isla que se llama Clauda, apenas pudimos ganar el esquife;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 27:16
Verse 16. A certain island-called Clauda] Called also Gaudos; situated at the south-western extremity of the island of Crete, and now called Gozo, according to Dr. Shaw. Much work to come by the boat] It was likely to have been washed overboard; or, if the boat was in tow, at the stern of the vessel, which is probable, they found it very difficult to save it from being staved, or broken to pieces.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And running under a certain island , etc.] Or below a certain island and hard by, it or under the sea shore of it, where the sea might be smoother, the wind not being there so strong: which is called Clauda : by Ptolomy it is called Claudus, and was near the island of Crete, and now called Gozo. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read Cauda; and there was an island near to Crete, which was called Gaudos f1294 , and is thought to be the place here meant: we had much work to come by the boat ; which they had with them to go ashore in, or to betake themselves to in case of shipwreck; and which in this storm was in danger of being dashed to pieces against the ship, or lost; and it was with some difficulty that they came at it, and took it up into the ship.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-20 - Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easil take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us neve expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun no stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, an have no light. See what the wealth of this world is: though coveted a a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden; not only to heavy to be carried safely, but heavy enough to sink him that has it The children of this world can be prodigal of their goods for the saving their lives, yet are sparing of them in works of piety an charity, and in suffering for Christ. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many rather make shipwrec of faith and a good conscience, than of their goods. The means the sailors used did not succeed; but when sinners give up all hope of saving themselves, they are prepared to understand God's word, and to trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
νησιον 3519 N-ASN δε 1161 CONJ τι 5100 X-ASN υποδραμοντες 5295 5631 V-2AAP-NPM καλουμενον 2564 5746 V-PPP-ASN κλαυδην 2802 N-ASF μολις 3433 ADV ισχυσαμεν 2480 5656 V-AAI-1P περικρατεις 4031 A-NPM γενεσθαι 1096 5635 V-2ADN της 3588 T-GSF σκαφης 4627 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. We had much work to come by the boat (moliv iscusamen perikrateiv genesqai thv skafhv). Lit., we were with difficulty able to become masters of the boat: i.e., to secure on deck the small boat which, in calm weather, was attached by a rope to the vessel's stern. Rev., we were able with difficulty to secure the boat. On with difficulty, see note on scarce, ver. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
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_.
