Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 27]
\opthalmos\, eye). Eyes were painted on the prows of vessels. The
ship could not face the wind enough to get to Phoenix. Modern
sailors talk of sailing into the eye of the wind. We were not
able to look the wind in the eye. _Koin•_ verb used by Polybius.
Some MSS. have it in Ac 6:11, but only here in N.T. In Wisdom
of Sol. 12:14 it is used of a prince who cannot look God in the
face. Clement of Rome 34 uses it of an idle workman not able to
look his employer in the face (Milligan and Moulton's
_Vocabulary_). {We gave way} (\epidontes\). Second aorist active
participle of \epidid•mi\, giving way to the wind. {Were driven}
(\epherometha\). Imperfect passive of \pher•\, "we were being
borne along." We "scudded before the gale" (Page). "The
suddenness of the hurricane gave no time to furl the great
mainsail" (Furneaux).
27:16 {Running under the lee of} (\hupodramontes\). Second aorist
active participle of \hupotrech•\. Same use of \hupo\ as in
\hupepleusamen\ (verses 4,8) for "under the lee", under the
protection of. \N•sion\ is diminutive of \n•sos\, a small island.
The MSS. vary between Cauda (B) and Clauda (Aleph). {To secure
the boat} (\perikrateis genesthai t•s skaph•s\). "To become
masters (\perikrateis\ from \peri\ and \kratos\, power over,
found in Susannah and ecclesiastical writers, and here only in
N.T.) of the boat ("dug out," like Indian boats, literally, from
\skapt•\, to dig, old word, here only in N.T. and verses
30,32). The smooth water behind the little island enabled them
to do this. {When they had hoisted it up} (\h•n •rantes\). "Which
(the little boat) having hoisted up (\arantes\, verse 13)."
Even so it was "with difficulty" (\molis\). Perhaps the little
boat was waterlogged. {Used helps} (\bo•theiais echr•nto\).
Imperfect middle of \chraomai\ with instrumental case. The
"helps" were ropes or chains, no doubt. {Under-girding the ship}
(\hupoz•nnuntes to ploion\). Present active participle of
\hupoz•nnumi\. Old verb, here only in N.T. Probably cables
(\hupoz•mata\) or ropes were used under the hull of the ship
laterally or even longitudinally, tightly secured on deck. This
"frapping" was more necessary for ancient vessels because of the
heavy mast. The little island made it possible to do this also.
{Lest we be cast upon the Syrtis} (\m• eis t•n Surtin
ekpes•sin\). Final clause after verb of fearing (\phoboumenoi\)
with \m•\ and the second aorist active subjunctive of \ekpipt•\,
old verb to fall out or off, to be cast away. So here and verses
26,29, a classical use of the verb for a ship driven out of its
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