The Syrtis, in the sea off the N. African coast between Carthage and Cyrene. (See CLAUDA; EUROCLYDON; MELITA; PAUL.) Acts 27:17, for "strake sail" (which would have hurried them into the danger), translated "they lowered the gear" (chalasantes to skeuos ), i.e., afraid of falling into the Syrtis with the storm from the N.E., they took down the higher sail and kept only the storm sail set, turning the ship's head off shore and standing on as best they could. There were two Syrtes; the eastern one the gulf of Sidra, the western one, smaller, the gulf of Cabes.
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
Read More