Acts 27:13 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.

◄ Acts 27:13 ►

New International Version
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of 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.

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.

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.

Berean Literal Bible
Now a south wind having blown gently, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having weighed anchor, they began coasting along very near Crete.

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

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
And when a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had gained 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.

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.

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.

Holman 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.

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.

Contemporary English Version
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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When a gentle breeze began to blow from the south, the men thought their plan would work. They raised the anchor and sailed close to the shore of 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.

International Standard Version
When a gentle breeze began to blow from the south, they thought they could make it to Phoenix, so they hoisted anchor and began sailing along the shore of Crete.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
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 Heart 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.

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.

Weymouth 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.

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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained [their] purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,

Berean Literal Bible
Now a south wind having blown gently, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having weighed anchor, they began coasting along very near Crete.

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,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the south wind having blown softly, having thought to have obtained the purpose, hoisting up near, they sailed by Crete.

Catholic Translations

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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And since the south wind was blowing gently, they thought that they might reach their goal. And after they had set out from Asson, they weighed anchor at Crete.

New American Bible
A south wind blew gently, and thinking they had attained their objective, they weighed anchor and sailed along close to the coast of Crete.

New Revised Standard Version
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.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when the south wind blew softly, they thought they could reach their destination as they had desired, and we sailed around Crete.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when the south wind blew and they hoped to arrive according to their desire, they went around Crete.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had gained their object, they launched the ship, and ran along close to the shore of Crete.

Godbey New Testament
And the south wind blowing, thinking they could achieve their purpose, lifting up a sail, they went coasting along near Crete.

Haweis New Testament
So when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor, and kept near the coast of Crete.

Mace New Testament
a gentle breeze at south, secure of gaining their point, they weigh'd anchor, and coasted close under Crete:

Weymouth 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.

Worrell New Testament
And, when the south wind was blowing gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, lifting anchor, they were coasting nearer to Crete.

Worsley New Testament
And as the south wind blew gently, thinking they were secure of their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed close by Crete.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Storm at Sea
12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest. 13When 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. 14But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jonah 1:3-4
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. / 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 4:37-39
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. / But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

Matthew 8:23-27
When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. / Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” ...

Psalm 107:23-30
Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters. / They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. / For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea. ...

James 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Ezekiel 27:26-27
Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea. / Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.

Isaiah 33:23
Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder.

2 Corinthians 11:25
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

Luke 8:22-25
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. / 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. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. ...

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Job 9:8
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

Psalm 135:6-7
The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths. / He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 10:13
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Nahum 1:3-4
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. / He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.

Treasury of Scripture

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

the south.

Job 37:17
How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Psalm 78:26
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

Song of Solomon 4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

loosing.

Acts 27:21
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Jump to Previous

Anchor Attained Blew Blow Blowing Breeze Close Coast Crete Effected Gained Gentle Loosing Object Obtained Opinion Purpose Ran Sailed Sailing Ship Shore Side Softly South Sprang Supposed Supposing Sure Thence Thought Weighed Weighing Wind

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Acts 27

1. Paul shipping toward Rome,
10. foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11. but is not believed.
14. They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41. and suffer shipwreck;
44. yet all come safe to land.

Berean Study Bible

When a gentle south wind began to blow
The phrase "gentle south wind" in the original Greek is "νότος ἄνεμος" (notos anemos), which refers to a warm, mild wind coming from the south. In the Mediterranean region, such a wind would have been seen as favorable for sailing, especially after the stormy conditions described earlier in Acts 27. This gentle wind symbolizes a moment of hope and perceived opportunity. Historically, sailors relied heavily on wind patterns, and a south wind would have been considered a sign of good fortune. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for moments in life when circumstances seem to align perfectly, offering a sense of divine providence and guidance.

they thought they had achieved their purpose
The Greek word for "thought" is "δοκέω" (dokeo), which implies a belief or assumption based on observation. The sailors and those on board believed that the favorable wind meant they could safely continue their journey. This reflects human nature's tendency to interpret favorable circumstances as confirmation of one's plans. From a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder that human understanding is limited and that reliance on God’s wisdom is paramount. The phrase underscores the importance of discerning God’s will rather than solely trusting in external circumstances.

So they weighed anchor
"Weighed anchor" translates from the Greek "ἄραντες" (arantes), meaning to lift or raise. This action signifies a commitment to proceed with their journey. In a broader spiritual context, it represents the decision to move forward in faith, trusting in the perceived guidance of circumstances. Historically, this was a critical moment for sailors, as lifting the anchor meant leaving the safety of the harbor. For believers, it can symbolize stepping out in faith, trusting in God’s provision and protection.

and sailed along the shore of Crete
The phrase "sailed along the shore of Crete" indicates their navigational strategy. Crete, a significant island in the Mediterranean, provided a natural barrier against open sea dangers. The Greek word for "sailed along" is "παραλέγομαι" (paralegomai), meaning to sail close by or alongside. This decision reflects a cautious approach, staying close to land for safety. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as a metaphor for staying close to God’s guidance and protection, rather than venturing into the unknown without His leading. Historically, Crete was known for its challenging sailing conditions, and this decision highlights the sailors' attempt to balance risk with the perceived opportunity provided by the gentle south wind.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) And when the south wind blew softly.--There was a change at once in the force and the direction of the wind. With a gentle and favourable breeze from the south, the pilot and the owner thought that all was smooth sailing, and the ship left the Fair Havens and made across the bay, a distance of thirty-four miles, for Phaenice. They still, however, hugged the coast, as afraid to venture too far into the open sea. The Greek adverb asson, which is rightly rendered "close" in the Authorised version, has been mistaken, in the Vulgate and some other versions, for the accusative case of Assos, as though it were a proper name, and the words have been variously rendered "when they had left Assos," or "when they had made for Asses," or "when they had come in sight of Assos." The island Assos, however, lay far to the north (see Note on Acts 20:13), and there is no evidence of the existence of any town of that name in Crete. Of the English versions, Wiclif and the Rhemish follow the Vulgate, "when they had removed" (W.), or "parted" (Rh.), "from Assos"; Tyndale and Cranmer, following Luther, "they loosed unto Asson." The Geneva translation was the first to give the true meaning, and is following by the Authorised version. The tense of the Greek verb for "they sailed close," implies that they were in the act of doing this when the storm burst upon them, as in the next verse.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - They weighed anchor and for loosing thence, they, A.V.; along Crete, close in shore for close by Crete, A.V. Blew softly; ὑποπνεύσαντος, only here in the New Testament, and not found elsewhere. Supposing that they had obtained their purpose. A south wind would be quite favorable for sailing east or east by north, from Fair Havens to Phoenix. They not unreasonably, therefore, thought they could effect their purpose of wintering at Phoenix. And so they at once weighed anchor; ἄραντες, without an objective case following, "having lifted up," understand τὰς ἀγκύρας, as in Julius Pollux, quoted by Smith. It was the nautical phrase. Sailed along (παρελέγοντο); see ver. 8, note. Close in shore (ᾶσσον, comparative of ἄγχι, nearer, meaning "very near "). For the earlier part of their voyage they would be obliged to keep very near the shore, to enable them to weather Cape Matala, which lay a little to the south of west from Fair Havens. Some take ᾶσσον as the name of a town on the coast, but the grammar of the sentence makes this impossible.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

[When]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

a {gentle} south wind
νότου (notou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3558: The south wind, the South. Of uncertain affinity; the south(-west) wind; by extension, the southern quarter itself.

began to blow,
Ὑποπνεύσαντος (Hypopneusantos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5285: To blow gently. From hupo and pneo; to breathe gently, i.e. Breeze.

they thought
δόξαντες (doxantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem.

they had
κεκρατηκέναι (kekratēkenai)
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Strong's 2902: From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

[their]
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

opportunity.
προθέσεως (protheseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4286: From protithemai; a setting forth, i.e. proposal; specially, the show-bread as exposed before God.

[So] they weighed [anchor]
ἄραντες (arantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

[and] sailed along,
παρελέγοντο (parelegonto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3881: To coast along, sail along. From para and the middle voice of lego;, to lay one's course near, i.e. Sail past.

hugging {the coast}
ἆσσον (asson)
Adverb
Strong's 788: Nearer, close by. Neuter comparative of the base of eggus; more nearly, i.e. Very near.

of Crete.
Κρήτην (Krētēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2914: Crete. Of uncertain derivation; Crete, an island in the Mediterranean.

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NT Apostles: Acts 27:13 When the south wind blew softly supposing (Acts of the Apostles Ac)