Acts 27:1-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:7

And when we had sailed slowly many days ,.... Because of contrary winds, as in Acts 27:4 or else for want of wind, as some think; the Syriac version renders it, "and because it sailed heavily"; that is, the ship being loaden with goods: and scarce were come over against Cnidus ; or "Gnidus", as it is sometimes called; it was a city and promontory in Doris, in the Chersonese or peninsula of Caria, famous for the marble statue of Venus made by Praxiteles F18 Plin. l. 5. c. 28.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:8

And hardly passing it ,.... That is, Salmone, with great difficulty, because of the winds: came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens ; called by other writers Cale Acte, or the fair shore, and is placed by Ptolomy F3 De ordis Situ. l. 3. c. 15. in Eubaea, and by Herodotus F4 L. 6. c. 22. in Sicily; but by Stephanus F5 De urbibus. is said to be a city of the Cretians, and which agrees with this account; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasae ; there was a city... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:9

Now when much time was spent ,.... In sailing against the wind, or by staying at the Fair Havens; for so the Syriac version renders it, "where we stayed a long time"; and the Ethiopic version, "and there we remained many days": it follows, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past ; the Syriac version reads, "the fast of the Jews"; this was the day of atonement, which was the grand fast of the Jews, on which day they afflicted their souls, Leviticus 23:27... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:10

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive ,.... Not only by the tempestuous weather which they had met with, and still continued, and which they must expect to have, if they continued on their voyage; but by a spirit of prophecy, which he was endued with, by which he foresaw, and so foretold, as follows; that this voyage will be with hurt, and with much damage not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives ; or of our persons, or bodies, that is, of the health of them; for certain it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:11

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship ,.... Who were either one and the same person, or if two persons, the one was the owner, whose the ship was, and the other, he that was at the helm, and steered and directed it; or the one might be the captain, and the other the pilot. The κυβερνητης , or "governor", as he is here called with the ancients, was he who sat on an eminence in the stern of the ship, at the helm, and had the direction of it; he gave the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 27:12

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in ,.... Which was called the "Fair Havens", Acts 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 27:1

And when it was determined, etc. - That is, when the governor had given orders to carry Paul to Rome, according to his appeal; together with other prisoners who were bound for the same place. We should sail - By this it is evident that St. Luke was with Paul; and it is on this account that he was enabled to give such a circumstantial account of the voyage. Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band - Lipsius has found the name of this cohort on an ancient marble; see Lips. in Tacit. Hist.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 27:2

A ship of Adramyttium - There were several places of this name; and in different MSS. the name is variously written. The port in question appears to have been a place in Mysia, in Asia Minor. And the abbé Vertot, in his history of the Knights of Malta, says it is now called Mehedia. Others think it was a city and seaport of Africa, whence the ship mentioned above had been fitted out; but it is more probable that the city and seaport here meant is that on the coast of the Aegean Sea, opposite... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 27:3

Touched at Sidon - For some account of this place, see the notes on Matthew 11:21 ; and Acts 12:20 . Julius courteously entreated Paul - At the conclusion of the preceding chapter, it has been intimated that the kind treatment which Paul received, both from Julius and at Rome, was owing to the impression made on the minds of Agrippa and Festus, relative to his innocence. It appears that Julius permitted him to go ashore, and visit the Christians which were then at Sidon, without... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 27:4

We sailed under Cyprus - See on Acts 4:36 ; (note). read more

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