the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Tyndale New Testament
Acts 27:8
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Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
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. Acts 27:8
Reciprocal: Acts 27:12 - the haven
Cross-References
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And hardly passing it,.... 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 c in Eubaea, and by Herodotus d in Sicily; but by Stephanus e 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 f Lisson, and by Ptolomy g Lyssus, which he places on the south side of the island; and by Pliny h 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 called Lasia over against Troezenium, and another that was one of the Cyclades; the Syriac version here read, "Lasia": Jerom i says, Lasea is a city on the shore of the island of Crete, near the place which is called the Fair Havens, as Luke himself explains it; for which some corruptly read "Thalassa"; as do the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; and the Alexandrian copy "Alassa": Beza conjectures that it is the same with Eloea, which Pliny makes mention of in the above cited place, as a city in Crete.
c De ordis Situ. l. 3. c. 15. d L. 6. c. 22. e De urbibus. f Polyhist. c. 16. g Ib. l. 3. c. 17. h L. 4. c. 12. i De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. D.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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,” but the city of Lasea seems to have been well known, and it is mentioned here to identify the place.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 27:8. The Fair Havens — This port still remains, and is known by the same name; it was situated towards the northern extremity of the island.
Was the city of Lasea. — There is no city of this name now remaining: the Codex Alexandrinus reads αλασσα, Alassa; probably Lysia, near the port of Gortyna, to the eastward.