OT-LAW.filter - rwp prow:

rwp@Acts:27:15 @{When the ship was caught} (\sunarpasthentos tou ploiou\). Genitive absolute again with first aorist passive of \sunarpaz\, old word, in N.T. only strkjv@Luke:8:29; strkjv@Acts:6:12; strkjv@19:29|, and here. Graphic picture as if the ship was seized by a great monster. {Face the wind} (\antophthalmein ti anemi\). Dative case with the vivid infinitive of \antophthalme\ from \antophthalmos\, looking in the eye, or eye to eye (\anti\, facing and \opthalmos\, eye). Eyes were painted on the prows of vessels. The ship could not face the wind enough to get to Phoenix. Modern sailors talk of sailing into the eye of the wind. We were not able to look the wind in the eye. _Koin_ verb used by Polybius. Some MSS. have it in strkjv@Acts:6:11|, but only here in N.T. In Wisdom of Sol. strkjv@12:14 it is used of a prince who cannot look God in the face. Clement of Rome 34 uses it of an idle workman not able to look his employer in the face (Milligan and Moulton's _Vocabulary_). {We gave way} (\epidontes\). Second aorist active participle of \epididmi\, giving way to the wind. {Were driven} (\epherometha\). Imperfect passive of \pher\, "we were being borne along." We "scudded before the gale" (Page). "The suddenness of the hurricane gave no time to furl the great mainsail" (Furneaux).

rwp@Acts:27:29 @{Lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground} (\m pou kata tracheis topous ekpesmen\). The usual construction after a verb of fearing (\m\ and the aorist subjunctive \ekpesmen\). Literally, "Lest somewhere (\pou\) we should fall out down against (\kata\) rocky places." The change in the soundings made it a very real fear. \Tracheis\ (rough) is old adjective, but in the N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:3:5| (from strkjv@Isaiah:40:4|). {Four anchors} (\agkuras tessaras\). Old word from \agk\. In N.T. only in this chapter, with \rhipt\ here, with \ektein\ in verse 30|, with \periaire\ in verse 40|; and strkjv@Hebrews:6:19| (figuratively of hope). {From the stern} (\ek prumns\). Old word, but in N.T. only in strkjv@Mark:4:38|; here and 41| in contrast with \prira\ (prow). The usual practice was and is to anchor by the bows. "With a view to running the ship ashore anchoring from the stern would, it is said, be best" (Page). Nelson is quoted as saying that he had been reading strkjv@Acts:27| the morning of the Battle of Copenhagen (April, 1801) where he anchored his ships from the stern. {Wished for the day} (\uchonto\). Imperfect middle, kept on praying for "day to come" (\hmeran genesthai\) before the anchors broke under the strain of the storm or began to drag. If the ship had been anchored from the prow, it would have swung round and snapped the anchors or the stern would have faced the beach.

rwp@Acts:27:30 @{The sailors} (\tn nautn\). Old word from \naus\ (ship), in N.T. only here, verse 30; strkjv@Revelation:18:17|. {Were seeking} (\ztountn\). Genitive absolute again with present active participle of \zte\ to seek. {Had lowered} (\chalasantn\). Aorist active participle of \chalaz\. {Under colour} (\prophasei\). Possibly the same word as "prophecy" (from \pro-phmi\, to speak forth), but here pretence, pretext, although it may come from \prophain\, to show forth. The use here is an old one and appears also in strkjv@Mark:12:40; strkjv@Luke:20:47; strkjv@1Thessalonians:2:5; strkjv@Phillipians:1:18|. {As though} (\hs\). The alleged reason, a common Greek idiom with \hs\ and the participle (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 966). Here with \mellontn\. {From the foreship} (\ek prirs\). Old word for prow of the ship. In the N.T. only here and verse 41|. Note here \ekteinein\ (lay out, stretch out) rather than \rhipsantes\ (casting) in verse 29|, for they pretended to need the small boat to stretch out or lay out the anchors in front.

rwp@Acts:27:41 @{But lighting upon} (\peripesontes de\). Second aorist active participle of \peripipt\, old verb to fall into and so be encompassed by as in strkjv@Luke:10:30; strkjv@James:1:2|. There is a current on one side of St. Paul's Bay between a little island (Salmonetta) and Malta which makes a sand bank between the two currents. Unexpectedly the ship stuck in this sandbar. {Where two seas met} (\dithalasson\). Used in Strabo and Dio Chrysostom for divided seas (\dis, thalassa\). {They ran the vessel aground} (\epekeilan tn naun\). First aorist active indicative of old verb \epikell\, to run a ship ashore. Only here in N.T. Here also we have the only N.T. use of \naus\ for ship (from \na, ne\, to swim) so common in ancient Greek. Our word navy is from this word through the Latin. {Struck} (\ereisasa\). First aorist active participle of \ereid\, old verb to fix firmly. Only here in N.T. {Unmoveable} (\asaleutos\). From \a\ privative and \saleu\ to shake. Old word. In N.T. only here and strkjv@Hebrews:12:28|. {Began to break up} (\elueto\). Inchoative imperfect passive of the old verb \lu\, to loosen. The prow was stuck in the sand-bar, and the stern was breaking to pieces by the opposing waves lashing on both sides. It was a critical moment.

rwp@Acts:28:11 @{Which had wintered} (\parakecheimakoti\). Perfect active participle of \paracheimaz\, to pass the winter. Old verb, in N.T. only strkjv@27:12; strkjv@28:11; strkjv@1Corinthians:16:6; strkjv@Titus:3:12|. The locative case agreeing with \ploii\. Navigation in the Mediterranean usually opened up in February (always by March), spring beginning on Feb. 9 (Page). {Whose sign was the Twin Brothers} (\parasmi Dioskourois\). The word \parasmi\ can be either a substantive (as Revised Version has it) or an adjective "marked by the sign," examples of both uses common in ancient Greek. \Dioskourois\ is in apposition with \parasmi\. The word means the twin sons (\kouros\ or \koros\) of Zeus (\Dios\, genitive of \Zeus\) and Leda, viz., Castor and Pollux. The Attic used the dual, \t Dioskor\. Castor and Pollux were the tutelary deities of sailors whose figures were painted one on each side of the prow of the ship. This sign was the name of the ship. Songs:they start in another grain ship of Alexandria bound for Rome.

rwp@Philippians:1:15 @{Even of envy and strife} (\kai dia phthonon kai erin\). "Even because of" (accusative after \dia\). Surely the lowest of motives for preaching Christ. Envy is an old word and an old sin and strife (\eris\) is more rivalry than schism. It is petty and personal jealousy of Paul's power and prowess by the Judaizers in Rome whom Paul has routed in the east, but who now exult at the opportunity of annoying their great antagonist by their interpretation of Christ. Jealousy is always against those of one's own class or profession as preachers with preachers, doctors with doctors. {Of goodwill} (\di' eudokian\). Because of goodwill toward Paul.