Acts 27:4 - Exposition

Putting to sea ( ἀνάχθεντες , see Acts 27:3 , note) for when we had launched, A.V.; under the lee of for under, A.V. We sailed under the lee of ; ὑπεπλεύσαμεν , only here and Acts 27:7 . A nautical term, very rarely met with. The winds were contrary . The wind apparently was westerly, the prevalent wind at that season of the year. Smith ('Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul') quotes Admiral De Saumarez as writing from near Cyprus, "The westerly winds invariably prevail at this season;" and M. De Page, a French navigator, as saying, "The winds from the west which prevail in these places (Cyprus) forced us to run to the north." This is exactly what the ship in which Paul sailed did. Instead of going in a westerly direction, and leaving Cyprus on her right, she turned due north, having Cyprus on her left. It was now late in August.