Acts 27:15

15 She was unable to make headway against the gale; so we gave up and let her drive.

Acts 27:15 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:15

And when the ship was caught
By the wind, snatched up by it, and forcibly carried away:

and could not bear up into the wind;
and against it, or look it in the face, as the word signifies; could not ply to windward, the wind being so high and the sea so strong:

we let her drive;
about the sea, at pleasure, it being in vain to attempt to get her forward against the wind, or to direct her course.

Acts 27:15 In-Context

13 And a light breeze from the south sprang up, so that they supposed they were now sure of their purpose. So weighing anchor they ran along the coast of Crete, hugging the shore.

14 But it was not long before a furious north-east wind, coming down from the mountains, burst upon us and carried the ship out of her course.

15 She was unable to make headway against the gale; so we gave up and let her drive.

16 Then we ran under the lee of a little island called Cauda, where we managed with great difficulty to secure the boat;

17 and, after hoisting it on board, they used frapping-cables to undergird the ship, and, as they were afraid of being driven on the Syrtis quicksands, they lowered the gear and lay to.