Acts 27:14

14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.

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Acts 27:14 in Other Translations

KJV

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

ESV

14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.

NLT

14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

MSG

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

CSB

14 But not long afterwards, a fierce wind called the "northeaster" rushed down from the island.

Acts 27:14 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:14

But not long after
They had not been long at sea, but

there arose against it;
the ship, or the island of Crete, or both:

a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon;
in the Greek text it is a "Typhonic" wind, so called, not from the name of a country from whence it blew; rather from Typho, the same with Python, an Heathen deity, who is said to be drowned in the lake Serbonis, or in the river Orontes; about which places this sort of wind is observed to be frequent, and which may take its name from him, being supposed to be raised by him. This wind may very well be thought to be the same which is called Typhon, and is by writers ^F19 represented as a very tempestuous one, as a sort of whirlwind or hurricane, a violent storm, though without thunder and lightning; and Pliny ^F20 calls it the chief plague of sailors, it breaking their sails, and even their vessels to pieces: and this may still have its name from Typho, since the Egyptians used to call everything that is pernicious and hurtful by this name; moreover, this wind is also called "Euroclydon". The Alexandrian copy reads, "Euracylon", and so the Vulgate Latin version seems to have read, rendering it "Euro-aquilo, the north east wind". The Ethiopic version renders it, the "north wind"; but according to Aristotle ^F21, and Pliny ^F23 the wind Typhon never blew in the northern parts; though some think that wind is not meant here, since the Typhon is a sudden storm of wind, and soon over; whereas this storm of wind was a settled and lasting one, it continued many days; and that it is only called Typhonic, because it bore some likeness to it, being very blustering and tempestuous: it seems by its name to be an easterly wind, which blew very violently, ploughed the sea, and lifted up its waves; hence the Arabic version renders it, "a mover" or "stirrer up of the waves"; which beat against the ship in a violent manner, and exposed it to great danger.

FOOTNOTES:

F19 Aristotel. Meteorolog. l. 3. c. 1. Apaleius de Mundo, p. 266.
F20 Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 48.
F21 Ut supra. (Aristotel. Meteorolog. l. 3. c. 1.)
F23 lb. c. 49.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Acts 27:14 In-Context

12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.

15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.

16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure,