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Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Acts 27:13

When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned. So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed along the coast of Crete.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Crete;   Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena;   Paul;   Phenice;   Thompson Chain Reference - Meteorology;   Missionary Journeys;   Missions, World-Wide;   Paul's;   Wind, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Crete;   Euroclydon;   Julius;   Melita;   Ship;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Crete;   Ship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Centurion;   Clauda;   Crete;   Euroclydon;   Ship;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Ephesians, Book of;   Fair Havens;   Luke;   Luke, Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Island, Isle;   Italy;   Nero;   Ships and Boats;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Cauda;   Fast, the ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Crete, Cretians;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Melita;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Pute'oli;   Ship;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Lycia;   Phoenix;   Shore;   South;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
King James Version (1611)
And when the South wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Creete.
King James Version
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
English Standard Version
Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.
New American Standard Bible
When a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, closer to shore.
New Century Version
When a good wind began to blow from the south, the men on the ship thought, "This is the wind we wanted, and now we have it." So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed very close to the island of Crete.
Amplified Bible
So when the south wind blew softly, thinking that they had obtained their goal, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, hugging the coast.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore.
Legacy Standard Bible
And when a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along the shore of Crete.
Berean Standard Bible
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete.
Complete Jewish Bible
When a gentle southerly breeze began to blow, they thought that they had their goal within grasp; so they raised the anchor and started coasting by Crete close to shore.
Darby Translation
And [the] south wind blowing gently, supposing that they had gained their object, having weighed anchor they sailed close in shore along Crete.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then a good wind began to blow from the south. The men on the ship thought, "This is the wind we wanted, and now we have it!" So they pulled up the anchor. We sailed very close to the island of Crete.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when the Southerne winde blew softly, they supposing to atteine their purpose, loosed neerer, and sailed by Candie.
George Lamsa Translation
And when the south wind blew softly, they thought they could reach their destination as they had desired, and we sailed around Crete.
Good News Translation
A soft wind from the south began to blow, and the men thought that they could carry out their plan, so they pulled up the anchor and sailed as close as possible along the coast of Crete.
Lexham English Bible
And when a southwest wind began to blow gently, because they thought they could accomplish their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed close along Crete.
Literal Translation
And a south wind blowing gently, thinking to have gained the purpose, raising anchor they sailed along close by Crete.
American Standard Version
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.
Bible in Basic English
And when the south wind came softly, being of the opinion that their purpose might be effected, they let the ship go and went sailing down the side of Crete, very near to the land.
Hebrew Names Version
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
International Standard Version
When a gentle breeze began to blow from the south, they thought they could achieve their purpose. So they raised the anchor and began to sail close to the shore of Crete.
Etheridge Translation
And when the wind of the south blew, and we thought we could come as we desired, we sailed round Kreta.
Murdock Translation
And when the south wind breezed up, and they hoped to arrive as they desired, we began to sail around Crete.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when the south wynde blewe softly, they supposyng to obtayne their purpose, loosed vnto Asson, and sayled past Candie.
English Revised Version
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.
World English Bible
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And as the south wind blew gently, supposing they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor, and sailed on close by Crete.
Weymouth's New Testament
And a light breeze from the south sprang up, so that they supposed they were now sure of their purpose. So weighing anchor they ran along the coast of Crete, hugging the shore.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne the south blew, thei gessiden hem to holde purpos; and whanne thei hadden removed fro Asson, thei seiliden to Crete.
Update Bible Version
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained [their] purpose, loosing [thence], they sailed close by Crete.
New English Translation
When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they could carry out their purpose, so they weighed anchor and sailed close along the coast of Crete.
New King James Version
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
When a south wind started to blow, they thought their plan was right. They pulled up the anchor and went close to the shore of Crete.
New Revised Standard
When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, a south wind blowing softly, supposing they had secured their purpose, weighing anchor, they began to sail close in shore along Crete.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the south wind gently blowing, thinking that they had obtained their purpose, when they had loosed from Asson, they sailed close by Crete.
Revised Standard Version
And when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close inshore.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When the south wynde blewe they supposynge to obtayne their purpose lowsed vnto Asson and sayled paste all Candy.
Young's Literal Translation
and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained [their] purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan the South wynde blewe, they supposinge to haue had their purpose, lowsed vnto Asson, and sayled past all Candy.
Mace New Testament (1729)
a gentle breeze at south, secure of gaining their point, they weigh'd anchor, and coasted close under Crete:
THE MESSAGE
When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing. But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor'easter, struck. They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm.
Simplified Cowboy Version
A light wind came up and the crew pulled up the anchor quick. They sailed close to the shore and made good time.

Contextual Overview

12 The harbor at Fair Havens wasn't a good place to spend the winter. Because of this, almost everyone agreed that we should at least try to sail along the coast of Crete as far as Phoenix. It had a harbor that opened toward the southwest and northwest, and we could spend the winter there. 13 When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned. So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed along the coast of Crete. 14 But soon a strong wind called "The Northeaster" blew against us from the island. 15 The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship. 16 We went along the island of Cauda on the side that was protected from the wind. We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place, 17 but finally we got it where it belonged. Then the sailors wrapped ropes around the ship to hold it together. They lowered the sail and let the ship drift along, because they were afraid it might hit the sandbanks in the gulf of Syrtis. 18 The storm was so fierce that the next day they threw some of the ship's cargo overboard. 19 Then on the third day, with their bare hands they threw overboard some of the ship's gear. 20 For several days we could not see either the sun or the stars. A strong wind kept blowing, and we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the south: Job 37:17, Psalms 78:26, Song of Solomon 4:16, Luke 12:55

loosing: Acts 27:21

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:6 - The wind Jonah 1:4 - the Lord Matthew 8:5 - a centurion Acts 13:13 - loosed Acts 27:7 - we sailed Acts 28:13 - the south

Cross-References

Genesis 25:23
and he told her: "Your two sons will become two separate nations. The younger of the two will be stronger, and the older son will be his servant."
Genesis 25:33
But Jacob said, "Promise me your birthrights, here and now!" And that's what Esau did.
Genesis 27:8
Now, my son, listen carefully to what I want you to do.
Genesis 27:24
Isaac asked, "Are you really my son Esau?" "Yes, I am," Jacob answered.
Genesis 27:28
God will bless you, my son, with dew from heaven and with fertile fields, rich with grain and grapes.
Genesis 27:36
Esau replied, "My brother deserves the name Jacob, because he has already cheated me twice. The first time he cheated me out of my rights as the first-born son, and now he has cheated me out of my blessing." Then Esau asked his father, "Don't you still have any blessing left for me?"
Genesis 27:45
and forgets what you have done to him, I'll send for you to come home. Why should I lose both of my sons on the same day?"
Genesis 43:9
I promise to bring him back safely, and if I don't, you can blame me as long as I live.
1 Samuel 25:24
Then she said: Sir, please let me explain!
2 Samuel 14:9
The woman said, "I hope your decision doesn't cause any problems for you. But if it does, you can blame me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when the south wind blew softly,.... Or moderately, which was a good wind for them:

supposing that they, had obtained their purpose; that things would succeed according to their wish, and favour their design:

loosing thence; from the Fair Havens; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions render it, "loosing from Assos"; which could not be Assos of Troas, mentioned in Acts 20:13 which was many miles from hence; rather Asum, a town in Crete, of which Pliny r makes mention, though, according to him, it seems to be an inland town; wherefore it is best to take the word ασσον, to be an adverb, and render it "thence", as we do; or join it with the next word, and render it,

they came near, or they sailed close by Crete; along the shore, the wind favouring them, that they were in no danger of being dashed upon it, it being a soft gentle wind.

r Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The south wind - The wind before had probably been a head-wind, blowing from the west. When it veered round to the south, and when it blew gently, though not entirely favorable, yet it was so that they supposed they could sail along the coast of Crete.

Had obtained their purpose - The object of their desire; that is, to sail safely along the coast of Crete.

Loosing thence - Setting sail from the fair havens.

Close by Crete - Near the shore. It is evident that they designed, if possible, to make the harbor of Phenice to winter there. They weighed anchor and passed around Cape Matala. The distance to this point is four or five miles; the bearing west by south. With a gentle southerly wind, the vessel would be able to weather the cape, and then the wind was fair to Phoenix or Phenice (Lutro), which was 35 miles distant from the cape, and bore from thence about west-northwest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 27:13. When the south wind blew softly — Though this wind was not very favourable, yet, because it blew softly, they supposed they might be able to make their passage.

They sailed close by Crete. — Kept as near the coast as they could. See the track on the map.


 
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