Act 27:28 | RWP | e4.org | They sounded ( βολισαντες ). First aorist active participle of βολιζω rare verb only here and in Eustathius who says it was familiar in ancient Greek. Apparently from βολις , a missile or dart, and so to throw down the lead into the sea, to heave the lead, to take soundings. The inscriptions give βολιμος for "leaden." Twenty fathoms ( οργυιας εικοσ ). This old word, from ορεγω , to stretch, means the distance from one outstretched middle finger tip to the other likewise out-stretched. After a little space ( βραχυ διαστησαντες ). Literally, "standing apart a little" (second aorist active participle of διιστημ ), that is, the ship going a short distance further on. A ship today approaching St. Paul's Bay by the rocky point of Koura would pass first twenty, then fifteen fathoms (Furneaux).

‏ Acts 27:28

They sounded ( βολισαντες ). First aorist active participle of βολιζω rare verb only here and in Eustathius who says it was familiar in ancient Greek. Apparently from βολις, a missile or dart, and so to throw down the lead into the sea, to heave the lead, to take soundings. The inscriptions give βολιμος for "leaden."

Twenty fathoms ( οργυιας εικοσ ). This old word, from ορεγω, to stretch, means the distance from one outstretched middle finger tip to the other likewise out-stretched.

After a little space ( βραχυ διαστησαντες ). Literally, "standing apart a little" (second aorist active participle of διιστημ ), that is, the ship going a short distance further on. A ship today approaching St. Paul's Bay by the rocky point of Koura would pass first twenty, then fifteen fathoms (Furneaux).