Act 27:39 | RWP | e4.org | They knew not ( ουκ επεγινωσκον ). Imperfect active of επιγινωσκω , to recognize. Probably conative, tried to recognize and could not (Conybeare and Howson). The island was well-known ( , επεγνωμεν ), but St. Paul's Bay where the wreck took place was some distance from the main harbour (Valetta) of Melita (Malta). They perceived ( κατενοουν ). Imperfect active of κατανοεω , gradually perceived after some effort as in . This beach seemed their only hope. They took counsel ( εβουλευοντο ). Imperfect middle showing the process of deliberation and doubt. The bay "having a beach" ( εχοντα αιγιαλον ) is a phrase found in Xenophon's Anabasis VI. 4, 4. Whether they could drive ( ε δυναιντο εκσωσα ). This use of the optative with ε in questions of this sort (implied indirect) is a neat Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar , p. 1021). B C Bohairic read εκσωσα (first aorist active infinitive of εκσωζω ), to save out (so Westcott and Hort), instead of εξωσα (from εξωθεω , to push out, as Textus Receptus).

‏ Acts 27:39

They knew not ( ουκ επεγινωσκον ). Imperfect active of επιγινωσκω, to recognize. Probably conative, tried to recognize and could not (Conybeare and Howson). The island was well-known (28:1, επεγνωμεν ), but St. Paul's Bay where the wreck took place was some distance from the main harbour (Valetta) of Melita (Malta).

They perceived ( κατενοουν ). Imperfect active of κατανοεω, gradually perceived after some effort as in 11:16. This beach seemed their only hope.

They took counsel ( εβουλευοντο ). Imperfect middle showing the process of deliberation and doubt. The bay "having a beach" ( εχοντα αιγιαλον ) is a phrase found in Xenophon's Anabasis VI. 4, 4.

Whether they could drive ( ε δυναιντο εκσωσα ). This use of the optative with ε in questions of this sort (implied indirect) is a neat Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1021). B C Bohairic read εκσωσα (first aorist active infinitive of εκσωζω ), to save out (so Westcott and Hort), instead of εξωσα (from εξωθεω, to push out, as Textus Receptus).