The Meaning of Acts 27:5 Explained

Acts 27:5

KJV: And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

YLT: and having sailed over the sea over-against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myria of Lycia,

Darby: And having sailed over the waters of Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia:

ASV: And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when we had sailed over  the sea  of  Cilicia  and  Pamphylia,  we came  to  Myra,  [a city] of Lycia. 

What does Acts 27:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 27:1-13 - On A Dangerous Voyage
The we indicates that the good physician, Luke, had rejoined the party. Separated from Paul by the Apostle's imprisonment, he now accompanied him on the ship to Rome. The centurion was indulgently disposed toward Paul. He may have been one of the brilliant crowd who had listened to Paul's last address. It was a most merciful Providence that placed the Apostle with such a man. He showed exceptional kindness in releasing Paul on parole at Sidon, that he might visit his friends, and, no doubt, provide himself with necessaries against the stormy and hazardous winter voyage.
The travelers were fortunate enough to find at Myra a large vessel carrying wheat from Egypt to Rome. There was room for the centurion, his soldiers, and prisoners, as well as such others as chose to accompany them. It was toward the close of September, and perhaps at Fair Havens the Apostle and any Jewish Christians on board may have observed the great Day of Atonement, the one fast of the Jewish calendar. The season for navigation with sailing vessels was drawing to a close, and Paul counseled delay, but his words were unheeded. The man who knew God was wiser than the men who knew the sea. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 27

1  Paul shipping toward Rome,
10  foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11  but is not believed
14  They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41  and suffer shipwreck;
44  yet all come safe to land

Greek Commentary for Acts 27:5

When we had sailed across [διαπλευσαντες]
First aorist active participle of διαπλεω — diapleō (another compound of πλεω — pleō). [source]
The sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia [το πελαγος το κατα την Κιλικιαν και Παμπυλιαν]
Πελαγος — Pelagos is properly the high sea as here. In Matthew 18:6 (which see) Jesus uses it of “the depth of the sea.” Only these examples in the N.T. The current runs westward along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia and the land would protect from the wind. We came to Myra of Lycia (κατηλταμεν εις Μυρρα της Λυκιας — katēlthamen eis Murra tēs Lukias). Literally, “We came down.” This town was two and a half miles from the coast of Lycia. The port Andriace had a fine harbour and did a large grain business. No disciples are mentioned here nor at Lasea, Melita, Syracuse, Rhegium. [source]
We came to Myra of Lycia [κατηλταμεν εις Μυρρα της Λυκιας]
Literally, “We came down.” This town was two and a half miles from the coast of Lycia. The port Andriace had a fine harbour and did a large grain business. No disciples are mentioned here nor at Lasea, Melita, Syracuse, Rhegium. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 27:5 mean?

- And then - along - Cilicia and Pamphylia having sailed across [the sea] we came to Myra - of Lycia
τό τε πέλαγος τὸ κατὰ τὴν Κιλικίαν καὶ Παμφυλίαν διαπλεύσαντες κατήλθομεν εἰς Μύρα τῆς Λυκίας

τό  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κατὰ  along 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κιλικίαν  Cilicia 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Κιλικία 
Sense: a maritime province in the southeast of Asia Minor, boarding on Pamphylia in the west, Lycaonia and Cappadocia in the north and Syria in the east.
Παμφυλίαν  Pamphylia 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Παμφυλία  
Sense: a province in Asia Minor, bounded on the east by Cilicia, on the west by Lycia and Phrygia Minor, on the north by Galatia and Cappadocia, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea.
διαπλεύσαντες  having  sailed  across  [the  sea] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: διαπλέω  
Sense: to sail across.
κατήλθομεν  we  came 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: κατέρχομαι  
Sense: to come down, go down.
Μύρα  Myra 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: Μύρα 
Sense: an important town in Lycia, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor, on the river Andriacus, 2.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Λυκίας  of  Lycia 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: Λυκία  
Sense: a mountainous region in Asia Minor, bounded by Pamphylia, Phrygia, Caria, and the Mediterranean Sea.