Acts 27:14
in Acts 27But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:
KJV
But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
⋯
This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA Typhonic wind sent itself against them. Another Latin translation says: A tempestuous wind. For Typhus in Greek is called inflation in Latin.
This site's exposition
the south wind blew softly
on Acts 27:13-17
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they loosed thence, and the gentle start is the trap: not long after arose the tempestuous wind called Euroclydon, the northeaster off Crete's mountains, and the ship caught in it could not bear up and was let drive. Running under the little island of Clauda they fight to secure the boat, undergird the ship with cables, and, fearing the Syrtis quicksands off Africa, strike sail and drive under bare poles. Luke's vocabulary through the scene is the working sailor's, and the exposition names the detail as the credential it is: this paragraph was written by a man who was wet.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Mark then the providential ordering of the events: first indeed, "when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had obtained their purpose," they loosed the vessel, and came forth; then when the wind bore down upon them, they gave way to it driving them, and were with difficulty saved.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
There arose against it - The south wind; a tempestuous wind, called in those parts Euroclydon. This was a kind of hurricane, not carrying them any one way, but tossing them backward and forward. These furious winds are now called levanters, and blow in all directions from the northeast to the southeast.
. [1.] He is forbidden to fear. Though all about him are at their wits' end, and lost in despair, yet, Fear not, Paul; fear not their fear, nor be afraid, Isa. viii. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid, but let not the saints be afraid, no, not at sea, in a storm; for the Lord of hosts is with them, and their place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, Isa. xxxiii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
But not long after,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon - Interpreters have been greatly perplexed with this word; and the ancient copyists not less so, as the word is variously written in the MSS. and versions. Dr. Shaw supposes it to be one of those tempestuous winds called levanters, which blow in all directions, from N.E. round by the E. to S.E.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
14, 15. a tempestuous--"typhonic" wind--that is, like a typhon or tornado, causing a whirling of the clouds, owing to the meeting of opposite currents of air. called Euroclydon--The true reading appears to be Euro-aquilo, or east-northeast, which answers all the effects here ascribed to it.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Arose - Beat violently. Against it - Against the vessel. Greek: seizing her, and whirling her around. A tempestuous wind - Turbulent - violent - strong. Called Euroclydon - Εὐροκλύδων Eurokludōn. Interpreters have been much perplexed about the meaning of this word, which occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The most probable supposition is, that it denotes “a wind not blowing steadily from any quarter, but a hurricane, or wind veering about to different quarters.” Such hurricanes are known to abound in the Mediterranean, and are now called Levanters, deriving their name from blowing chiefly in the Levant, or eastern part of the Mediterranean. The name euroclydon is derived probably from two Greek words, εῦρος euros, “wind,” and κλύδων kludōn, “a wave”; so called from its agitating and exciting the waves. It thus answers to the usual effects of a hurricane, or of a wind rapidly changing its points of compass.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | After | G3326 → | 461 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| πολὺ | polu | long | G4183 → | 367 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔβαλεν | ebalen | it threw | G906 → | 121 times |
| κατ᾽ | kat᾽ | down | G2596 → | 468 times |
| αὐτῆς | autes | from it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἄνεμος | anemos | a wind | G417 → | 31 times |
| τυφωνικὸς | tuphonikos | tempestuous | G5189 → | |
| ὁ | ho | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλούμενος | kaloumenos | is being called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| εὐρακύλων. | eurakulon | [the] Northeaster. | G2148 → |
μετ᾽After
met᾽G3326 →461 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
πολὺlong
poluG4183 →367 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔβαλενit threw
ebalenG906 →121 times
κατ᾽down
kat᾽G2596 →468 times
αὐτῆςfrom it
autesG846 →5565 times
ἄνεμοςa wind
anemosG417 →31 times
τυφωνικὸςtempestuous
tuphonikosG5189 →
ὁwhich
hoG3588 →19766 times
καλούμενοςis being called
kaloumenosG2564 →147 times
εὐρακύλων.[the] Northeaster.
eurakulonG2148 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 8:24Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
it leads to
- Luke 8:23
As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
- Jonah 1:4–5
Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
- Mark 4:37–38
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
- Psalms 107:23–27
Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.
- Acts 27:14–38
But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
- Luke 8:23
Through
Mark 4:37Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
it leads to
- Matthew 8:23–24
When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
- Job 1:19
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to…
- Luke 8:22–23
One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.
- Matthew 8:23–24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; James Smith, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.