Acts 27:12

12. Commodious Well situated. The harbour was open to the winds of half the horizon so far as its main land was concerned; but nevertheless it was so fenced about with reefs and small islands as to be rather safer than the putting again to sea.

More part advised After the council was over the general voice confirmed the centurion’s decision.

To Phenice Port Phoenix, an excellent harbour, now called Lutro, on the southern shore of Crete near its western end.

Lieth The Greek word requires looketh, which gives a very different view of the position of Phoenix. By the annexed chart it will be seen that the harbour of Lutro opens to the east. How then could Luke, or rather the sailors whose report he is giving, say that Lutro looks toward the southwest and northwest winds? For such is the obvious translation. If the sailors meant to say that the harbour opened so as to expose ships to winds from the southwest and northwest, it will be seen at once that it would be a worse harbour than Fair Haven, as exposing them to the very blasts they were trying to escape. Another translation, therefore, would be looking according to ( in the direction with) the southwest and northwest winds. Or the sailors here may have followed their own habit of speaking from their own standpoint. From the ship their look into the harbour was into the face of the southwest and northwest wind, that is, they would enter it from an easterly direction, and find themselves protected from the two winds mentioned, which was precisely what they needed.

That Lutro is the port intended is beyond a doubt. On the annexed chart Phoenix is also called Anapolis, or upper town, while, in fact, Lutro is also called Katapolis or lower town. “The coexistence of the names Phineka, Aradhena, and Anapolis on the modern chart in immediate neighbourhood establishes the point above a doubt. Moreover, Strabo says that Phoenix is the narrowest part of Crete, which is precisely true of Lutro.” Conybeare and Howson.