Acts 27:13

 Acts 27:13

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

[Strong: 3588. [tēs] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tēs] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé  hē, hai, tas.]

a. NLT: When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.  [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained their purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]  

d. Classic Amplified: So when the south wind blew softly, supposing they were gaining their object, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, hugging the coast.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: And when the south wind blew softly, they thought they could reach their destination as they had desired, and we sailed around Crete.  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; Copyright  Ⓒ 1957 by A.J. Holmon Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

f. NIV: When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.  [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

1. “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose…”

a. And [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. [and when the] southwind [Strong: 3558. notos not'-os of uncertain affinity; the south(-west) wind; by extension, the southern quarter itself:--south (wind).]

c. blew softly [Strong: 5285. hupopneo hoop-op-neh'-o from 5259 and 4154; to breathe gently, i.e. breeze:--blow softly.]

d. supposing [Strong: 1380. dokeo dok-eh'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of 1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):--be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.]

e. [that they] had obtained [Strong:  2902. krateo krat-eh'-o from 2904; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively):--hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by).]

f. [their] purpose [Strong: 4286. prothesis proth'-es-is from 4388; a setting forth, i.e. (figuratively) proposal (intention); specially, the show-bread (in the Temple) as exposed before God:--purpose, shew(-bread).]

2. “...loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.”

a. loosing [thence] [Strong: 142. airo ah'-ee-ro a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare 5375) to expiate sin:--away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).]

b. [they] sailed [Strong: 3881. paralegomai par-al-eg'-om-ahee from 3844 and the middle voice of 3004 (in its original sense); (specially), to lay one's course near, i.e. sail past:--pass, sail by.]

c. close [by] [Strong: 788. asson as'-son neuter comparative of the base of 1451; more nearly, i.e. very near:--close.]

d. Crete [Strong: 2914. Krete kray'-tay of uncertain derivation; Crete, an island in the Mediterranean:--Crete.]

 

To get to Phenice/Phoenix from the Fair Havens is a distance of about 50 miles. They were going to attempt to hug the coast. Seemingly after getting past the tip at Cape Lithinon they were driven way off course and for two weeks drifted to Melita/Malta.