We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. (Acts 27:7)
I told you I would revert to one map from this point on. However you will see you have two maps once again. I never know what I will find when I come to each day’s Gems. Gems are the fruit of a live Quiet Time on the Internet.
Do you see what I saw after we set sail from Myra? Did you note the discrepancy between the two maps? Prompting me to ask the question, Did they land at Cnidus or not? Page’s map says “Yes!” Rasmussen’s map says “No!” So let’s investigate the versions to see what we find.
Yes they landed at Cnidus
(TLV) Sailing slowly for a number of days, with difficulty we made it to Cnidus. As the wind did not allow us to go further, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone.
At first reading The Living Bible (TLB) suggests they got to Cnidus. But I am not so sure when you read the second part of the verse. You will have to ask Kenneth Taylor what he meant by his use of the subtlety in his translation.
No, they didn’t land at Cnidus
- (ASV) And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;
- (BBE) And when we had gone on slowly for a long time, and had had hard work getting across to Cnidus, for the wind was against us, we went under cover of Crete, in the direction of Salmone;
- (CEV) We sailed along slowly for several days and had a hard time reaching Cnidus. The wind would not let us go any farther in that direction, so we sailed past Cape Salmone, where the island of Crete would protect us from the wind.
- (CJB) For a number of days we made little headway, and we arrived off Cnidus only with difficulty. The wind would not let us continue any farther along the direct route; so we ran down along the sheltered side of Crete from Cape Salmone;
- (ERV) We sailed slowly for many days. It was hard for us to reach the city of Cnidus because the wind was blowing against us. We could not go any farther that way, so we sailed by the south side of the island of Crete near Salmone.
- (ESV) We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.
- (GNB) We sailed slowly for several days and with great difficulty finally arrived off the town of Cnidus. The wind would not let us go any farther in that direction, so we sailed down the sheltered side of the island of Crete, passing by Cape Salmone.
- (GW) We were sailing slowly for a number of days. Our difficulties began along the coast of the city of Cnidus because the wind would not let us go further. So at Cape Salmone, we started to sail for the south side of the island of Crete.
- (ISV) We sailed slowly for a number of days and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus. Then, because the wind was against us, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete off Cape Salome.
- (JUB) And when we had sailed slowly many days and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not allowing us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone,
- (KJV) And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
- (LITV) And in many days, sailing slowly and with difficulty, hardly coming against Cnidus, the wind not allowing us, we sailed close to Crete against Salmone.
- (MKJV) And sailing slowly many days and with difficulty, coming abreast of Cnidus; the wind not allowing us; we sailed close to Crete, across from Salmone.
- (MSG) We ran into bad weather and found it impossible to stay on course. After much difficulty, we finally made it to the southern coast of the island of Crete
- (Murdock) And as it was hard navigating, we had scarcely arrived, after many days, over against the isle of Cnidos. And, because the wind would not allow us to pursue a straight course, we sailed around by Crete, and came opposite the city of Salmone.
- (NLT) We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone.
- (RV) And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;
- (TLB) (7-8) We had several days of rough sailing, and finally neared Cnidus; but the winds had become too strong, so we ran across to Crete, passing the port of Salome. Beating into the wind with great difficulty and moving slowly along the southern coast, we arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
- (TS2009) And having sailed slowly many days, and arriving with difficulty off Knidos, the wind not allowing us to proceed, we sailed close to Crete, off Salmone.
γενόμενοι κατὰ τὴν Κνίδον
{coming ~ reaching} {over against} the Cnidus
It is clear they didn’t reach Cnidus. The Greek construction γενόμενοι κατὰ τὴν Κνίδον means they approached Cnidus, not that they landed there. There is no indication in any translation that they landed there. In which case Rasmussen’s map is correct and Page’s map is wrong.
What was Cnidus?
- Was it a city as most translations suggest?
- Was it a town as suggested by the GNB?
- Was it an island as Murdock suggests?
- Notice that Eugene Peterson in the Message took us straight to Crete.
Clipped from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:
A city of Caria in the Roman province of Asia, past which, Paul sailed. At the Southwest corner of Asia Minor there projects for 90 miles into the sea a long, narrow peninsula, practically dividing the Aegean from the Mediterranean. It now bears the name of Cape Crio. Ships sailing along the southern coast of Asia Minor here turn northward as they round the point. Upon the very end of the peninsula, and also upon a small island off its point was the city of Cnidus. The island which in ancient times was connected with the mainland by a causeway is now joined to it by a sandy bar. Thus were formed two harbors, one of which could be closed by a chain. Though Cnidus was in Caria, it held the rank of a free city. There were Jews here as early as the 2nd century BC.
The nearest modern village is Yazi Keui, 6 miles away. The ruins of Cnidus are unusually interesting, for the entire plan of the city may easily be traced. The sea-walls and piers remain. The acropolis was upon the hill in the western portion of the city; upon the terraces below stood the public buildings, among which were two theaters and the odeum still well preserved. The city was especially noted for its shrine of Venus and for the statue of that goddess by Praxiteles. Here in 1875-78 Sir C. Newton discovered the statue of Demeter, now in the British Museum. The Aphrodite of Cnidus is housed n the South Kensington Museum, one of the loveliest statues in the world.
Sorry we only got one verse covered today. Are you aware that is what happens in the process of translation? Some days it might take all day to deal with the nuance of one verse and what it means and then translators will spend the rest of the day working with the mother tongue speakers of the language to determine how best to translate it accurately into the vernacular language.
You may not always know the details of your journey or clearly see where the trail is leading, but God will always give you enough light to take the next step.
Anon
Pay careful attention to every detail along the journey.
Ian Vail
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
Anon
Suburbia: Where they tear out the trees and then name streets after them.
Anon
We have dental floss for things stuck in our teeth. I wish we had mental floss for things stuck in our brain.
Ian Vail