Acts 27:13

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose - for with such a wind they had every prospect of reaching their destined winter quarters in a few hours, Loosing thence, they sailed close by (or 'coasted close along') Crete. [The adverb, asson (G788), is printed in the Vulgate, and from it in the Received Text, as the name of a Cretan city ( ASSOS (G789 _ )); and Erasmus and Luther so take it. But it is plainly the comparative of angchi-`nearer;' meaning that they 'hugged the shore.']_...

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 easily take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, and have no light. See what the wealth of this world is: though coveted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden; not only too 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 and charity, and in suffering for Christ. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many rather make...

Verse Acts 27:13. _WHEN THE SOUTH WIND BLEW SOFTLY_] Though this wind was not very favourable, yet, because it blew _softly_, they supposed they might be able to make their passage. _THEY SAILED CLOSE BY CRETE._] Kept as near the coast as they could. See the track on the map....

THE SOUTH WIND - The wind before had probably been a head-wind, blowing from the west. When it veered round to the south, and when it blew gently, though not entirely favorable, yet it was so that they supposed they could sail along the coast of Crete. HAD OBTAINED THEIR PURPOSE - The object of their desire; that is, to sail safely along the coast of Crete. LOOSING THENCE - Setting sail from the fair havens. CLOSE BY CRETE - Near the shore. It is evident that they designed, if possible, to make the harbor of Phenice to winter there. They weighed anchor and passed around Cape Matala. The distance to this point is four or five miles; the bearing west by south. With a gentle southerly wind, the vessel would be able to weather the cape, and then the wind was fair to Phoenix or Phenice (Lutro), which was 35 miles distant

EXPOSITION ACTS 27:1 For, for _into, _A.V.;_ to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan band _for unto _one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus_'_ band, _A.V. THAT WE SHOULD SAIL. Observe the "we," denoting that Luke was of the party. Connecting it with the "we" of Acts 21:17, the inference is obvious that Luke was with Paul through the whole of these two eventful years, and that it is to this presence that we owe the detailed circumstantial narrative of Acts 21-28., as well as, perhaps, the composition of St. Luke's Gospel, for which the two years at Caesarea afforded an admirable opportunity. THE AUGUSTAN BAND; or, _cohort _(σπεῖρα); as...

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 r makes mention, though, according to him, it seems to be an inland town; wherefore it is best to take the word ασσον, 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.

Acts 27:1. _And, when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself._ Even a Roman centurion could see that Paul was no ordinary prisoner, and that it was quite safe to allow him privileges which others might have abused. Acts 27:4. And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came

CHAPTER 27 _ 1. From Caesarea to Fair Havens (Acts 27:1)._ 2. The Unheeded Warning. The Storm. Paul's Vision and Assurance of Safety (Acts 27:9). 3. The Shipwreck (Acts 27:27). Much has been written on this Chapter. The voyage of the Apostle Paul to Rome and the shipwreck is often explained as being typical of the stormy voyage of the professing church, her adversities and shipwreck. However, such an application needs caution. it is easy to make fanciful and far-fetched allegorical applications. Besides church history other lessons have been drawn from this narrative. A recent commentator claims that the keynote to the interpretation is given in...

TO MALTA. The Fast of the great Day of Atonement fell on the 10 th of Tishri (Sept.- Oct.). The season for shipping ended November 11, and opened again March 5; but voyages were counted dangerous after the middle of September. Paul speaks as an experienced traveller, and one who has been thrice shipwrecked (2 Corinthians 11:25). He is against setting sail again (Acts 27:21). The centurion, who had authority to control the navigation since the corn ship was a government vessel (Ramsay, _St. Paul,_ p. 321), does not listen to him; quite rightly he is guided by the experts who are responsible for the navigation, the master of the ship and the owner. The experts agreed with Paul so far that they did not wish to leave the shelter of Crete ...

THE LAST JOURNEY BEGINS (Acts 27:1-8)...