Acts 27:4 - Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Acts 27:4" mean?
This verse from Acts 27:4 describes the beginning of a difficult sea journey for Paul and his companions as prisoners being transported to Rome. Let's break down what it means:
"Putting to sea from there...": This indicates they were leaving a particular port or harbor. The context of Acts 27 tells us they had departed from Caesarea, a port city on the coast of Judea.
"...we sailed under the lee of Cyprus...": "Lee" refers to the side of an island or landmass that is sheltered from the wind. By sailing along the lee side of Cyprus, they were trying to avoid the full force of the wind. Think of it like sailing in the "shadow" of Cyprus in terms of wind protection.
"...because the winds were contrary.": This is the key explanation. "Contrary winds" mean the winds were blowing against the direction they wanted to go (west towards Rome). Sailing directly into a headwind would have been extremely difficult and slow. So, they sought the shelter of Cyprus to make progress, even if it meant a slightly longer route initially.
In essence, the verse tells us that Paul's ship left Caesarea and, due to unfavorable winds, they sailed along the sheltered side of Cyprus to avoid battling the strong headwind. This suggests they were already experiencing challenging conditions at the very start of their voyage, foreshadowing the major storm they would encounter later in the chapter.
Acts 27:4 - Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
What does "Acts 27:4" mean?
This verse from Acts 27:4 describes the beginning of a difficult sea journey for Paul and his companions as prisoners being transported to Rome. Let's break down what it means:
"Putting to sea from there...": This indicates they were leaving a particular port or harbor. The context of Acts 27 tells us they had departed from Caesarea, a port city on the coast of Judea.
"...we sailed under the lee of Cyprus...": "Lee" refers to the side of an island or landmass that is sheltered from the wind. By sailing along the lee side of Cyprus, they were trying to avoid the full force of the wind. Think of it like sailing in the "shadow" of Cyprus in terms of wind protection.
"...because the winds were contrary.": This is the key explanation. "Contrary winds" mean the winds were blowing against the direction they wanted to go (west towards Rome). Sailing directly into a headwind would have been extremely difficult and slow. So, they sought the shelter of Cyprus to make progress, even if it meant a slightly longer route initially.
In essence, the verse tells us that Paul's ship left Caesarea and, due to unfavorable winds, they sailed along the sheltered side of Cyprus to avoid battling the strong headwind. This suggests they were already experiencing challenging conditions at the very start of their voyage, foreshadowing the major storm they would encounter later in the chapter.