Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 27]
the time they left Fair Havens. {In the sea of Adria} (\en t•i
Hadri•i\). Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between
Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower
Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Luke's usage is like that
of Strabo. {Surmised} (\hupenooun\). Imperfect active indicative
of \huponoe•\, inchoative, began to suspect. {That they were
drawing near to some country} (\prosagein tina autois ch•ran\).
Infinitive with accusative of general reference in indirect
assertion. \Prosag•\ is here used intransitively and Luke writes
from the sailor's standpoint that a certain land was drawing near
to them (\autois\, dative). The sailors heard the sound of
breakers and grew uneasy.
27:28 {They sounded} (\bolisantes\). First aorist active
participle of \boliz•\ rare verb only here and in Eustathius who
says it was familiar in ancient Greek. Apparently from \bolis\, a
missile or dart, and so to throw down the lead into the sea, to
heave the lead, to take soundings. The inscriptions give
\bolimos\ for "leaden." {Twenty fathoms} (\orguias eikosi\). This
old word, from \oreg•\, to stretch, means the distance from one
outstretched middle finger tip to the other likewise
out-stretched. {After a little space} (\brachu diast•santes\).
Literally, "standing apart a little" (second aorist active
participle of \diist•mi\), that is, the ship going a short
distance further on. A ship today approaching St. Paul's Bay by
the rocky point of Koura would pass first twenty, then fifteen
fathoms (Furneaux).
27:29 {Lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground} (\m•
pou kata tracheis topous ekpes•men\). The usual construction
after a verb of fearing (\m•\ and the aorist subjunctive
\ekpes•men\). Literally, "Lest somewhere (\pou\) we should fall
out down against (\kata\) rocky places." The change in the
soundings made it a very real fear. \Tracheis\ (rough) is old
adjective, but in the N.T. only here and Lu 3:5 (from Isa
40:4). {Four anchors} (\agkuras tessaras\). Old word from
\agk•\. In N.T. only in this chapter, with \rhipt•\ here, with
\ektein•\ in verse 30, with \periaire•\ in verse 40; and Heb
6:19 (figuratively of hope). {From the stern} (\ek prumn•s\).
Old word, but in N.T. only in Mr 4:38; here and 41 in
contrast with \pr•ira\ (prow). The usual practice was and is to
anchor by the bows. "With a view to running the ship ashore
anchoring from the stern would, it is said, be best" (Page).
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