Acts 27:14

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. Acts 27:14

More literally, the words read, “And not long after, a typhonic wind cast against it, called Euroclydon” (CG).

In the last verse, it said, “And Auster, having wafted, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having hoisted they laid beside near Crete.” With that, complicated words are penned by Luke, beginning with, “And not long after.”

There was a fair wind from the south wafting along bringing the men satisfaction that the decision to leave Fair Havens was a good one. They were sailing along the coast of Crete and moving in the right direction. However, it next says, “a typhonic wind cast against it.”

The Greek word, found only here in the Bible, is tuphónikos, a typhonic wind. It is etymologically connected to our modern word typhoon, but being an adjective, it doesn’t name but rather describes the wind. The word comes from the noun tuphón, a hurricane or typhoon. Typhoon is the designation used today for those hurricanes that arise in the western Pacific.

These words are derived from the same root as tuphó, smoky, found in Matthew 12:20. One can think of the ocean spray being stirred up and giving it an appearance that is clouded or smoky.

This raging wind is described as having been cast against it. The question is, “Cast against what?” Ellicott notes -

“The Greek pronoun is in the feminine, and as the noun used for ship is, throughout the narrative, in the neuter, the difference of gender presents a difficulty. Grammatically the pronoun seems to refer to Crete, and if referred to it, the sentence admits of three possible constructions: (1) the wind drove us against Crete; or (2), blew against Crete; or (3), drove down on us from Crete.”

The first two go against what is later recorded, and so it is most likely speaking of the winds driving against Crete and blowing them off the shore, Crete being a feminine noun and the nearest antecedent. The wind that arose was so strong that it cast against Crete causing a swirling, typhonic action that literally blew the ship away from the coast they had been clinging to as they drove the ship towards Phoenix.

Understanding this, the verse finishes with the name of this type of wind. Luke said it is “called Euroclydon.”

This last word is variously rendered in manuscripts. Some say Euroclydon while others say Euroquilo. From there, translators use one designation or another, or they simply translate it as a Northeaster and avoid the trouble.

Which word is correct is argued. It appears nowhere else in the Bible. If Euroclydon is correct, then it may come from euros, wind, and kludon, wave. As such, it signifies a storm where winds just whip around forming battering waves, like a hurricane.

If Euraquilo is right, it might mean “...between Eurus, ‘the E. S. E. wind,’ and Aquilo, ‘the north-wind, or, strictly, N. 1/3 E. Hence, E. N. E.’” (Vincent’s Word Studies).

No matter what, the storm was a raging one and it bore down on the ship so tempestuously that it drove it away from Crete and into the open sea.

Life application: Studying the etymology of words is fun and increases one’s knowledge of how languages develop and express themselves. Be sure to take time to look into this aspect of God’s revealed word!

Lord God, thank You for the pages of Scripture that reveal so much to us about the life and events of those who have gone before us, expending their time and energy with the intent of spreading the message of Jesus and the good news of His gospel. May we follow suit and be willing to set out with the aim and intent of telling others about it as well. Praises to You, O God, for this wonderful chance to be a part of the redemptive narrative as it continues to unfold! Amen.