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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 27:9 - 27:9
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Where much time was spent (Hikanou chronou diagenomenou). Genitive absolute again with second aorist middle participle of diaginomai, to come in between (dia). “Considerable time intervening,” since they became weatherbound in this harbour, though some take it since they left Caesarea.
And the voyage was now dangerous (kai ontos ēdē episphalous). Genitive absolute, “and the voyage being already (ēdē=Latin jam) dangerous” (old word from epi and sphallō, to trip, to fall, and so prone to fall, here only in N.T.).
Because the Fast was now already gone by (dia to kai tēn nēsteian ēdē parelēluthenai). Accusative (after dia) of the articular infinitive perfect active of parerchomai, to pass by, with the accusative of general reference (nēsteian, the great day of atonement of the Jews, Lev 16:29.) occurring about the end of September. The ancients considered navigation on the Mediterranean unsafe from early October till the middle of March. In a.d. 59 the Fast occurred on Oct. 5. There is nothing strange in Luke using this Jewish note of time as in Act 20:6 though a Gentile Christian. Paul did it also (1Co 16:8). It is no proof that Luke was a Jewish proselyte. We do not know precisely when the party left Caesarea (possibly in August), but in ample time to arrive in Rome before October if conditions had been more favourable. But the contrary winds had made the voyage very slow and difficult all the way (Act 27:7) besides the long delay here in this harbour of Fair Havens.
Paul admonished them (parēinēi ho Paulos). Imperfect active of paraineō, old word to exhort from para and aineō, to praise (Act 3:8), only here and Act 27:22in N.T. It is remarkable that a prisoner like Paul should venture to give advice at all and to keep on doing it (imperfect tense inchoative, began to admonish and kept on at it). Paul had clearly won the respect of the centurion and officers and also felt it to be his duty to give this unasked for warning.
I perceive (theōrō). Old word from theōros, a spectator. See note on Luk 10:18. Paul does not here claim prophecy, but he had plenty of experience with three shipwrecks already (2Co 11:25) to justify his apprehension.
Will be (mellein esesthai). Infinitive in indirect assertion followed by future infinitive after mellein in spite of hoti which would naturally call for present indicative mellei, an anacoluthon due to the long sentence (Robertson, Grammar, p. 478).
With injury (meta hubreōs). An old word from huper (above, upper, like our “uppishness”) and so pride, insult, personal injury, the legal word for personal assault (Page). Josephus (Ant. III. 6, 4) uses it of the injury of the elements.
Loss (zēmian). Old word, opposite of kerdos, gain or profit (Phi 3:7.). Nowhere else in N.T.
Lading (phortiou). Diminutive of phortos (from pherō, to bear) only in form. Common word, but in N.T. only here in literal sense, as metaphor in Mat 11:30; Mat 23:4; Luk 11:46; Gal 6:5.
But also of our lives (alla kai tōn psuchōn). Common use of psuchē for life, originally “breath of life” (Act 20:10), and also “soul” (Act 14:2). Fortunately no lives were lost, though all else was. But this outcome was due to the special mercy of God for the sake of Paul (Act 27:24), not to the wisdom of the officers in rejecting Paul’s advice. Paul begins now to occupy the leading role in this marvellous voyage.