Now when much time was spent In making this little way, and the season of the year was so far advanced, that sailing was now dangerous On account of the tempestuous weather usual at that season: for the fast Of the seventh month, or anniversary expiation; was now past And consequently winter was coming on apace. It may be proper to observe, that the fast here spoken of was the day of atonement, which was ordered to be kept on the 10th day of the 7th month, called Tisri by the Jews, and consequently must have been about the 25th of our September. Philo, in several passages quoted by Dr. Whitby in his note here, speaks of this as an ill time for sailing, as Aratus also does; and it would naturally be so, not only on account of winter approaching, but also because of the flows that are still well known in the Mediterranean. Paul admonished them Not to leave Crete. “Even in external things,” says Bengelius, “faith exerts itself with the greatest presence of mind, and readiness of advice.” And said unto them Namely, to the centurion and other officers; I perceive that this voyage If it be pursued according to the present scheme you have in view; will be with hurt and much damage Paul seems to have given them this warning, not so much because of the time of the year, and the tempests usually attending it, as by a prophetical spirit. God, intending to preserve and honour Paul in this tedious and difficult voyage, endues him with the gift of prophecy; which, when they saw it verified, could not but beget in them a great respect for him, and was probably the means of salvation to many that were in the ship with him; not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives So it would have been; their lives would have been lost, as well as the ship and goods, had not God given the lives of all in the ship unto Paul, and saved them for his sake. See Acts 27:24. Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master Whom he thought most experienced and best skilled in an affair of that kind. And, indeed, it is a general rule, Believe an artificer in his own art. But Paul had an extraordinary qualification, with which the centurion was not acquainted: he had supernatural light from God. And because the haven Notwithstanding its promising name; was not commodious Ανευθετου, was unfit, and probably judged unsafe; to winter in, the more part Of the ship's company; advised to depart Αναχθηναι, to set sail thence; if by any means they might obtain to Phenice A port in Crete, and not the Phenicia in Syria; and lieth toward the south-west and north-west That is, having a double opening to these two parts.
Related Commentaries of Acts 27:9
Acts 27:9-12
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fastb was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurtc and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
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.