Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the ship's crew at the moment they abandon an unsuitable harbor, acting on the majority's decision to reach Phoenix for winter. They weigh anchor and navigate the Cretan coast as a gentle south wind rises.
The words — The Greek ὑποπνεύσαντος (hupopneusantos) literally means "when it was blowing gently," describing the initial south wind. The participle ἄραντες (arantes) translates to "having weighed [anchor]," marking their decisive departure from the shore.
The thread — South wind imagery appears in Job 37:17, Psalm 78:26, and Song of Solomon 4:16, where specific winds carry distinct meteorological or symbolic weight. In Acts, the same favorable breeze immediately precedes the Northeaster storm in Acts 27:14.
Why it lands — The text records how a favorable breeze prompted immediate action to pursue a planned wintering destination. It asks the reader to observe how human planning and perceived opportunity operate before circumstances shift.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
Cross-references
- Job 37:17 You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
- Psalms 78:26 He stirred the east wind from the heavens and drove the south wind by His might.
- Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind. Breathe on my garden and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choicest fruits.
- Luke 12:55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.