Acts 27 · Verse 13

Acts 27:13

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
Acts 27:13, King James Version

Acts 27:13 in other translations

BSBWhen 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.
WEBWhen the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
ASVAnd when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.
YLTand a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained their purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,
DARBYAnd the south wind blowing gently, supposing that they had gained their object, having weighed anchor they sailed close in shore along Crete.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

What does Acts 27:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had attained their purpose--With such a wind they had every prospect of reaching their destination in a few hours.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. The south wind. The wind before had probably been a headwind, blowing from the west. When it veered round to the south, and when it blew gently, though not entirely favourable, 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 for the fair havens.

Close by Crete. Near the shore. It is evident that they designed, if possible, to make the harbour of Phenice, to winter there.

(c) "loosing thence" Acts 27:7.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 When the south wind blew softly - Though this wind was not very favorable, 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 27:12-20

Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale, know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easily take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in…

Read the full comment on Acts 27:12-20 →

Acts 27:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὙποπνεύσαντοςHupopneusantosWhen was blowing gentlyG5285
δὲdenowG1161
νότουnotoua south windG3558
δόξαντεςdoxanteshaving thoughtG1380
τῆςtēstheG3588
προθέσεωςprotheseōspurposeG4286
κεκρατηκέναι,kekratēkenaito have obtained,G2902
ἄραντεςaranteshaving weighed [anchor]G142
ἆσσονassonvery nearG788
παρελέγοντοparelegontothey were coasting alongG3881
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
Κρήτην.KrētēnCrete.G2914

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 27:13

  • 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.

  • Job 37:17

    How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

  • Luke 12:55

    And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

  • Psalms 78:26

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

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the south.
Job 37:17; Ps 78:26; So 4:16; Lu 12:55
loosing.
21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 27:12

    And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

  • Acts 27:13

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

  • Acts 27:14

    But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

Read all of Acts 27

Acts 27:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y soplando el austro, pareciéndoles que ya tenían lo que deseaban, alzando velas, iban cerca de la costa de Creta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme le vent du midi soufflait doucement, pensant qu’ils étaient venus à bout de leur dessein, ils levèrent l’ancre et côtoyèrent de près l’île de Crète.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber ein Südwind sanft wehte, meinten sie ihren Vorsatz erreicht zu haben, lichteten die Anker und fuhren dicht an Kreta hin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Aspirante autem austro, æstimantes propositum se tenere, cum sustulissent de Asson, legebant Cretam.