Daily Writing

Some type of deer, I guess. Wyoming.

Friday, 3 May 2024

And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. Acts 27:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A literal rendering would be, “And having run under a certain islet called Clauda, scarcely we were able to become controllers of the skiff” (CG).

The previous verse noted that the ship could not head into the wind and so those on board simply let it be borne along. Now, a verse filled with new and rare words is given. In it, Luke says, “And having run under a certain islet called Clauda.”

The first rare word is hupotrechó, signifying “to run under.” It is found only here in Scripture. Instead of running into this island, they were able to get the ship to sail past it by running under it. What they ran under is described by a word, nésion, that is translated as “islet.”  This is the diminutive of nésos, an island. Thus, this is a little island, meaning and islet. It is also found only here in Scripture.

As for the islet, it is called Clauda. This is the only time it is mentioned. This name, Clauda, is one of various spellings found in different manuscripts. There is an island about 149 miles southwest of Crete that is today known as Gandos. This could possibly be the island that is referred to by Luke. There are a few other very small islands between these as well, such as the sister islands known as Paximadia Ena and Paximadia Duo.

Whichever island Luke is referring to, he says, “scarcely we were able to become controllers of the skiff.”

The word perikratés, an adjective which is again only found in this verse, signifies “having full command of.” Being an adjective, it would signify “controllers.” What they were attempting to control was the skaphé, or light boat. Hence, it is the ship’s skiff, a small landing boat. The obvious etymological connection between the words skaphé and skiff can be seen. This is the first of three times the word will be seen. All will be in this chapter.

The words show the united effort of all available hands. The word “we” appears to be all-inclusive, as any free person on the ship did his best to assist the crew in securing the skiff and helping out in whatever way he could.

The terminology Luke uses indicates that they had immense difficulty bringing in this little ship that was used for getting to shore when docked in an open harbor. The wind would have been raging and the boat itself was probably filled with a great deal of water. The challenge, which is seen in Luke’s words, was a great one.

Life application: One can almost sense the tension of those on board who worked to bring the skiff aboard the ship. But with the help of others besides the crew, the task was completed. There are times when we may be called, even if not verbally, to assist in a situation. It takes a truly uncaring person to idly sit by while others are carrying the weight of the moment.

Even if a person isn’t physically able to help, there is something he or she can do. For example, a person seeing others struggling at a task can go to the galley and get something for those who are working to eat after they are done.

Standing around and gawking, in whatever situation one finds himself in, just adds to the clutter of the situation. If nothing else, words of encouragement or congratulations can be heaped upon those who are doing the hard work. Whatever it is you can do, don’t be a bump on a log. Instead, be a person who is active in participating in the events that unfold before you. As it says in Ecclesiastes –

“Because of laziness the building decays,
And through idleness of hands the house leaks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18

Do your best to not let the house around you (real or otherwise) decay because of slothfulness. Industry and hard work, even if it is mere moral support, is something that is needed in the world. A pat on the back or a letter or email of support from time to time is always appreciated.

Lord God, may we be willing to share of ourselves in whatever way we can in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Help us, Lord, to be productive and helpful in this life we have been given. May it be so with You as the One who receives the glory for our efforts in living sound, productive, Christian lives. Amen.

America’s lifeline, passing through Wyoming.

Thursday, 2 May 2024

So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The Greek more closely reads, “And the ship, having been caught, and not being able to face the wind, having given way, we were borne” (CG).

In the previous verse, it was noted that a tempestuous storm, a Euroclydon, arose. This became problematic for those on the ship as Luke now notes, saying, “And the ship, having been caught.”

With the storm raging from all sides, those on it were completely unable to proceed in order to escape from its clutches. There was certainly no way to make any headway to where they intended. Because of this, Luke continues, saying, “and not being able to face the wind.”

The word is antophthalmeó, signifying, “I present my eye to.” It is a nautical term found only here in the New Testament, coming from anti and opthalamos, both words are easily identifiable and understandable, even today. Literally then, it gives the sense of “to look the wind in the eye.”

One can imagine the raging wind, the rain, and the spray of the waves all being so forceful that it was simply blinding to the eye. And more, ancient ships would often have an eye painted on each side of the bow. The modern nautical phrase to “sail into the eye of the wind’ comes from this. With it impossible to make headway, Luke records that “having given way, we were borne along.”

The word “we” shows a united effort was taken by everyone to get the boat to function properly, but it was impossible. And so, yielding to the superior force, they simply let the ship be borne along without any of their efforts, thus leaving their fate solely in the hands of the Lord.

Life application: As terrible as it seems for these sailors and passengers, our existence – even at this very moment – is very little different than theirs. We think we have our hands on the rudder of life and that we are navigating the waters by our own skill, carving our way into the future under the complete control we possess.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Even if things are peaceful around us, we have no control over the next seconds of our life, apart from the guiding hand of the Lord. Planes fly over most places on Earth. Parts fall off of planes from time to time. We cannot control that.

Meteors fall from the sky and land where they will. We have no power to direct where they will end up. Other people on the highway may be drunk and wind up in our windshield. Or they may drive through the wall of the building we are in, crushing us. We simply have no idea of what lies even a second ahead and each moment comes by the grace of God, whether we acknowledge it or not.

This includes each beat of our heart and each pulse of blood through our bodies. Let us not be arrogant about our control over life. That is a reality that does not exist. Rather, let us be humble and grateful to God for the safety we have possessed, acknowledging that it will continue only as long as He determines it to be so.

Glorious Lord God, help us to be more in tune with the reality of this life, that we are wholly dependent upon You for our world, our economies, our personal safety, and even our own next breath. May we understand that all things are allowed according to Your plan and Your wisdom. May we walk humbly before You all our days, acknowledging Your providential care over us as we go. Amen.

Cool hill. Wyoming.

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. Acts 27:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More literally, the words read, “And not long after, a typhonic wind cast against it, called Euroclydon” (CG).

In the last verse, it said, “And Auster, having wafted, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having hoisted they laid beside near Crete.” With that, complicated words are penned by Luke, beginning with, “And not long after.”

There was a fair wind from the south wafting along bringing the men satisfaction that the decision to leave Fair Havens was a good one. They were sailing along the coast of Crete and moving in the right direction. However, it next says, “a typhonic wind cast against it.”

The Greek word, found only here in the Bible, is tuphónikos, a typhonic wind. It is etymologically connected to our modern word typhoon, but being an adjective, it doesn’t name but rather describes the wind. The word comes from the noun tuphón, a hurricane or typhoon. Typhoon is the designation used today for those hurricanes that arise in the western Pacific.

These words are derived from the same root as tuphó, smoky, found in Matthew 12:20. One can think of the ocean spray being stirred up and giving it an appearance that is clouded or smoky.

This raging wind is described as having been cast against it. The question is, “Cast against what?”

Ellicott notes, “The Greek pronoun is in the feminine, and as the noun used for ship is, throughout the narrative, in the neuter, the difference of gender presents a difficulty. Grammatically the pronoun seems to refer to Crete, and if referred to it, the sentence admits of three possible constructions: (1) the wind drove us against Crete; or (2), blew against Crete; or (3), drove down on us from Crete.”

The first two go against what is later recorded, and so it is most likely speaking of the winds driving against Crete and blowing them off the shore, Crete being a feminine noun and the nearest antecedent. The wind that arose was so strong that it cast against Crete causing a swirling, typhonic action that literally blew the ship away from the coast they had been clinging to as they drove the ship towards Phoenix.

Understanding this, the verse finishes with the name of this type of wind. Luke said it is “called Euroclydon.”

This last word is variously rendered in manuscripts. Some say Euroclydon while others say Euroquilo. From there, translators use one designation or another, or they simply translate it as a Northeaster and avoid the trouble.

Which word is correct is argued. It appears nowhere else in the Bible. If Euroclydon is correct, then it may come from euros, wind, and kludon, wave. As such, it signifies a storm where winds just whip around forming battering waves, like a hurricane.

If Euraquilo is right, it might mean “…between Eurus, ‘the E. S. E. wind,’ and Aquilo, ‘the north-wind, or, strictly, N. 1/3 E. Hence, E. N. E.’” (Vincent’s Word Studies).

No matter what, the storm was a raging one and it bore down on the ship so tempestuously that it drove it away from Crete and into the open sea.

Life application: Studying the etymology of words is fun and increases one’s knowledge of how languages develop and express themselves. Be sure to take time to look into this aspect of God’s revealed word!

Lord God, thank You for the pages of Scripture that reveal so much to us about the life and events of those who have gone before us, expending their time and energy with the intent of spreading the message of Jesus and the good news of His gospel. May we follow suit and be willing to set out with the aim and intent of telling others about it as well. Praises to You, O God, for this wonderful chance to be a part of the redemptive narrative as it continues to unfold! Amen.

Heard that song somewhere before…

Tuesday, 30 April 2024

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. Acts 27:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Although quite obscure in some of the wording, a more literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And Auster, having wafted, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having hoisted they laid beside near Crete” (CG).

Luke just noted that the majority had come together and decided they would try to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete. This now will take place. The next words, therefore, say, “And Auster, having wafted.”

The Greek word notos is used. It signifies the South. Thus, it implies here “the south wind.” A single English word to describe that is Auster. It specifically refers to the south wind. Of this Auster, it is said to have “wafted.”

Again, it is a single word used to describe another single word from the Greek, hupopneó. It is derived from hupo, under or about, and pneo, to breathe or blow (as the wind). This word is only found here in Scripture and apparently is found nowhere else in ancient Greek literature.

With this seemingly favorable turn of events, Luke next records, “having thought to have obtained the purpose.”

The word prothesis is used. It signifies a setting forth. In the synoptic gospels and in Hebrews, it is translated as “showbread,” meaning the bread set forth in the Tabernacle before the Lord. It comes from two words signifying “before” and “purposefully set forth.” Paul uses it several times in his epistles when referring to the purpose of God. It thus speaks of the providential workings of God. For example –

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose [prothesis].” Romans 8:28

These men, having received this wafting Auster, thought that their predetermined purpose of reaching Phoenix would be realized, therefore, it says, “having hoisted they laid beside near Crete.”

The words “having hoisted” are referring to the anchor that had been weighed in the harbor of Fair Havens. With this gentle Auster wafting away, the men thought this was their best chance to proceed, heading out and toward Phoenix. However, they carefully kept close to the island, knowing that things could devolve quickly if the winds turned contrary.

In these words, the second and last use of paralegomai is used, translated as “laid beside.” Luke used it in Acts 27:8 and now it is retired from Scripture. Also, there is a notable error to be found in some translations.

Older versions, and continuing on in the Douay-Rheims Bible, read differently, saying something like, “…when they had loosed from Asson, they sailed close by Crete.”

The error is assuming that the Greek word assos, which is found only here in Scripture, is speaking of a location known as Asson. However, this place was much further to the north. The error was corrected in the Geneva Bible, translating asson as “very near” or “close.” It is not a place being referred to, but the ship in relation to the coast.

The sailors, as noted above, kept close to the coast in order to not get swept out to sea if a seasonal storm suddenly arose and tossed them about.

Life application: As always, it is recommended that you read different translations of the Bible. People are fallible and errors are easy to make based on a lack of knowledge concerning words in the text, geography, metallurgy, gemology, etc.

Different people have different understandings of various subjects and may realize that something translated in one way is actually not possible. For example, the older versions of Deuteronomy 8:9 say something like the poorly rendered King James Version –

“A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”

Not understanding metallurgy, the KJV translated the Hebrew word signifying copper as brass. Brass cannot be dug from the ground as it is an alloy produced by man. What thou mayest dig from the ground is copper. That is then combined with zinc to produce brass, and – wah-lah – one has a great-sounding cymbal.

Be sure to not get captivated by a single translation. Thou mayest be misdirected in thy understanding of various subjects that arise within the pages of this precious gift, the Holy Bible.

Glorious Lord God, how blessed we are to be living in a time when we can read fifty or more translations right on the internet, comparing what they say so that we can get a better understanding of how things should be properly translated in Your wonderful word. Thank You for the many resources available to us right at our fingertips. May we take full advantage of these things as we continue to learn and grow in Your word. Amen.

Desert area of Wyoming.

Monday, 29 April 2024

And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. Acts 27:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A more literal translation is, “And the harbor, being unsuitable to a wintering, the majority set counsel to go up thence also, if how they might be able, having arrived to Phoenix to winter – a harbor of Crete looking against southwest and against northwest” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul’s words concerning the state of the ship and the people on it were overridden by the pilot and the shipmaster. The centurion agreed with them instead. Therefore, a verse filled with rare words begins with, “And the harbor, being unsuitable.”

Luke uses an adjective found only here in the New Testament, aneuthetos. It is the negative of euthetos, or suitable. Thus, it signifies to be unsuitable. The harbor was not a proper place “to a wintering.”

It is a new noun found only here, paracheimasia. It indicates the state of spending the winter. The harbor in which they currently were positioned would face the coming winds of the wintertime and make it a less suitable place to be than an area sheltered from those same winds. As such, it next says, “the majority set counsel to go up thence also.”

Because of the less-than-ideal location, it appears that a majority vote was taken which decided that they would leave this harbor and continue to some other location more suitable for the winter months.

There are decisions that might properly be considered through a popular vote and there are those which should not be. In this case, what was popular was not what was right. A cold and bumpy time in a port is far better than a ship at the bottom of the sea. However, the majority made their voice known and that was “if how they might be able, having arrived to Phoenix.”

The fact that this terminology is used shows the impending doom from Luke’s hand. A risk is being taken and Luke is giving advance notice that it will not prove to be a great choice to make.

The place where they hope to reach would be Phoinix, or Phoenix, a location found only here in Scripture. Though a bit long, Ellicott gives a great description for us to consider –

“Phenice . . . which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.—The precise meaning of the phrase is that the harbour looked, as we say, down these winds, in the direction to which they blew—i.e., that it faced the north-east and south-east, the words used being the names, not of points of the compass, but of the winds which blew from them. The harbour so described has been identified with the modern Lutro, on the east of the promontory of Kavo Muros, which looks eastward, and so corresponds to the interpretation just given of the words that describe it. The harbour is named by Ptolemy (iii. 17) as Phoenikous, and a city named Phoenix lay a few miles inland. It is still used as a harbour by Greek pirates, and was marked as such in the French admiralty charts of 1738; but, owing to the silting up of the sand, has become unsuitable for larger vessels. An inscription of the time of Nerva, of the nature of a votive tablet to Jupiter and Serapis, found near the spot, records the fact that it was erected by Epictetus, the tabularius, or agent, of the fleet to which the ship belonged, with the assistance of Dionysius of Alexandria, the pilot (the same word as that which St. Luke uses) of a ship which had as its sign (the same word as in Acts 28:4) the Isopharia. It is a natural inference from this that the Alexandrian ship (we note the Egyptian element in the dedication to Serapis, and possibly in the connection of the sign with the Pharos, or lighthouse of Alexandria) had anchored, and possibly wintered, at Phœnice, and that the tablet was a thank-offering for its preservation.”

The name Phoenix probably got its name from the palm tree, phoinix, which is indigenous to Crete. Of this location, those on the ship hoped to sail in order “to winter.”

It is another new word, paracheimazó. It is the verb form of the noun just used to describe “a wintering.” It will be seen three more times in Scripture. This location was more suitable because it was “a harbor of Crete looking against southwest and against northwest.”

This is the third and last use of the word, limén, a harbor or haven. Also, two more words found only here in Scripture are to be noted. The first is lips, signifying the southwest. It is an interesting word, coming from leibó, to pour. The reason for this name is that it is from this direction that the rains come. Therefore, it is as if the rains pour from there.

The other new word is chóros, the northwest. It is of Latin origin and signifies the area from which the winds blow.  A harbor facing these directions would be more suitable for wintering than where they currently were, even if it was dangerous to leave where they were in order to get there.

Life application: Majority votes often fail to be the best choice. Uninformed people with a strong voice can override those who are knowledgeable because the knowledgeable are often more contemplative and less vocal about matters. They are also, more often than not, in the minority. Those who don’t think things through logically are aplenty in the world.

In governments that are based on the majority vote, people will often vote for things that are wholly unreasonable. This is true with committees and the like as well. Although majority votes may seem fair, it is usually best to steer away from them and allow those who are in charge to make the ultimate decisions for a matter.

These leaders may ask for a majority consideration, but then evaluate what was presented and amend or override what the majority wants. The world is not fair, but to leave decisions in the hands of the masses is not the best way of handling things. This will become evident to those on the ship in the verses ahead.

Lord God, it is so wonderful to know that You alone are in charge of the process of the redemption of man. If it were up to us, even in the least part, things would not go well. How evident this is when pastors, churches, and denominations cannot even agree on what the word “grace” means. Help us to be obedient followers of Your word in all ways and at all times, yielding ourselves to what You have decided upon for us. Amen.