Acts 27:7
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After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
sailed slowly many days--owing to contrary winds. and scarce--"with difficulty." were come over against Cnidus--a town on the promontory of the peninsula of that name, having the island of Coos (see on Act 21:1) to the west of it. But for the contrary wind they might have made the distance from Myra (one hundred thirty miles) in one day. They would naturally have put in at Cnidus, whose larger harbor was admirable, but the strong westerly current induced them to run south. under--the lee of Crete--(See on Tit 1:5). over against Salmone--the cape at the eastern extremity of the island.
Open source ↗This whole chapter is taken up with an account of Paul's voyage towards Rome, when he was sent thither a prisoner by Festus the governor, upon his appeal to Caesar. I. The beginning of the voyage was well enough, it was calm and prosperous (Act 27:1-8). II. Paul gave them notice of a storm coming, but could not prevail with them to lie by (Act 27:9-11). III. As they pursued their voyage, they met with a great deal of tempestuous weather, which reduced them to such extremity that they counted upon nothing but being cast away (Act 27:12-20). IV. Paul assured them that though they would not be advised by him to prevent their coming into this danger, yet, by the good providence of God, they should be brought safely through it, and none of them should be lost (Act 27:21-26). V. At length they were at midnight thrown upon an island, which proved to be Malta, and then they were in the utmost danger imaginable, but were assisted by Paul's counsel to keep the mariners in the ship, and encouraged by his comforts to eat their meat, and have a good heart on it (Act 27:27-36). VI. Their narrow escape with their lives, when they came to shore, when the ship was wrecked, but all the persons wonderfully preserved (Act 27:37-44).
Open source ↗27:7 The great difficulty was due in part to the lateness of the season (27:9). • Cnidus was a seaport on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor near the island of Cos. • The cape of Salmone was located at the northeastern tip of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.