Acts 27 8

Acts 27:8 kjv

And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Acts 27:8 nkjv

Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

Acts 27:8 niv

We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

Acts 27:8 esv

Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

Acts 27:8 nlt

We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 8 Meaning

Acts 27:8 describes a specific point in Paul’s perilous sea journey towards Rome. After navigating with considerable difficulty past a challenging part of Crete, the ship reached a temporary harbor known as Fair Havens. This port was located near the small city of Lasea, offering a brief respite from the harsh maritime conditions but was not a suitable location for an extended stay or for wintering.

Acts 27 8 Context

Acts 27 details Paul's journey from Caesarea to Rome as a prisoner, fulfilling God's promise that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). The immediate context shows the ship, an Alexandrian grain vessel, facing severe headwinds and struggling to make progress. In Acts 27:7, they "sailed with difficulty" past Cnidus and under the lee of Crete near Salmone. Verse 8 marks a momentary pause in this arduous struggle. They manage, with great effort, to round the difficult section of Crete and arrive at a known but not ideal anchorage. Historically, autumn sailing in the Mediterranean was highly dangerous due to unpredictable storms and the onset of strong easterly winds. Fair Havens, a real historical location on the southern coast of Crete, offered some temporary shelter from northwest winds but was exposed to the east, making it unsuitable for wintering. This unsuitability sets up the pivotal decision in the subsequent verses (27:9-12) where, despite Paul’s warning, the ship's crew and centurion decide to press on for a more favorable winter port, leading directly to the destructive storm.

Acts 27 8 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, but here it marks a continuation and consequence of the strenuous effort described in the previous verse (v.7), where they struggled against headwinds.
• hardly (μόλις - molis): Signifies "with difficulty," "scarcely," "barely." This emphasizes the tremendous physical and navigational challenge. It reflects the perilous nature of ancient sailing and highlights the crew's strained efforts. The word portrays a grim struggle rather than smooth passage.
• passing it (παραλεγόμενοι αὐτὴν - paralegomenoi autēn):
  • παραλεγόμενοι (paralegomenoi): This is a present participle, indicating a continuous or ongoing action – "coasting along" or "sailing past" cautiously. It suggests hugging the coastline for protection from the severe winds described earlier, rather than taking open sea.
  • αὐτὴν (autēn): Refers to "it," specifically the island of Crete, or the difficult section of its coast they had just navigated from Salmone (v.7). The sailing path suggests they were likely under the lee of the island to gain some protection.
• we came (ἤλθομεν - ēltomen): An aorist verb, indicating a definite and accomplished arrival after the struggle. It suggests relief and a temporary cessation of intense effort.
• to a place (εἰς τόπον τινὰ - eis topon tina): "to a certain place." Indicates a specific, recognized location, not just a random spot on the coast. The description of it being "certain" (τῖνα) reinforces its identifiability at the time.
• called (καλούμενον - kaloumenon): Present passive participle, "being called." It signifies that the name was commonly known and applied to this location.
• Fair Havens (Καλοὺς Λιμένας - Kalous Limenas):
  • Καλοὺς (Kalous): "Fair" or "Good." It denotes quality. In this context, it may simply mean "recognizable" or "available." The irony is that while a "haven," it wasn't a "good" one for wintering due to its exposed nature, as subsequent verses reveal.
  • Λιμένας (Limenas): "Havens" or "Harbors." The plural might refer to its character as a group of small inlets or generally understood as "the harbor." It implies a stopping place or anchorage.
• near which (ᾧ ἐγγὺς - hō engys):
  • ᾧ (hō): Relative pronoun "to which," referring to Fair Havens.
  • ἐγγὺς (engys): "Near" or "close by." This highlights the proximity of the city to the anchorage.
• was (ἦν - ēn): Past tense, indicating a descriptive fact about the location.
• the city (πόλις - polis): A "city" or "town." Not necessarily a major metropolis but a settled community.
• of Lasea (Λασαία - Lasaia): The proper name of the nearby settlement. This geographical detail provides specificity and anchors Luke's account in historical reality. Its identification in archaeology confirms the accuracy of Luke's narrative. Lasea likely provided supplies for ships.

Acts 27 8 Bonus section

The geographical accuracy and nautical details presented in Acts 27, including the mention of Fair Havens and Lasea, have been extensively verified by modern scholarship and archaeological surveys. Luke's account provides precise navigation terminology, consistent with ancient maritime practices. Fair Havens today remains a sheltered bay, still recognizable from ancient descriptions. However, it is indeed open to strong easterly and south-easterly winds, which would have made it very risky for wintering a large grain ship, validating the crew's desire to reach Phoenix (Acts 27:12), which offered better protection. This level of detail in Luke’s writing strengthens the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament narratives. The journey highlights the human experience of finding temporary shelter, much like in life, where we may encounter places of brief reprieve from immediate troubles, but which are not ultimate solutions or ideal permanent dwelling places. It implicitly encourages discerning when to seek temporary safety versus when to prepare for greater challenges, often guided by faith.

Acts 27 8 Commentary

Acts 27:8 is a terse but significant nautical report. It highlights the challenging realities of ancient sea travel and Luke's precision in detailing the voyage. The phrase "hardly passing it" conveys the immediate sense of physical exertion and peril the sailors, including Paul, endured. Fair Havens, while offering momentary respite and living up to its descriptive name as a place of anchorage, was far from an ideal wintering port due to its exposure. This temporary refuge becomes a crucible for a crucial decision; Paul, having witnessed the previous difficulties and perhaps divinely informed, advised against leaving (Acts 27:9-10). The centurion's disregard for this advice, in favor of the ship's owner and captain, underscores the human tendency to prioritize convenience and conventional wisdom over spiritual insight. Thus, Fair Havens, a temporary sanctuary from immediate peril, ironically leads to greater danger as it becomes the point of departure for an even more catastrophic segment of the journey. The presence of Lasea, a less significant city, anchors the account in historical authenticity. This seemingly mundane verse establishes the geographical stage and foreshadows the impending storm, serving as a reminder that temporary safety can lead to greater danger if divine guidance is ignored.