Act 27:15 | RWP | e4.org | When the ship was caught ( συναρπασθεντος του πλοιου ). Genitive absolute again with first aorist passive of συναρπαζω , old word, in N.T. only ; ; , and here. Graphic picture as if the ship was seized by a great monster. Face the wind ( αντοφθαλμειν τω ανεμω ). Dative case with the vivid infinitive of αντοφθαλμεω from αντοφθαλμος , looking in the eye, or eye to eye ( αντ , facing and οπθαλμος , eye). Eyes were painted on the prows of vessels. The ship could not face the wind enough to get to Phoenix. Modern sailors talk of sailing into the eye of the wind. We were not able to look the wind in the eye. Koine verb used by Polybius. Some MSS. have it in , but only here in N.T. In Wisdom of Sol. 12:14 it is used of a prince who cannot look God in the face. Clement of Rome 34 uses it of an idle workman not able to look his employer in the face (Milligan and Moulton's Vocabulary ). We gave way ( επιδοντες ). Second aorist active participle of επιδιδωμ , giving way to the wind. Were driven ( εφερομεθα ). Imperfect passive of φερω , "we were being borne along." We "scudded before the gale" (Page). "The suddenness of the hurricane gave no time to furl the great mainsail" (Furneaux).

‏ Acts 27:15

When the ship was caught ( συναρπασθεντος του πλοιου ). Genitive absolute again with first aorist passive of συναρπαζω, old word, in N.T. only Lu 8:29; Ac 6:12; 19:29, and here. Graphic picture as if the ship was seized by a great monster.

Face the wind ( αντοφθαλμειν τω ανεμω ). Dative case with the vivid infinitive of αντοφθαλμεω from αντοφθαλμος, looking in the eye, or eye to eye ( αντ, facing and οπθαλμος, eye). Eyes were painted on the prows of vessels. The ship could not face the wind enough to get to Phoenix. Modern sailors talk of sailing into the eye of the wind. We were not able to look the wind in the eye. Koine verb used by Polybius. Some MSS. have it in Ac 6:11, but only here in N.T. In Wisdom of Sol. 12:14 it is used of a prince who cannot look God in the face. Clement of Rome 34 uses it of an idle workman not able to look his employer in the face (Milligan and Moulton's Vocabulary).

We gave way ( επιδοντες ). Second aorist active participle of επιδιδωμ, giving way to the wind.

Were driven ( εφερομεθα ). Imperfect passive of φερω, "we were being borne along." We "scudded before the gale" (Page). "The suddenness of the hurricane gave no time to furl the great mainsail" (Furneaux).