Acts 27:9
in Acts 27By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,
KJV
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
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This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
8 notes on this verseI think Paul is speaking here of the Jewish fast, since he had departed a long time after Pentecost, so that he arrived at the borders of Crete almost by winter.
This site's exposition
the voyage had already become dangerous
on Acts 27:9-12
The voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast, a date set by the Day of Atonement in October, when shipping closed for winter. Paul, a prisoner giving his first counsel, warned of disaster and great loss to ship, cargo and lives, yet the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority chose Phoenix, comfort chosen over caution.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
By "the fast" here, I suppose he means that of the Jews. For they departed thence a long time after the Pentecost, so that it was much about midwinter that they arrived at the coasts of Crete. And this too was no slight miracle, that they also should be saved on his account.
"because the fast was now over." Here the fast means that of the Jews. For after Pentecost he departed from there after a long time, as if to come to the parts of Crete almost in the winter itself. Behold, Paul now prophesies again, telling …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The fast, or day of atonement, was kept on the tenth of Tisri, that is, the 25th of September. This was to them an ill time of sailing; not only because winter was approaching, but also because of the sudden storms, which are still common in the Mediterranean at that time of the year.
Now when much time was spent,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
When much time was spent - In sailing along the coast of Asia; in contending with the contrary winds. It is evident that when they started they had hoped to reach Italy before the dangerous time of navigating the Mediterranean should arrive. But they had been detained and embarrassed contrary to their expectation, so that they were now sailing in the most dangerous and tempestuous time of the year. Because the fast was now already past - By the “fast” here is evidently intended the fast which occurred among the Jews on the great day of atonement.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past - It is generally allowed that the fast mentioned here was that of the great day of atonement which was always celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month, which would answer to the latter end of our September; see Lev 16:29; Lev 23:27, etc. As this was about the time of the autumnal equinox, when the Mediterranean Sea was sufficiently tempestuous, we may suppose this feast alone to be intended. To sail after this feast was proverbially dangerous among the ancient Jews. See proofs in Schoettgen.
How the passage was read
On Acts 27:9-12On Acts 27:9-12
“The Fast” on a sailor's calendar
“The Fast” here is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the great autumn fast of Leviticus 16, used by Luke exactly as a modern writer might say “after Thanksgiving”: as a date. Yom Kippur falls in late September or October, and in the ancient Mediterranean, open-sea sailing was reckoned dangerous from about that point until spring. Luke's note is a Jewish calendar doing secular work: the fast is past, therefore the sailing season is closing, therefore Paul's warning.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Sources: Leviticus 16:29 (the fast's date, the seventh month's tenth day) · The Day of Atonement (this site's study)
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἱκανοῦ | hikanou | When much | G2425 → | 39 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| χρόνου | chronou | time | G5550 → | 53 times |
| διαγενομένου | diagenomenou | having passed | G1230 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὄντος | ontos | is being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἤδη | ede | already | G2235 → | 61 times |
| ἐπισφαλοῦς | episphalous | dangerous | G2000 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλοὸς | ploos | voyage | G4144 → | 3 times |
| διὰ | dia | because of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νηστείαν | nesteian | Fast | G3521 → | |
| ἤδη | ede | already | G2235 → | 61 times |
| παρεληλυθέναι, | pareleluthenai | being over, | G3928 → | |
| παρῄνει | parenei | was admonishing [them] | G3867 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Παῦλος | paulos | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
ἱκανοῦWhen much
hikanouG2425 →39 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
χρόνουtime
chronouG5550 →53 times
διαγενομένουhaving passed
diagenomenouG1230 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὄντοςis being
ontosG1510 →2333 times
ἤδηalready
edeG2235 →61 times
ἐπισφαλοῦςdangerous
episphalousG2000 →
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
πλοὸςvoyage
ploosG4144 →3 times
διὰbecause of
diaG1223 →664 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
νηστείανFast
nesteianG3521 →
ἤδηalready
edeG2235 →61 times
παρεληλυθέναι,being over,
pareleluthenaiG3928 →
παρῄνειwas admonishing [them]
pareneiG3867 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ΠαῦλοςPaul
paulosG3972 →158 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Numbers 29:7On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.
it leads to
- Leviticus 16:29–31
This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among…
- Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They…
- Romans 6:6
We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- James 4:8–10
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Leviticus 16:29–31
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); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.