Phoenix — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Harbor town on the southern coast of Crete, where Paul and his shipmates hoped to spend the winter during their voyage to Rome (Acts 27:12, KJB “Phenice”). Phoenix was situated west of Fair Havens near the island of Cauda. Against Paul’s better judgment, the ship was ordered to leave the bay of Fair Havens and sail westward to Phoenix. While en route to this harbor town, the ship was struck by a powerful gale from the northeast. This wind drove the ship southwest past the island of Cauda and threatened to push it across the Mediterranean Sea into the treacherous north African shoals of Syrtis Major (vv 9-17).

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:12

OET-RV ACT 27:12

12 They realised that this harbour wasn’t suitable to winter in, so the majority suggested leaving there with the expectation of being able to get to Kraitai to winter in the harbour at Foinix (which was open to both the southwest and the northwest).

OET-LV ACT 27:12

12 And the harbour being unsuitable to winter, the more presented a_counsel to _be _launched from _there, if somehow they _might _be _able, having _arrived at Foinix, to _winter a_harbour of_ the _Kraʸtaʸ, looking to the_southwest and to the_northwest.

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:9–17

OET-RV ACT 27:9

9 A lot of time had now elapsed and the voyage was starting to become dangerous because we were already heading into winter. Paulos advised those in charge,

OET-RV ACT 27:10

10 telling them, “Men, I perceive that we’re going to encounter a lot of damage on this voyage, with loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also our lives.”

OET-RV ACT 27:11

11 But the centurion was persuaded by the ship owner and the captain, rather than by what Paulos had said.

OET-RV ACT 27:12

OET-RV ACT 27:13

13 When a south wind started blowing gently, they thought they could make it, so they pulled in the anchor and sailed along close to Kraitai (Crete).

OET-RV ACT 27:14

14 However, a short while later the wind turned to a violent north-easter which forced us out to sea.

OET-RV ACT 27:15

15 The ship was driven by the wind and unable to tack to face into it, so the sailors gave up and just let it be driven.

OET-RV ACT 27:16

16 As we passed a small island called Klaudai, we got a brief break and were able to resecure the lifeboat

OET-RV ACT 27:17

17 and then bring it up on board. Then ropes were used to wrap around the ship in case it were to run aground into the shallows at Surtis and the gear was lowered, allowing the wind to drive the ship along.

OET-LV ACT 27:9

9 And much time having _elapsed, and the voyage already being dangerous, because _of that even the fasting already to _have _passed _by, the Paulos was _advising them

OET-LV ACT 27:10

10 saying to _them:
Men, I _am _perceiving that the voyage to _be _going going _to _be with damage and much loss, not only of _the cargo and to _the ship, but also the lives of _us.

OET-LV ACT 27:11

11 But the centurion was _being _persuaded by _the captain and the ship _owner rather, than by _the things being _spoken by Paulos.

OET-LV ACT 27:12

OET-LV ACT 27:13

13 And of_a_south _wind having _blown _gently, having _supposed of _the purpose to _have _taken _hold, having _taken _up they _were _sailing _along nearer the Kraʸtaʸ.

OET-LV ACT 27:14

14 But after not much time, a_ typhoon _wind, which being _called the_Eurokludōn throw down.
from _it.

OET-LV ACT 27:15

15 And the ship having _been _seized, and not being _able to _be _facing to _the wind, having _given _up we _were _being _driven _along.

OET-LV ACT 27:16

16 And having _run _under a_certain island being _called Klaudaʸ, we _were _able with _difficulty to _become control of _the lifeboat,

OET-LV ACT 27:17

17 which having _taken _up, they _were _resorting to _helps, undergirding the ship.
And fearing lest they _may _run _aground into the shallows _of Surtis, having _lowered the gear, thus they _were _being _driven _along.

Jump to OET ACT 27:12 section.

Jump to OET ACT 27:9–17 section.

Luke’s description of Phoenix as facing northwest and southwest (Acts 27:12) suggests that this place was the same as the modern Phoinika, a town on the western edge of Cape Mouros. In antiquity, this deep harbor was apparently accessible to ships and afforded protection from the winter winds. The name Phoenix is retained in Phoinika.