Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Acts 27:4

in Acts 27

After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

KJV

And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

⋯

This verse in Acts 27

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
And when we had launched from thence,.... From Sidon: we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary; that is, they sailed below the island of Cyprus; of which see Act 4:36 whereas if the wind had been right for them, they would have sailed above the island; leaving it on the right hand, in a straight course to Myra; but now they were obliged to go below it, leaving it on the left hand, going in part about it, through the seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia to Lycia, as follows.

This site's exposition

the winds were contrary

on Acts 27:4-8

The winds were contrary, and every leg Luke logs matches the sailing conditions of the season: under the lee of Cyprus, along Cilicia and Pamphylia to Myra, where the centurion transfers them to a ship of Alexandria, a grain carrier on the Egypt-to-Rome run, the empire's bread route. Slow days against the wind bring them scarce over against Cnidus, then under Crete by Salmone, and hardly to a place called The fair havens near Lasea. James Smith's classic study of this chapter found every bearing and delay consistent with the winds of the Levant in late season, and the exposition reports the accuracy as the evidence lane's standing witness to an eyewitness log.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 53 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Again trials, again contrary winds. See how the life of the saints is thus interwoven throughout: escaped from the court of justice, they fall in with shipwreck and storm.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Sailors must do as they can, when they cannot do as they would, and make the best of their wind, whatever point it is in; so must we all in our passage over the ocean of this world. When the winds are contrary yet we must be getting forward as well as we can.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

We sailed under Cyprus - For an account of Cyprus, see the notes on Act 4:36. By sailing “under Cyprus” is meant that they sailed along its coasts; they kept near to it; they thus endeavored to break off the violent winds. Instead of steering a direct course in the open sea, which would have exposed them to violent opposing winds, they kept near this large island, so that it was between them and the westerly winds. The force of the wind was thus broken, and the voyage was rendered less difficult and dangerous.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

when we had launched--"set sail." from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary--The wind blowing from the westward, probably with a touch of the north, which was adverse, they sailed under the lee of Cyprus, keeping it on their left, and steering between it and the mainland of Phœnicia.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-curly-quotes

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

We sailed under Cyprus - See on Act 4:36 (note).

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 4:36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),3 worksActs 21:3After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.3 worksActs 21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.2 worksActs 11:19–20Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.2 worksActs 15:39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,2 worksActs 27:7After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.2 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
Mark 6:48He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,2 worksMatthew 14:24but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.2 worksActs 13:4So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.2 worksActs 21:1After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Acts 15:39

    Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

    it leads to

    • Acts 4:36

      Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Colossians 4:10

      My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.

  • Through

    Acts 4:36

    Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

    it leads to

    • Galatians 2:13

      The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

    • Galatians 2:1

      Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

    • Galatians 2:9

      And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and…

    • Acts 15:39

      Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

  • Through

    Acts 21:16

    Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 16:31

      Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.

    • Acts 21:3–4

      After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 27 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 27 →