Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 27:12
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, [and there] to winter; [which is] an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest.
12. not commodious to winter in ] And this was what they most likely would have to do, wherever they stopped, as the season for sailing was nearly over.
to depart thence also ] The oldest MSS. do not represent the last word. ( R. V. “to put to sea from thence).” The word is the technical term, and not the ordinary word for “depart.”
they might attain to Phenice ] ( R. V. “they could reach Phnix.”) Phnix is no doubt the correct orthography of the name. The place is mentioned both by Strabo and Ptolemy, and has been identified with the modern port of Lutro (Spratt’s Crete ii. 250 seqq.).
and lieth toward the south west and north west ] [ R. V. looking north-east and south-east) The original is “looking down the south-west wind and down the north-west wind.” To look down a wind is to look in the direction in which it blows. So as a south-west wind would blow towards N.E., the Rev. Ver. appears to give the correct sense, and the haven of Lutro answers these conditions, being open towards the east.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The haven – The fair havens, Act 27:8.
Was not commodious to winter in – Not safe or convenient to remain there. Probably it furnished rather a safe anchorage ground in time of a storm than a convenient place for a permanent harbor.
The more part – The greater part of the crew.
To Phenice – In the original this is Phoenix – Foinix. So it is written by Strabo. The name was probably derived from the palmtrees which were common in Crete. This was a port or harbor on the south side of Crete, and west of the fair havens. It was a more convenient harbor, and was regarded as more safe. It appears, therefore, that the majority of persons on board concurred with Paul in the belief that it was not advisable to attempt the navigation of the sea until the dangers of the winter had passed by.
And lieth toward – Greek: looking toward; that is, it was open in that direction.
The southwest – kata liba. Toward Libya, or Africa. That country was situated southwest of the mouth of the harbor. The entrance of the harbor was in a southwest direction.
And northwest – kata choron. This word denotes a wind blowing from the northwest. The harbor was doubtless curved. Its entrance was in a southwest direction. It then turned so as to lie in a direction toward the northwest. It was thus rendered perfectly safe from the winds and heavy seas; and in that harbor they might pass the winter in security. It is sometimes called Lutro. Of this harbor Mr. Urquhart, in a letter to James Smith, Esq., whose work on this voyage of Paul has obtained so wide a reputation, says, Lutro is an admirable harbor. You open it like a box; unexpectedly the rocks stand apart, and the town appears within … We thought we had cut him off, and that we were driving him right upon the rocks. Suddenly he disappeared – and, rounding in after him, like a change of scenery, the little basin, its shipping, and the town presented themselves … Excepting Lutro, all the roadsteads looking to the southward are perfectly exposed to the south or east.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Might attain to Phoenice] It appears that the Fair Havens were at the eastern end of the island, and they wished to reach Phoenice, which lay farther towards the west.
Toward the south-west and north-west.] . The libs certainly means the south-west, called libs, from Libya, from which it blows to. wards the AEgean Sea. The chorus, or caurus, means a north-west wind. Virgil mentions this, Geor. iii. ver. 356.
Semper hyems, semper spirantes frigora cauri.
“It is always winter; and the cauri, the north-westers,
ever blowing cold.”
Dr. Shaw lays down this, and other winds, in a Greek compass, on his map, in which he represents the drifting of St. Paul’s vessel from Crete, till it was wrecked at the island of Melita. Travels, p. 331, 4to. edit.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This Phenice was a port town in Candia, and not the country in Syria.
Lieth toward the south-west and northwest; being on the south part of that island, having a bay or road like unto a half-moon or crescent, one horn or part of it (admitting entrance into it) toward the south-west, and the other toward the north-west.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Phenice“Phenix,”now called Lutro.
which lieth toward thesouthwest and northwestIf this means that it was open to thewest, it would certainly not be good anchorage! It is thoughttherefore to mean that a wind from that quarter would leadinto it, or that it lay in an easterly direction from such awind [SMITH]. Ac27:13 seems to confirm this.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in,…. Which was called the “Fair Havens”, Ac 27:8 which name it might have by an antiphrasis, it being just the reverse; it might be a good summer haven, but not be fit for winter: perhaps it might be an open road or bay, and having nothing to shelter from the boisterous waves, was a place very improper for a ship to be in, in stormy weather; for in open places, as bays and roads, the sea tumbles in very violently in bad weather: this was a haven fit for fair weather only, and therefore might be so called:
the more part advised to depart thence also; the major part of the ship’s company were of the same opinion with the master and owner of it, and advised as well as they, to sail from the Fair Havens in quest of a better port; the Syriac version reads, “the most of ours”, of the apostle’s companions; so that they were against him, according to that version, which is not likely; however, the majority in the ship were for sailing:
if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter, which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west: this place is called in the Syriac version Phoenix; and Ptolomy q makes mention both of the city and haven of Phoenix, as on the south side of the island of Crete: and whereas it is here said to lie towards the south west and north west, this may be reconciled to that, as well as to itself; for the haven considered in general lay towards the south, but having its windings and turnings, with respect to them it lay towards both the south west and the north west, and so was a very commodious haven to winter in.
q Geograph, l. 3. c. 17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Paul’s Voyage towards Rome. |
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12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
In these verses we have,
I. The ship putting to sea again, and pursuing her voyage at first with a promising gale. Observe, 1. What induced them to leave the fair havens: it was because they thought the harbour not commodious to winter in; it was pleasant enough in summer but in the winter they lay bleak. Or perhaps it was upon some other account incommodious; provisions perhaps were scarce and dear there; and they ran upon a mischief to avoid an inconvenience, as we often do. Some of the ship’s crew, or of the council that was called to advise in this matter, were for staying there, rather than venturing to sea now that the weather was so uncertain: it is better to be safe in an incommodious harbour than to be lost in a tempestuous sea. But they were outvoted when it was put to the question, and the greater part advised to depart thence also; yet they aimed not to go far, but only to another port of the same island, here called Phenice, and some think it was so called because the Phenicians frequented it much, the merchants of Tyre and Sidon. It is here described to lie towards the south-west and north-west. Probably the haven was between the two promontories or juttings-out of land into the sea, one of which pointed to the north-west and the other to the south-west, by which it was guarded against the east winds. Thus hath the wisdom of the Creator provided for the relief and safety of those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters. In vain had nature provided for us the waters to sail on, if it had not likewise provided for us natural harbours to take shelter in. 2. What encouragement they had at first to pursue their voyage. They set out with a fair wind (v. 13), the south wind blew softly, upon which they should gain their point, and so they sailed close by the coast of Crete and were not afraid of running upon the rocks or quicksands, because the wind blew so gently. Those who put to sea with ever so fair a gale know not what storms they may yet meet with, and therefore must not be secure, nor take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose, when so many accidents may happen to cross their purpose. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off.
II. The ship in a storm presently, a dreadful storm. They looked at second causes, and took their measures from the favourable hints they gave, and imagined that because the south wind now blew softly it would always blow so; in confidence of this, they ventured to sea, but were soon made sensible of their folly in giving more credit to a smiling wind than to the word of God in Paul’s mouth, by which they had fair warning given them of a storm. Observe,
1. What their danger and distress was, (1.) There arose against them a tempestuous wind, which was not only contrary to them, and directly in their teeth, so that they could not get forward, but a violent wind, which raised the waves, like that which was sent forth in pursuit of Jonah, though Paul was following God, and going on in his duty, and not as Jonah running away from God and his duty. This wind the sailors called Euroclydon, a north-east wind, which upon those seas perhaps was observed to be in a particular manner troublesome and dangerous. It was a sort of whirlwind, for the ship is said to be caught by it, v. 15. It was God that commanded this wind to rise, designing to bring glory to himself, and reputation to Paul, out of it; stormy winds being brought out of his treasuries (Ps. cxxxv. 7), they fulfil his word, Ps. cxlviii. 8. (2.) The ship was exceedingly tossed (v. 18); it was kicked like a football from wave to wave; its passengers (as it is elegantly described, Psa 107:26; Psa 107:27) mount up to the heavens, go down again to the depths, reel to and fro, stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. The ship could not possibly bear up into the wind, could not make her way in opposition to the wind; and therefore they folded up their sails, which in such a storm would endanger them rather than to them any service, and so let the ship drive, Not whither it would, but whither it was impelled by the impetuous waves–Non quo voluit, sed quo rapit impetus und. Ovid. Trist. It is probable that they were very near the heaven of Phenice when this tempest arose, and thought they should presently be in a quiet haven, and were pleasing themselves with the thought of it, and wintering there, and lo, of a sudden, they are in this distress. Let us therefore always rejoice with trembling, and never expect a perfect security, nor a perpetual security, till we come to heaven. (3.) They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. This made the tempest the more terrible, that they were all in the dark; and the use of the loadstone for the direction of sailors not being then found out (so that they had no guide at all, when they could see neither sun nor stars) made the case the more hazardous. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God upon a spiritual account. They walk in darkness and have no light. Neither sun nor stars appear; they cannot dwell, nay, they cannot fasten, upon any thing comfortable or encouraging; thus it may be with them, and yet light is sown for them. (4.) They had abundance of winter-weather: No small tempest—cheimon ouk oligos, cold rain, and snow, and all the rigours of that season of the year, so that they were ready to perish for cold; and all this continued many days. See what hardships those often undergo who are much at sea, besides the hazards of life they run; and yet to get gain there are still those who make nothing of all this; and it is an instance of divine Providence that it disposes some to this employment, notwithstanding the difficulties that attend it, for the keeping up of commerce among the nations, and the isles of the Gentiles particularly; and Zebulun can as heartily rejoice in his going out as Issachar in his tents. Perhaps Christ therefore chose ministers from among seafaring men, because they had been used to endure hardness.
2. What means they used for their own relief: they betook themselves to all the poor shifts (for I can call them no better) that sailors in distress have recourse to. (1.) When they could not make head against the wind, they let the ship run adrift, finding it was to no purpose to ply either the oar or the sail. When it is fruitless to struggle, it is wisdom to yield. (2.) They nevertheless did what they could to avoid the present danger; there was a little island called Clauda, and when they were near that, though they could not pursue their voyage, they took care to prevent their shipwreck, and therefore so ordered their matters that they did not run against the island, but quietly ran under it, v. 16. (3.) When they were afraid they should scarcely save the ship, they were busy to save the boat, which they did with much ado. They had much work to come by the boat (v. 16), but at last they took it up, v. 17. This might be of use in any exigence, and therefore they made hard shift to get it into the ship to them. (4.) They used means which were proper enough in those times, when the art of navigation was far short of the perfection it is now come to; they undergirded the ship, v. 17. They bound the ship under the bottom of it with strong cables, to keep it from bulging in the extremity of the tempest. (5.) For fear of falling into the quicksands they struck sail, and then let the ship go as it would. It is strange how a ship will live at sea (so they express it), even in very stormy weather, if it have but sea-room; and, when the sailors cannot make the shore, it is their interest to keep as far off it as they can. (6.) The next day they lightened the ship of its cargo, threw the goods and the merchandises overboard (as Jonah’s mariners did, ch. i. 5), being willing rather to be poor without them than to perish with them. Skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life. See what the wealth of this world is; how much soever it is courted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden, not only too heavy to be carried safe of itself, but heavy enough to sink him that has it. Riches are often kept by the owners thereof to their hurt (Eccl. v. 13); and parted with to their good. But see the folly of the children of this world, they can be thus prodigal of their goods when it is for the saving of their lives, and yet how sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering for Christ, though they are told by eternal Truth itself that those shall be recompensed more than a thousand fold in the resurrection of the just. Those went upon a principle of faith who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance, Heb. x. 34. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many will rather make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience than of their goods. (7.) The third day they cast out the tacklings of the ship–the utensils of it, Armamenta (so some render it), as if it were a ship of force. With us it is common to heave the guns over-board in the extremity of a storm; but what heavy artillery they had then which it was necessary to lighten the ship of I do not know; and I question whether it was not then a vulgar error among seamen thus to throw every thing into the sea, even that which would be of great use in a storm, and no great weight.
3. The despair which at last they were brought to (v. 20): All hope that we should be saved was then taken away. The storm continued, and they saw no symptoms of its abatement; we have known very blustering weather to continue for some weeks. The means they had used were ineffectual, so that they were at their wits’ end; and such was the consternation that this melancholy prospect put them into that they had no heart either to eat or drink. They had provision enough on board (v. 38), but such bondage were they under, through fear of death, that they could not admit the supports of life. Why did not Paul, by the power of Christ, and in his name, lay this storm? Why did he not say to the winds and waves, Peace, be still, as his Master had done? Surely it was because the apostles wrought miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine, not for the serving of a turn for themselves or their friends.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Because the haven was not commodious to winter in ( ). Genitive absolute again present tense of : “The harbour being unfit (, this compound not yet found elsewhere, simplex in Luke 9:62; Luke 14:35; Heb 6:7) for wintering” (, only here in N.T., but in Polybius and Diodorus, in an inscription A.D. 48, from ).
The more part advised ( ). Second aorist middle indicative of , ancient idiom with , 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 ( ). The optative (present middle of ) here with 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 harbour fit for wintering, though Wordsworth and Page argue for Phineka which suits Luke’s description better. The verb , to winter, is from and (see also 28:11). Used in several Koine writers.
Looking northeast and southeast ( ). There are two ways of interpreting this language. means the southwest wind and the northwest wind. But what is the effect of with these words? Does it mean “facing” the wind? If so, we must read “looking southwest and northwest.” But can mean down the line of the wind (the way the wind is blowing). If so, then 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 harbour 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.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Not commodious [] . Lit., not well situated.
Lieth toward the southwest and northwest [ ] . Instead of lieth, Rev., literally and correctly, renders looking. The difference between the Rev. and A. V., as to the points of the compass, turns on the rendering of the preposition kata The words southwest and northwest mean, literally, the southwest and northwest winds. According to the A. V., kata means toward, and has reference to the quarter from which these winds blow. According to the Rev., kata means down : “looking down the southwest and northwest winds,” i e., in the direction toward which they blow, viz., northeast and southeast. This latter view assumes that Phenice and Lutro are the same, which is uncertain. For full discussion of the point, see Smith, “Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul;” Hackett, “Commentary on Acts;” Conybeare and Howson, “Life and Epistles of St. Paul.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And because the haven was not commodious,” (aneuthetou de tou limenos huparchontos) “Then as the port of Fair Haven was unsuitable,” apparently for spending the winter, to meet needs of the 276 passengers who would have to reside in it.
2) “To winter in,” (pros paracheimasian) “For a place to spend the winter,” for wintering, lacking sufficient provisions for shelter and heat against the cold winter blasts.
3) “The more part advised to depart thence also,” (hoi pleiontes ethento boulen anachthenai ekethen) “The majority decided to sail from the place,” to put out to sea, or set sail on from the port of Fair Haven, Act 27:8.
4) “If by any means they might attain,” (ei pos dunainto) “if somehow they might be able,” be enabled by providence of good winds to sail on.
5) “To Phenice, and thereto winter;” (katantesantes eis Phoinika paracheimasai) “Having arrived at Phenice, a south coast bay quite suitable and secure for winter detainment.
6) “Which is an haven of Crete,” (limena tes Kretes) “Which exists as a seaport of Crete,” a place to dock, refresh, and rest on the south side of the Island of Crete.
7) “And lieth toward the south west and north west.” (bleponta kata liba kai kata choron) “Looking toward the south west and north west,” from the inlet of the harbor at bay.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(12) And because the haven was not commodious to winter in . . .The anchorage in the Fair Havens, while it gave immediate shelter from the north-west gales, was open to those from other points of the compass, and it was therefore decided by the majority (there would seem to have been something like a vote taken on the question) to press on and face the immediate risk for the sake of the more permanent advantages.
Phenice . . . which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.The precise meaning of the phrase is that the harbour looked, as we say, down these winds, in the direction to which they blewi.e., that it faced the north-east and south-east, the words used being the names, not of points of the compass, but of the winds which blew from them. The harbour so described has been identified with the modern Lutro, on the east of the promontory of Kavo Muros, which looks eastward, and so corresponds to the interpretation just given of the words that describe it. The harbour is named by Ptolemy (iii. 17) as Phoenikous, and a city named Phoenix lay a few miles inland. It is still used as a harbour by Greek pirates, and was marked as such in the French admiralty charts of 1738; but, owing to the silting up of the sand, has become unsuitable for larger vessels. An inscription of the time of Nerva, of the nature of a votive tablet to Jupiter and Serapis, found near the spot, records the fact that it was erected by Epictetus, the tabularius, or agent, of the fleet to which the ship belonged, with the assistance of Dionysius of Alexandria, the pilot (the same word as that which St. Luke uses) of a ship which had as its sign (the same word as in Act. 28:4) the Isopharia. It is a natural inference from this that the Alexandrian ship (we note the Egyptian element in the dedication to Serapis, and possibly in the connection of the sign with the Pharos, or lighthouse of Alexandria) had anchored, and possibly wintered, at Phnice, and that the tablet was a thank-offering for its preservation. (See Alford, Prolegomena.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Commodious Well situated. The harbour was open to the winds of half the horizon so far as its main land was concerned; but nevertheless it was so fenced about with reefs and small islands as to be rather safer than the putting again to sea.
More part advised After the council was over the general voice confirmed the centurion’s decision.
To Phenice Port Phoenix, an excellent harbour, now called Lutro, on the southern shore of Crete near its western end.
Lieth The Greek word requires looketh, which gives a very different view of the position of Phoenix. By the annexed chart it will be seen that the harbour of Lutro opens to the east. How then could Luke, or rather the sailors whose report he is giving, say that Lutro looks toward the southwest and northwest winds? For such is the obvious translation. If the sailors meant to say that the harbour opened so as to expose ships to winds from the southwest and northwest, it will be seen at once that it would be a worse harbour than Fair Haven, as exposing them to the very blasts they were trying to escape. Another translation, therefore, would be looking according to ( in the direction with) the southwest and northwest winds. Or the sailors here may have followed their own habit of speaking from their own standpoint. From the ship their look into the harbour was into the face of the southwest and northwest wind, that is, they would enter it from an easterly direction, and find themselves protected from the two winds mentioned, which was precisely what they needed.
That Lutro is the port intended is beyond a doubt. On the annexed chart Phoenix is also called Anapolis, or upper town, while, in fact, Lutro is also called Katapolis or lower town. “The coexistence of the names Phineka, Aradhena, and Anapolis on the modern chart in immediate neighbourhood establishes the point above a doubt. Moreover, Strabo says that Phoenix is the narrowest part of Crete, which is precisely true of Lutro.” Conybeare and Howson.
‘And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking north-east and south-east.’
This decision to press on was partly because finding lodgings for the winter was not going to be easy, and the shelter that the bay provided was not fully satisfactory. So they decided that they would make for Phoenix and winter there. This was a haven of Crete that looked north east and south east, and would be a much safer haven (the description fits Phineka). But this necessitated crossing the Gulf of Messara which would leave them exposed to any violent winds that arose.
Act 27:12. And because the haven, &c. And that port not being commodious to winter in, most were of opinion to depart thence, and endeavour to reach Phenice, (a haven of Crete, which lies on the south side toward the western part of that island,) and pass the winter there. Heylin.
Act 27:12 . ] not well situated , Hesychius and Suidas, elsewhere not found; the (later) Greeks have . They ought, according to the counsel of Paul, to have chosen the least of two evils.
] for passing the winter . Diod. Sic. xix. 68, and more frequently in Polybius. Comp. Act 28:11 .
] also from thence . As they had not hitherto lain to with a view to pass the winter, the resolution come to by the majority was to the effect of sailing onward from thence also . On , comp. Jdg 19:30 ; Psa 13:3 .
] i.e. in order to try, whether perhaps they would be able . See Hartung, Partikell . II. p. 206.
The haven is called in Ptolem. Act 3:17 , , and the adjacent town . Stephanus Byzantinus, on the other hand, remarks: . Perhaps the two names were used in common of the haven and the city. Whether the haven was the modern Lutro , is uncertain. In opposition to Smith, p. 88, see Hackett.
] quite like spectare , of the direction of the geographical position. See Alberti, Obss . p. 274; Kypke, II. p. 134 f.
is the Africus , the south-west wind, and the Caurus , the north-west. See Kapp, ad Aristot. de mundo Exc. III. The haven formed such a curve, that one shore stretched toward the north-west and the other toward the south-west.
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
Ver. 12. And lieth toward the south-west ] It is a just complaint that a modern writer maketh of many men’s spirits among us today; that they lie like this haven, toward the south-west and north-west, two opposite points. (Mr Burroughs, Heart Div.) Methinks it should lie heavy upon those men’s spirits that first divided us, by publishing and pressing their new fangled fancies.
12. ] See above on Act 27:8 . The anchorage was sheltered from the N. W., but not from nearly half the compass . Grotius and Heinsius’s rendering of ., ‘ad vitandam tempestatem,’ is contrary to usage, besides being singularly inconsistent with the fact in more ways than one. For this purpose the anchorage was , and in it they had (see next verse) actually ridden out the storm , before they left it.
] The of the rec. would be thence also , as from their former stopping-places.
] Ptolemy (iii. 17) calls the haven , and the city (lying some way inland) . Strabo (x. 4) says, , , . This description, and the other data belonging to Phnice, Smith (p. 48) has shewn to fit the modern Lutro , which, though not known now as an anchorage, probably from the silting up of the harbour, is so marked in the French admiralty chart of 1738, and “if then able to shelter the smallest craft, must have been capable of receiving the largest ships seventeen centuries before.”
See an inscription making it highly probable that Alexandrian ships did winter at Lutro, in the excursus at the end of Prolegg. to Acts.
. ] looking (literally) down the S.W. and N.W. winds; i.e. in the direction of these winds, viz. N.E. and S.E. For and are not quarters of the compass , but winds ; and , used with a wind, denotes the direction of its blowing, down the wind . This interpretation, which I was long ago persuaded was the right one, I find now confirmed by the opinion of Mr. Smith, who cites Herod, iv. 110, , and Arrian, Periplus Euxini, p. 3, . So also , Herod, ii. 96. And in Jos. Antt. xv. 9. 6, the coasts near Csarea are said to be . See also Thucyd. vi. 104. In the reff., the substantive is not one of motion like , , or , but of fixed location, as , . The direction then is towards the spot indicated, just as in the present case it is in that of the motion indicated. The harbour of Lutro satisfies these conditions; and is even more decisively pointed out as being the spot by a notice in the Synecdemus of Hierocles, . Now Mr. Pashley found a village called Aradhena a short distance above Lutro, and another close by called Anopolis, of which Steph. Byz. says, , . From these data it is almost demonstrated that the port of Phnice is the present port of Lutro. Ptolemy’s longitude for port Phnice also agrees. See Smith, pp. 51 ff. Mr. Smith has kindly sent me the following extract from a letter containing additional confirmation of the view: ‘Loutro is an excellent harbour; you open it unexpectedly, the rocks stand apart and the town appears within. During the Greek war, when cruising with Lord Cochrane, chased a pirate schooner, as they thought, right upon the rocks; suddenly he disappeared, and when rounding in after him, like a change of scenery, the little basin, its shipping, and the town of Loutro, revealed themselves.’ See Prof. Hackett’s note, impugning the above view and interpretation; which however does not alter my opinion. Dean Howson gives his solution thus: “The difficulty is to be explained simply by remembering that sailors speak of every thing from their own point of view, and that the harbour (see chart in C. and H. ii. 397) does look from the water towards the land which encloses it in the direction of S.W. and N.W.” But I cannot believe, till experience can be shewn to confirm the idea, that even sailors could speak of a harbour as ‘ looking ’ in the direction in which they would look when entering it.
Act 27:12 . : here only, but in later Greek we have , so in Jos. St. Luke, however, uses in his Gospel, Luk 9:62 , Luk 14:35 (found only once elsewhere in N.T., Heb 6:7 ). We may compare J. Smith’s 1James , 4 th edition, p. 85. In the latter he points out that recent surveys show that Fair Havens may have been a very fair winter harbour, and that even on nautical grounds St. Paul’s action may have been justified, but Blass, in loco , adheres to the view that the harbour was only fit for use during the summer. : noun only here in N.T., not found in LXX, but in Polyb. and Diod. Sic. : only in Luke and Paul in N.T., 1Co 16:6 , cf. Act 28:11 , Tit 3:12 , not in LXX, but used by Dem., Polyb., Plut., Diod. Sic. : ( ) with the article only by Luke and Paul in N.T., cf. Act 19:32 ; by St. Paul seven times in his Epistles. Bengel well says, “plura suffragia non semper meliora”. : on the noun and its use by St. Luke see above, Act 2:23 , and for the phrase cf. Luk 23:51 , in LXX, Psa 12:2 (Jdg 19:30 , A al [411] ); so also in classical Greek. : “to put to sea,” R.V., see on Act 13:13 . : on the optative see Simcox, Language of the N.T. , p. 172; and Burton, p. 111; cf. Mar 11:13 , Act 8:22 ; Act 18:27 , Rom 1:10 ; Rom 11:14 , Phi 3:11 . : Lucan and Pauline, see above, Act 16:1 . , Strabo, x., 4; Ptolemy, iii., 17. Generally taken as = modern Lutro , so Ramsay, Alford, Renan, Rendall, Blass, J. Smith (pp. 87, 88), Lewin, Rendall, Plumptre, and Muir in Hastings’ B.D., “Fair Havens”; so amongst recent German writers on this voyage, cf. Breusing, p. 162, and Goerne, u. s. , p. 360, both of whom quote Findlay, Mediterranean Directory , p. 67, “Port Lutro, the ancient Phnix, or Phnice, is the only bay on the south coast where a vessel could be quite secure in winter”; but on the other hand Hackett, in loco. Wordsworth, Humphry and Page (whose full note should be consulted) suppose the modern Phineka to be meant; so also C. H. Prichard in Hastings’ B.D., “Crete”; see below. Alford, Acts , Proleg., p. 28, quotes from J. Smith’s Appendix (2nd edition) the words from Mr. G. Brown’s Journal (1855, l856) stating that Lutro is the only secure harbour in all winds on the south coast of Crete, words quoted by Ramsay, St. Paul , p. 326, and Muir, Hastings’ B.D., “Fair Havens”. . . . .: “a harbour of Crete which faces south-west and north-west,” so Ramsay, and so A.V. and Vulgate. But R.V. so Rendall, “looking north-east and south-east,” which is a correct description of the entrance of the harbour of Lutro, so J. Smith, Alford, Lumby and Plumptre, who interpret “looking down the south-west and north-west winds,” literally translated as = in the direction of these winds, i.e. , the direction to which they blew, and so north-east and south-east, indicating the line of motion, Cf. R.V. margin, and so Rendall and Knabenbauer, in loco. C. and H., so Ramsay and Farrar, find an explanation of the rendering in A.V. in the subjectivity of the sailors, who describe a harbour from the direction in which they sail into it; and thus by transmission from mouth to mouth the wrong impression arose that the harbour itself looked south-west and north-west. As against Rendall’s interpretation and that of R.V., see Page and Hackett’s learned notes in loco. Both lay stress upon the phrase, , as used only of that which is opposite , and which you face. cf. Luke’s own use of , Act 3:13 , Act 8:26 , Act 16:7 , Act 27:7 . Page, and so C. H. Prichard, Hastings’ B.D., “Crete,” would adopt A.V. reading, but would apply it to the harbour Phineka, opposite Lutro, which does look south-west and north-west. , (prob. ) Herod., ii., 25, Polyb., x., 103, etc., south-west wind Africus , , north-west wind Corus or Caurus .
[411] Alford’s Greek Testament .
not commodious = not well situated. Greek. aneuthetos. Only here.
to winter in = for (Greek. pros) wintering (Greek. paracheimasia. Only here).
advised = gave their decision. Greek. boule. App-102.
depart. Same as “launch”, Act 27:2.
by any means = at least.
attain. Greek. katantao. See Act 16:1.
Phenice. Now Lutro. At the western end of the island.
winter. Greek. paracheimazo. Only here, Act 28:11. 1Co 16:6. Tit 3:12.
and lieth = looking. Greek. blepo. App-133.
toward = down. Greek. kata.
south west = south-west wind. Greek. lips. Only here.
north west = north-west wind. Greek. choros. Only here. The meaning is that the harbour looked in the same direction as that in which these winds were 15
borne along. blew, i.e. north-east and south-east, as in Revised Version.
12.] See above on Act 27:8. The anchorage was sheltered from the N. W., but not from nearly half the compass. Grotius and Heinsiuss rendering of ., ad vitandam tempestatem, is contrary to usage, besides being singularly inconsistent with the fact in more ways than one. For this purpose the anchorage was , and in it they had (see next verse) actually ridden out the storm, before they left it.
] The of the rec. would be thence also, as from their former stopping-places.
] Ptolemy (iii. 17) calls the haven , and the city (lying some way inland) . Strabo (x. 4) says, , , . This description, and the other data belonging to Phnice, Smith (p. 48) has shewn to fit the modern Lutro, which, though not known now as an anchorage, probably from the silting up of the harbour, is so marked in the French admiralty chart of 1738, and if then able to shelter the smallest craft, must have been capable of receiving the largest ships seventeen centuries before.
See an inscription making it highly probable that Alexandrian ships did winter at Lutro, in the excursus at the end of Prolegg. to Acts.
. ] looking (literally) down the S.W. and N.W. winds; i.e. in the direction of these winds, viz. N.E. and S.E. For and are not quarters of the compass, but winds; and , used with a wind, denotes the direction of its blowing,-down the wind. This interpretation, which I was long ago persuaded was the right one, I find now confirmed by the opinion of Mr. Smith, who cites Herod, iv. 110, , and Arrian, Periplus Euxini, p. 3, . So also , Herod, ii. 96. And in Jos. Antt. xv. 9. 6, the coasts near Csarea are said to be . See also Thucyd. vi. 104. In the reff., the substantive is not one of motion like , , or , but of fixed location, as , . The direction then is towards the spot indicated, just as in the present case it is in that of the motion indicated. The harbour of Lutro satisfies these conditions; and is even more decisively pointed out as being the spot by a notice in the Synecdemus of Hierocles, . Now Mr. Pashley found a village called Aradhena a short distance above Lutro, and another close by called Anopolis, of which Steph. Byz. says, , . From these data it is almost demonstrated that the port of Phnice is the present port of Lutro. Ptolemys longitude for port Phnice also agrees. See Smith, pp. 51 ff. Mr. Smith has kindly sent me the following extract from a letter containing additional confirmation of the view: Loutro is an excellent harbour; you open it unexpectedly, the rocks stand apart and the town appears within. During the Greek war, when cruising with Lord Cochrane, chased a pirate schooner, as they thought, right upon the rocks; suddenly he disappeared, and when rounding in after him,-like a change of scenery, the little basin, its shipping, and the town of Loutro, revealed themselves. See Prof. Hacketts note, impugning the above view and interpretation; which however does not alter my opinion. Dean Howson gives his solution thus: The difficulty is to be explained simply by remembering that sailors speak of every thing from their own point of view, and that the harbour (see chart in C. and H. ii. 397) does look-from the water towards the land which encloses it-in the direction of S.W. and N.W. But I cannot believe, till experience can be shewn to confirm the idea, that even sailors could speak of a harbour as looking in the direction in which they would look when entering it.
Act 27:12. , the majority) In time of danger, even those give their votes and opinions who are not entitled to do so: but the majority of votes does not always prove a thing to be really better.- ) gave their advice: Pricus observes, that consilium posuerunt is a Petronian phrase. LXX., Jdg 19:30, : and so Psalms 13 (12):3, .-, ) was the name of a town: its port is called by Ptolemy. An easy Metonymy.- , towards the south-west [Africus], and towards the north-west [Corus]) By the putting down of the two winds, it is more distinctly expressed, how open the harbour was, and how great their hope of being able to put in there, than if the west wind (Zephyrus) only were put down, from which the wind called Africus or declines towards the south, Corus declines towards the north.
the haven: Act 27:8, Psa 107:30
Phenice: Phenice, was a sea-port on the western side of Crete; probably defended from the fury of the winds by a high and winding shore, forming a semicircle, and perhaps by some small island in front; leaving two openings, one towards the south-west, and the other towards the north-west.
Crete: Act 27:7
Reciprocal: Act 2:11 – Cretes 1Co 16:6 – winter Phi 3:11 – by Tit 1:5 – Crete
2
Act 27:12. Just because the place was not commodious (convenient) where they were in which to winter, the majority of the crew advised leaving. They thought they could reach the haven of Phenice which faced the northwest and southeast. Due to some “weather conditions” with which I am not acquainted, this was thought to offer a safe place in which to remain until spring.
Act 27:12. The harbour was not commodious to winter in. It was in its very nature () not commodious for this purpose. Many things had to be taken into accountthe supply of provisions, for instance, as well as the soundings and the shelter. The exact knowledge of this roadstead which we now have through the surveys of British officers, shows that the case might have been reasonably argued on both sides.
The more part advised to depart thence also. The voice of the majority prevailed. This is another proof that there was a prolonged and free discussion as to the wisdom of remaining in the harbour of Fair Havens. The majority gave their opinion ( ) in favour of quitting it, if possible. What follows ( ) shows that they were by no means certain that it would be possible to reach the harbour they desired. Phenice (, from ). It is unfortunate that in the Authorised Version this word is spelt like the word for , used elsewhere for Phoenicia (Act 11:19). It ought to be pronounced in English differently. A parallel case is that of Urbane (Rom 16:8), which is not the name of a woman. As to this harbour of Crete, named Phoenix, it might be said that we have nothing to do with it, inasmuch as St. Pauls ship never reached the place. But, in fact, the information which we now possess concerning it, furnishes very important and interesting elucidations of the truthfulness and accuracy of this narrative.
Which looked towards the south-west and north-west. This is the description which some of the sailors in consultation at Fair Havens gave of the harbour of Phoenix; and it is evident in a moment that they could not possibly have recommended, for the purpose of wintering, a harbour which was exposed or open to winds from the north-west and south-west. We must obviously seek for some other explanation of the phrase than that which suggests itself at first sight; and we find this explanation by remembering that sailors regard everything as seen from the sea. This is just the difference between a chart and a map. The recommendation of Phoenix, as a good harbour for wintering, is precisely this, that it was sheltered from the two above-mentioned winds; and this is quite in harmony with the use of the Greek preposition . As seen from the sea towards the land, the harbour of Phoenix did look towards the south-west and north-west.
We come now, however, to consider whether there is any harbour on the south coast of Crete west of Fair Havens, which fulfils these conditions and the other conditions of the case. It is evident that some of the sailors on board the Alexandrian corn ship were convinced of the existence of such a place, and could describe it accurately. The writer of this note was positively told, some years ago, by a ship captain experienced in the trade of the Levant, who had often sailed along this coast, that there is no harbour here fulfilling these conditions; and all information concerning it was, till recently, somewhat precarious. An anchorage in an old Dutch chart is marked here; and it became known that a place of shelter here, easily concealed by the cliffs of this rocky coast from those who merely sailed along it to the westward, was familiar to Greek pirates. At length the point was entirely settled and made clear by the publication of the charts of our British surveying officers. There is no difficulty now in identifying Phoenix with Lutro, in the narrowest part of the island of Crete. It is a place of admirable shelter, with deep water close under the rocks, and precisely protected from south-west and north-west winds, as was said in the discussion at Fair Havens.
The farther difficulties and dangers which the apostle met with, in this winter voyage, are here described and declared, and the properest lessons of instruction which can, I think, be gathered from them, will be by way of allusion.
Thus, 1. The ship in which he sailed is an emblem of the church, in her militant state here on earth; she is afflicted, tossed with tempests, and in danger of being shipwrecked every moment; many tempestuous Euroclydons arise suddenly, and threaten her fatally; but her wise pilot sits at the helm, steers her with a fixed eye and steady hand between rocks and shelves, undergirding her by his everlasting arms of power and love which are underneath her; and when in our apprehensions she is brought to a hopeless and helpless state, without the light of sun or stars to comfort her; then doth the Lord enlighten our darkness, and at midnight there shall be light.
Again, 2. This voyage, neglected in the summer, and undertaken in the winter season, to the peril of the passengers,and the loss of the ship, liveily represents unto us both the folly and danger of persons who suffer the spring of youth and the summer of ripe age to slide and slip away from them; and when the winter of old age comes upon them, then they think of launching forth towards the fair haven of eternal happiness, and not before.
Set we forth never so soon, the winds will be contrary, the weather tempestuous, the rocks many, the difficulties great. And yet, Lord! how is our precious time spent and spilt! When age comes upon us, we complain we want time, whereas we foolishly waste it; how are miserable souls that set out late for heaven, (when we can serve sin no longer,) benighted, bewildered, shipwrecked, eternally and irrecoverably lost!–Behold, now only is the accepted time now is the day of salvation.
See notes on verse 9
12. The most of the people concluded they had better reach the harbor Phenice, of the same island, looking down the southwest and northwest winds, believing it to be more secure than Fair Havens.
Verse 12
Toward the south-west and north-west. This expression is obscure. The words south-west and north-west are, in the original, names of winds not noted for violence. The general meaning of the phrase must be, that the opening of the harbor was towards those quarters of the heavens from which violent storms were not to be apprehended.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament