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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 27:39 - 27:39
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39. τὴν γῆν οὐκ ἐπεγίνωσκον, they knew not the land. We need not from this suppose that none of the sailors were acquainted with the island of Malta, but that the point of the land, close to which they were, was unrecognised by them. When they were close in shore, and amid stormy weather, this could very well happen, as they were a long way distant from the usual harbour.
κόλπον δέ τινα κατενόουν ἔχοντα αἰγιαλόν, but they perceived a certain bay with a beach. αἰγιαλός is used to signify such a sandy beach as might allow a ship to be run aground upon it without the danger of her immediately coming to pieces.
εἰς ὃν ἑβουλεύοντο εἰ δύναιντο ἐξῶσαι τὸ πλοῖον, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it, i.e. they saw the beach to be such that they had a chance of landing there. They therefore discussed the best way of doing so in their present maimed condition.