And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
ACTS 27:7KJVWhat does Acts 27:7 mean?
Acts 27:7 describes how Paul and his companions made very slow progress as they sailed for many days, barely reaching a place near Cnidus because the wind was against them, so they changed course and sailed along the coast of Crete, passing near Salmone. The verse highlights the difficulties and delays faced during this part of their sea journey.
Luke, the author of Acts, is narrating the events of Paul’s voyage to Rome as a prisoner, with Roman officials and other travelers on board. The verse sets the scene for the challenges the ship encounters, showing that natural obstacles like unfavorable winds forced them to alter their planned route and hug the southern coast of Crete for safety.
The Greek behind Acts 27:7
- ἠνεμοπορήσαμεν (sailed slowly; transliterated as "ēnemoporēsamen") combines the ideas of moving slowly and being hindered by the wind, emphasizing just how difficult and sluggish their progress was.
- μόλις (scarce; transliterated as "molis") means "with difficulty" or "barely," stressing that reaching the area near Cnidus was not easy and almost didn’t happen.
- ἐπέτρεπεν (suffering; transliterated as "epetrepen") is often translated as "allowing" or "permitting," so the phrase "the wind not suffering us" means the wind did not permit them to continue as planned, forcing a change in course.
Why Acts 27:7 matters
- Acts 27:7 helps readers understand the real-life hardships and unpredictability of ancient sea travel, especially when weather conditions turned against sailors.
- The verse sets up the growing tension and danger of Paul’s journey to Rome, which becomes even more dramatic in the following verses.
- By noting the specific places and navigation choices, Luke shows careful attention to detail, grounding the story in actual geography and history.