And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
ACTS 27:8KJVWhat does Acts 27:8 mean?
Acts 27:8 describes how Paul and those with him, struggling to make progress along the coast, finally reached a place called Fair Havens, which was near the city of Lasea. The verse highlights the difficulty of their journey and pinpoints their location as they traveled by ship.
In this part of Acts, Luke is narrating the journey of Paul as a prisoner being taken to Rome. The group is sailing along the southern coast of Crete, facing challenging conditions. "Hardly passing it" shows the struggle they had navigating the coastline, and "Fair Havens" is mentioned as a specific harbor, giving readers a clear sense of where the travelers were at this point in the story.
The Greek behind Acts 27:8
- The word "hardly" (μόλις, molis) often means "with difficulty" or "barely," emphasizing that the journey was not easy and progress was slow.
- "Fair" (καλός, kalos) means "good" or "beautiful," and "havens" (λιμένες, limenes) means "harbors" or "ports," so "Fair Havens" literally means "Good Harbors." This name may suggest the harbor's reputation, though later verses hint it was not ideal for wintering.
- "Nigh" (ἐγγύς, engys) means "near," clarifying that the city of Lasea was close to Fair Havens, helping readers understand the geography.
Why Acts 27:8 matters
- This verse helps readers follow the real, historical journey of Paul, showing the specific route and the challenges faced at sea.
- The mention of Fair Havens and Lasea sets up the decision-making in the next verses about whether to stay or continue sailing, which becomes a turning point in the story.
- Understanding the difficulty of the voyage adds to the tension and realism of the narrative, showing that even apostles faced real-world hardships.