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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Acts 27:14 - 27:14
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
There arose against it (ἔβαλε κατ' αὐτῆς)
Against what? Some say, the island of Crete; in which case they would have been driven against the island, whereas we are told that they were driven away from it. Others, the ship. It is objected that the pronoun αὐτῆς it, is feminine, while the feminine noun for ship (ναῦς) is not commonly used by Luke, but rather the neuter, πλοῖον. I do not think this objection entitled to much weight. Luke is the only New Testament writer who uses ναῦς (see Act 27:41), though he uses it but once; and, as Hackett remarks, “it would be quite accidental which of the terms would shape the pronoun at this moment, as they were both so familiar.” A third explanation refers the pronoun to the island of Crete, and renders, “there beat down from it.” This is grammatical, and according to a well-known usage of the preposition. The verb βάλλω is also used intransitively in the sense of to fall; thus Homer Iliad,” xi., 722), of a river falling into the sea. Compare Mar 4:37 : “the the waves beat (ἐπέβαλλεν) into the ship ;” and Luk 15:12 the portion of goods that falleth (ἐπιβάλλον) to me.” The rendering of the Rev. is, therefore, well supported, and, on the whole, preferable' there beat down from it. It is also according to the analogy of the expression in Luk 8:23, there came down a storm. See note there, and see on Mat 8:24.
A tempestuous wind (ἄνεμος τυφωνικὸς)
Lit., a typhonic wind. The word τυφῶν means a typhoon, and the adjective formed from it means of the character of a typhoon.
Euroclydon (Εὐροκλύδων)
The best texts read Εὐρακύλων, Euraquilo: i.e., between Eurus, “the E. S. E. wind,” and Aquilo, “the north-wind, or, strictly, N. 1/3 E.” Hence, E. N. E.