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.
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence [also]. The "also" here, though a natural supplement, is in the text quite insufficiently attested. [Tischendorf retains it - kakeithen (G2547 ); but Lachmann and Tregelles have ekeithen (G1564 )]. If by any means they might attain to Phenice, х Foinika (G5405)] rather 'Phoenix,' which Mr. Smith identifies with the modern Lutro; and Mr. Brown is satisfied that he is right, as is Alford also. But Hackett, for reasons presently to be mentioned, opposes this view.
And there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest , [ bleponta ( G991) kata (G2596) liba (G3047) kai (G2532 ) kata (G2596 ) chooron (G5566 )]. Hackett-from the usual sense of this phrase-understands it of the direction in which the two coasts of the haven lay, which of course would mean just the opposite direction to what the expression would denote, if (as Mr. Smith contends) it is designed to express the direction in which the winds were blowing. If Hackett is fight (and Humphry and Lechler take the same view), it is the modern Phineka, a harbour quite near to Lutro, but facing the west, Certainly this allows of the phrase being rendered, as most naturally in our version, "looking toward." But since no anchorage which opened to the west would be good for this vessel, Mr. Smith thinks the meaning must be, that a westerly wind would lead into it, or that, 'it lay in an easterly direction from such a wind;' and the next verse would seem to confirm this.