Cnidus

Cnidus in the Bible

Acts 27:7-13 Cnidus

Acts 27:14-21 Euroclydon

ACTS 27:7 7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.

Where is "Cnidus" (Acts 27:7)?
Cnidus was a port at the southwestern tip of modern day Turkey, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of "Myra" (Acts 27:5). While that distance could have been sailed in two days with favorable winds, the ship took "many days" (Acts 27:7) to get to Cnidus because of a headwind.

ACTS 27:8 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

What happened at Cnidus?
"The wind not permitting" (Acts 27:7) any westward progress, they sailed southwest from Cnidus to the island of "Crete" (Acts 27:7), passed south of its eastern tip Cape "Salmone" (Acts 27:7) "with difficulty" (Acts 27:8), and then sailed along Crete's south coast until they reached a "place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea" (Acts 27:8).

ACTS 27:9-12 9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

Why didn't they want to stay in "Fair Havens" (Acts 27:8)?
"Its harbor was not suitable to winter in" (Acts 27:12).

Why didn't they wait a bit?
They already had: "much time had been spent" (Acts 27:9).

What types of advices were provided to "the centurion" (Acts 27:11)?
"The majority advised to set sail" (Acts 27:12), as did "the helmsman and the owner of the ship" (Acts 27:11), who obviously had seafaring experience. Only Paul, a man of God, warned that "this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives" (Acts 27:10).

When confronted with a dilemma and the word of God contradicts the majority opinion, which do you heed?

ACTS 27:13 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

Did they "put out to sea" (Acts 27:13) to try to reach Italy?
No, they just wanted to inch 50 miles (80 kilometers) west along Crete's south coast to "reach Phoenix" (Acts 27:12), whose harbor would better protect the ship against winter gales.