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Acts 27:8

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 27:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Acts 27:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, [a city] of Lycia.
6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.
7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;
8and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,
10and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.
11But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
← Acts 27:7Acts 27:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And hardly passing it, etc.] That is, Salmone, with great difficulty, because of the winds: came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens; called by other writers Cale Acte, or the fair shore, and is placed by Ptolomy f1274 in Eubaea, and by Herodotus f1275 in Sicily; but by Stephanus f1276 is said to be a city of the Cretians, and which agrees with this account; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasae; there was a city in Crete called by Solinus f1277 Lisson, and by Ptolomy f1278 Lyssus, which he places on the south side of the island; and by Pliny f1279 Lasos, which comes pretty near to this name, but then he places it in the midland part of Crete; who also makes mention of an island…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And hardly passing it--"with difficulty coasting along it," from the same cause as before, the westerly current and head winds. came to . . . the Fair Havens--an anchorage near the center of the south coast, and a little east of Cape Matala, the southern most point of the island. nigh whereunto was the city Lasea--identified by the REVEREND GEORGE BROWN [SMITH, Voyages and Shipwreck of St. Paul, Appendix 3, Second Edition, 1856]. (To this invaluable book commentators on this chapter, and these notes, are much indebted).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And, hardly passing it - Scarcely being able to pass by it without being wrecked. Being almost driven on it. They passed round the east end of the island because they had been unable to sail directly forward between the island and the mainland, The fair havens - This was on the southeastern part of the island of Crete. It was probably not so much a harbor as an open roadstead, which afforded good anchorage for a time. It is called by Stephen, the geographer, “the fair shore.” It still retains the name which it formerly had. It is called in ancient Dutch and French Sailing Directions “the beautiful bay.” Nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea - There was no town or city at the “Fair Havens,”…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Fair Havens still retain the name. But the city of Lasea is now utterly lost, together with many more of the hundred cities for which Crete was once so renowned. Acts 27:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“27:8 Fair Havens was a small bay on the southern side of the island of Crete.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The fair havens: The Fair Havens, still known by the same name, was a port on the south-eastern part of Crete, near Lasea, of which nothing now remains. Act 27:8 Acts 27:9”
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Related study paths

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