Acts 27:13

“And when the south wind blew softly, etc.] Or moderately, which was a good wind for them: supposing that they, had obtained their purpose; that things would succeed according to their wish, and favour their design: loosing thence; from the Fair Havens; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions render it, “loosing from Assos”; which could not be Assos of Troas, mentioned in (<442013>Acts 20:13) which was many miles from hence; rather Asum, a town in Crete, of which Pliny f1288 makes mention, though, according to him, it seems to be an inland town; wherefore it is best to take the word asson, to be an adverb, and render it “thence”, as we do; or join it with the next word, and render it, they…”

“when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had attained their purpose--With such a wind they had every prospect of reaching their destination in a few hours.”

“The south wind - The wind before had probably been a head-wind, blowing from the west. When it veered round to the south, and when it blew gently, though not entirely favorable, yet it was so that they supposed they could sail along the coast of Crete. Had obtained their purpose - The object of their desire; that is, to sail safely along the coast of Crete. Loosing thence - Setting sail from the fair havens. Close by Crete - Near the shore. It is evident that they designed, if possible, to make the harbor of Phenice to winter there. They weighed anchor and passed around Cape Matala. The distance to this point is four or five miles; the bearing west by south. With a gentle southerly wind, the…”

“the south: Job 37:17; Psa 78:26; Sol 4:16; Luk 12:55 loosing: Act 27:21 Acts 27:14”