Acts 27:13

13 When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing.

Acts 27:13 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:13

And when the south wind blew softly
Or moderately, which was a good wind for them:

supposing that they, had obtained their purpose;
that things would succeed according to their wish, and favour their design:

loosing thence;
from the Fair Havens; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions render it, "loosing from Assos"; which could not be Assos of Troas, mentioned in ( Acts 20:13 ) which was many miles from hence; rather Asum, a town in Crete, of which Pliny ^F18 makes mention, though, according to him, it seems to be an inland town; wherefore it is best to take the word (asson) , to be an adverb, and render it "thence", as we do; or join it with the next word, and render it,

they came near, or they sailed close by Crete;
along the shore, the wind favouring them, that they were in no danger of being dashed upon it, it being a soft gentle wind.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 12.

Acts 27:13 In-Context

11 The centurion set Paul's warning aside and let the ship captain and the shipowner talk him into trying for the next harbor.

12 But it was not the best harbor for staying the winter. Phoenix, a few miles further on, was more suitable.

13 When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing.

14 But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor'easter, struck.

15 They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm.