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. read more
And running under a certain island ,.... Or below a certain island and hard by, it or under the sea shore of it, where the sea might be smoother, the wind not being there so strong: which is called Clauda : by Ptolomy F24 Geograph. l. 3. c. 17. it is called Claudus, and was near the island of Crete, and now called Gozo. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "Cauda"; and there was an island near to Crete, which was called Gaudos F25 Mela, l. 2. c. 7.... read more
Which when they had taken up ,.... When they had got the boat into the ship: they used helps ; the mariners made use of other persons, called in the assistance of the soldiers, and passengers, and prisoners; or for the help of the ship, they made use of cords, chains, and such like things: undergirding the ship : with cords and ropes, which they drew under the keel of the ship, and so bound both sides of the ship, that it might not split and fall to pieces; which may be what is now... read more
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest ,.... Sometimes being lifted up as it were to the heavens, and then presently sinking down, as if they were going into the bottom of the sea; such a condition at sea is described to the life by the Psalmist, in Psalm 107:25 . the next day they lightened the ship ; of its burden, its lading, the goods and merchandise that were in it; as the mariners did in the ship in which Jonah was, Jonah 1:5 the Ethiopic version renders it, "they cast... read more
And the third day ,.... From the time this storm began, and this tempestuous weather held: we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship ; by which seems to be meant their naval stores and instruments, as sails, ropes, cables, anchors, &c.; and yet we afterwards read of their anchors and main sail: it may be rendered, "the furniture of the ship"; and yet it cannot design the ship's provisions, at least all were not cast away; for afterwards mention is made of casting out... read more
And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared ,.... The Syriac version adds, "nor moon"; which is an usual description of dark, cloudy, and tempestuous seasons; and which was not only uncomfortable to them, because they could not see these luminaries, and enjoy their beneficial light and influence; but because they had them not to guide and direct them; for the sun, moon, and stars, are useful to sailors, to steer their course by; especially they were to the ancients, before the... read more
But after long abstinence ,.... From food, not for want of it, as appears from what follows, Acts 27:36 nor in a religious way, in order to obtain the favour of God; but either for want of appetite, and a nauseousness and loathing of food, through the tossing of the ship, fright at the storm, and fears of death; and chiefly for want of time, being employed for the security of themselves and the ship. Paul stood forth in the midst of them ; that all might hear him: and said, sirs, ye... read more
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer ,.... To take heart and courage, and not be cast down, though things had been thus with them, and they were now in a very melancholy plight and condition. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship ; the ship will be lost, but not one person in it: there will be a shipwreck, and so every man's life will be in danger, and yet not one will perish; and therefore there was reason to be of good cheer, since this was what... read more
For there stood by me this night the angel of God ,.... One of the ministering, spirits that stand before God, and who was sent by him to the apostle; and appeared to him, either in a vision by a dream, or rather when he was awake, and stood by him, as he was praying for deliverance from the storm; for it is most likely that the apostle should be engaged at such a time as this: whose I am, and whom I serve : meaning not the angel, but God, whose the angel was; and his the apostle was, by... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more