Bible Strands
Acts 27:4
After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator recounts the voyage to an audience immediately after departing Sidon, where Julius permitted Paul to visit friends and receive care. The group puts out to sea and alters course due to opposing winds.
The words — ὑπεπλεύσαμεν (hupepleusamen) literally means "we sailed under," indicating they hugged the sheltered southern coast of Cyprus. διὰ (dia) translates as "because of," directly causally linking the detour to the adverse winds.
The thread — The pattern of vessels being driven by contrary winds appears in Matthew 14:24 and Mark 6:48, where gales buffet boats far from shore. The mention of Cyprus connects to the island's established presence in the narrative, as seen in Acts 4:36.
Why it lands — The text records a practical navigational adjustment forced by weather, requiring the reader to observe how physical constraints dictate travel routes without importing doctrinal meaning into the wind. It asks the reader to track the narrator's precise movements and accept the historical reality of ancient maritime logistics.
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 we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
Cross-references
- Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
- Matthew 14:24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
- Mark 6:48 He 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,
- Acts 11:19 Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- Acts 13:4 So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
- Acts 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- Acts 21:3 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.
- 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.
- Acts 27:7 After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.