Lexical Summary paralegomai: To speak alongside, to misrepresent, to distort Original Word: παραλέγομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pass, sail by. From para and the middle voice of lego (in its original sense); (specially), to lay one's course near, i.e. Sail past -- pass, sail by. see GREEK para see GREEK lego NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom para and legó Definition to sail past or coast along NASB Translation sailing along (1), sailing past (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3881: παραλέγομαιπαραλέγομαι; (παρελεγομην); (παρά beside, and λέγω to lay); Vulg. in Acts 27:8lego, i. e. to sail past, coast along: τήν Κρήτην, Acts 27:8 (here some, referring αὐτήν, to Σαλμώνην, render work past, weather), 13 (τήν Ἰταλίαν, Diodorus 13, 3; γῆν, 14, 55; (Strabo); Latinlegereoram). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Word in the New TestamentStrong’s Greek 3881 appears only twice in Scripture—Acts 27:8 and Acts 27:13—each time describing a vessel that deliberately keeps close to shore. The setting is Paul’s voyage to Rome, a journey that Luke recounts in vivid nautical detail. In both instances the verb highlights a cautious strategy: rather than launching straight across open sea, the helmsman hugs the coast in hopes of safer travel. This seemingly minor sailing term becomes a narrative thread that reveals God’s providence, human decision-making, and the relentless advance of the gospel. Acts 27 and the Narrative of Providence 1. A Difficult Approach to Fair Havens (Acts 27:8). “Passing along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea”. Paul’s ship struggles against prevailing winds on Crete’s southern shoreline. The verb underscores a laborious, even reluctant, progress. Yet the Lord uses this slow crawl to position Paul at the very spot where he will warn the centurion and crew (Acts 27:9–10). The word therefore frames a moment in which divine counsel is offered—even though it is initially ignored. 2. A Questionable Confidence in Gentle Winds (Acts 27:13). “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained their purpose. So they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete”. The same action of coasting now expresses false security. By clinging to shore under a mild breeze, the sailors convince themselves that the worst is over. Within hours the Euroclydon (a violent northeastern storm) proves their optimism misplaced (Acts 27:14–20). The verb thus bookmarks the crew’s trust in human skill contrasted with the superior foreknowledge of God’s messenger. Maritime Practices in the Roman World Ancient captains preferred shoreline routes whenever wind patterns or the season threatened open-sea navigation. Coastal sailing allowed for visual reference points, ready harbors, and easier course corrections. Luke’s precise nautical vocabulary, including 3881, confirms his accuracy as a maritime historian and eyewitness (cf. “lee of Cyprus,” Acts 27:4). Archaeological findings—such as inscriptions of harbormasters at Lasea and Fair Havens—corroborate the geography implied by the term. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty in Human Choices The decision to coast along Crete appears purely tactical, yet it positions the ship for God’s unfolding plan: a storm, a shipwreck on Malta, and eventual gospel witness before Caesar (Acts 27:24; Acts 28:30–31). The verb therefore illustrates Proverbs 16:9—not quoted in Acts but conceptually present: “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” 2. Discipleship Amidst Adversity Paul remains calm, prayerful, and prophetic while others rely on seamanship. The coastal maneuver that seems prudent at first cannot rescue the ship; deliverance will come only through obedience to the word of God delivered by His servant (Acts 27:31). The verb marks the limits of human effort and the sufficiency of divine promise. 3. Mission that Will Not Be Thwarted By the end of Acts, nothing—neither councils, prisons, nor tempests—can hinder Paul from preaching Christ in Rome. The brief mentions of 3881 contribute to Luke’s overarching theme: “The word of God continued to spread and multiply” (Acts 12:24). Practical Lessons for Ministry Today • Wisdom employs prudent means (hugging the coast) yet never substitutes them for trust in God. Old Testament Echoes While the exact verb is unique to Acts, the motif of navigating dangerous waters parallels Israel’s Red Sea passage (Exodus 14) and Jonah’s storm-tossed voyage (Jonah 1). In each case God rules sea and storm to advance His redemptive purposes. Paul’s experience stands in continuity with these earlier deliverances, reinforcing the biblical pattern of salvation through perilous waters. Christological and Ecclesiological Considerations Paul, an apostle of Christ, embodies the church’s mission amid uncertainty. The vessel clinging to shore hints at the early church’s own transitional phase—moving from Jerusalem’s “coastline” into the vast Gentile world. Yet Christ, the true Captain, ensures arrival at the intended harbor (Hebrews 6:19–20). The two occurrences of 3881 quietly affirm that history’s tides cannot divert the gospel’s course. Summary Strong’s Greek 3881, though rare, serves as more than a maritime aside. Its twin appearances chart a path from cautious coastal maneuvering to catastrophic storm—ultimately spotlighting God’s sovereign guidance, the shortcomings of human self-reliance, and the unstoppable advance of the gospel through Paul’s ministry. Forms and Transliterations παραλεγομενοι παραλεγόμενοι παρελεγοντο παρελέγοντο paralegomenoi paralegómenoi parelegonto parelégontoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 27:8 V-PPM/P-NMPGRK: μόλις τε παραλεγόμενοι αὐτὴν ἤλθομεν NAS: and with difficulty sailing past it we came KJV: And, hardly passing it, came INT: with difficulty and coasting along it we came Acts 27:13 V-IIM/P-3P Strong's Greek 3881 |
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