SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:39
Cuando se hizo de día, no conocían la tierra; pero veían un golfo que tenía orilla, al cual acordaron echar, si pudiesen, la nave.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 27:39
Verse 39. They knew not the land] And therefore knew neither the nature of the coast, nor where the proper port lay. A-creek with a shore] kolpon, Sinum, a bay, with a shore; a neck of land perhaps on either side, running out into the sea, and this little bay or gulf between them; though some think it was a tongue of land, running out into the sea, having the sea on both sides, at the point of which these two seas met, ver. 41. There is such a place as this in the island of Malta, where, tradition says, Paul was shipwrecked; and which is called la Cale de St. Paul. See Calmet.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 39. And when it was day they knew not the land , etc.] What place it was, or the name of it: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore ; a gulf or bay, with a shore near it; the Ethiopic version explains it, an arm of the sea , where was a port, where they thought they could secure themselves, or get ashore: into which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship ; whither they had a mind, and consulted to run the ship, if it could be done by any means, believing it was the most likely method of saving themselves, and that; for notwithstanding the assurance they had that no mans life should be lost, they made use of all proper means for their safety and security.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 39-44 - The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it ha room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixe in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan' temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keep above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hop for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never to be secure. Though there is grea difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, it shall, withou fail, be brought to pass. It will come to pass that whatever the trial and dangers may be, in due time all believers will get safely to heaven. Lord Jesus, thou hast assured us that none of thine shal perish. Thou wilt bring them all safe to the heavenly shore. And what pleasing landing will that be! Thou wilt present them to thy Father and give thy Holy Spirit full possession of them for ever __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οτε 3753 ADV δε 1161 CONJ ημερα 2250 N-NSF εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S την 3588 T-ASF γην 1093 N-ASF ουκ 3756 PRT-N επεγινωσκον 1921 5707 V-IAI-3P κολπον 2859 N-ASM δε 1161 CONJ τινα 5100 X-ASM κατενοουν 2657 5707 V-IAI-3P εχοντα 2192 5723 V-PAP-ASM αιγιαλον 123 N-ASM εις 1519 PREP ον 3739 R-ASM εβουλευσαντο 1011 5662 V-ADI-3P ει 1487 COND δυναιντο 1410 5739 V-PNO-3P εξωσαι 1856 5658 V-AAN το 3588 T-ASN πλοιον 4143 N-ASN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
39. Bay (kolpon). See on bosom, Luke vi. 38.Shore (aigialon). See on Matt. xiii. 2. Better, as Rev., beach.
They were minded (ebouleusanto). Better, as Rev., took counsel. See on Matt. i. 19.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:39 {They knew not} (ouk epeginwskon). Imperfect active of epiginwskw, to recognize. Probably conative, tried to recognize and could not (Conybeare and Howson). The island was well-known (#28:1, epegn"men), but St. Paul's Bay where the wreck took place was some distance from the main harbor (Valetta) of Melita (Malta). {They perceived} (katenooun). Imperfect active of katanoew, gradually perceived after some effort as in #11:16. this beach seemed their only hope. {They took counsel} (ebouleuonto). Imperfect middle showing the process of deliberation and doubt. The bay "having a beach" (econta aigialon) is a phrase found in Xenophon's _Anabasis_ VI. 4, 4. {Whether they could drive} (ei dunainto ekswsai). this use of the optative with ei in questions of this sort (implied indirect) is a neat Greek idiom (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1021). B C Bohairic read ekswsai (first aorist active infinitive of eks"z"), to save out (so Westcott and Hort), instead of exwsai (from exwqew, to push out, as Textus Receptus).
