428. aneuthetos
Lexical Summary
aneuthetos: Improper, disorderly, not fitting

Original Word: ἀνευθέτως
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: aneuthetos
Pronunciation: ah-nev-THEH-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-yoo'-the-tos)
KJV: not commodious
NASB: suitable
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and G2111 (εὔθετος - fit)]

1. not well placed
2. (figuratively) inappropriate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
inconvenient.

From a (as a negative particle) and euthetos; not well set, i.e. Inconvenient -- not commodious.

see GREEK a

see GREEK euthetos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and euthetos
Definition
not well placed
NASB Translation
suitable (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 428: ἀνεύθετος

ἀνεύθετος, ἀνευθετον, not convenient, not commodious, not fit: Acts 27:12. (Unused by Greek writers; (Moschion 53).)

Topical Lexicon
Usage in the New Testament

The adjective surfaces once, at Acts 27:12, where Luke says the harbor at Fair Havens “was unsuitable to winter in”. The single occurrence fixes the word in a technical, nautical sense: a place lacking the shelter, supplies, or orientation required for a vessel to remain safely through the Mediterranean’s violent winter season.

Historical and Geographical Setting

Fair Havens lay on Crete’s south coast near Lasea. Winter winds—predominantly from the northwest—left the anchorage exposed, whereas nearby Phoenix offered a dual-facing inlet affording greater protection. Luke’s details comport with ancient sailing manuals (e.g., Vegetius’ De Re Militari 4.39) and confirm his reputation as a meticulous historian.

Maritime Realities in the First Century

By mid-September captains faced the annual decision: lay up or press on. Harbors labeled ἀνευθέτου lacked
• natural barriers against northerly gales,
• secure mooring and sufficient depth,
• access to provisions for crew and passengers.

Refusal to heed these realities risked disaster, as Paul’s company would soon discover.

Paul’s Voyage and Divine Providence

Paul, already schooled by “three times I was shipwrecked” (2 Corinthians 11:25), warned, “Men, I can see that our voyage will be laden with damage and great loss” (Acts 27:10). His advice was overruled by majority vote—an instance where democracy failed, yet the event magnified God’s sovereignty. The precarious harbor became a stage for Paul’s Spirit-guided leadership; the subsequent storm and deliverance at Malta advanced the Gospel and fulfilled Christ’s promise that Paul “must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).

Ministry and Discipleship Lessons

1. Practical Wisdom: Scripture honors prudence; ignoring it courts avoidable hardship (Proverbs 27:12).
2. Seasons of Waiting: Paul later proposed to “spend the winter” with the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:6) and urged Titus to join him before winter (Titus 3:12). Strategic pauses further mission rather than hinder it.
3. Leadership under Pressure: Paul’s calm authority amid crisis models shepherding unbelievers in life-threatening situations.
4. Ultimate Refuge: Even safe harbors can fail, but the Lord “rebukes the wind and the raging sea” (Luke 8:24), offering unassailable security.

Canonical Connections

Psalm 107:23-30 anticipates Acts 27, celebrating God’s power to bring sailors “to their desired haven.” Luke’s narrative echoes that motif, demonstrating continuity within Scripture’s testimony of divine deliverance. The theme also accords with Jonah’s flight and the calming of the storm in Mark 4:35-41, reinforcing God’s mastery over chaotic seas.

Patristic and Later Reflection

John Chrysostom noted that Fair Havens’ inadequacy mirrors the futility of human counsel apart from divine guidance. Medieval commentators allegorized unsafe harbors as unstable consciences, while Reformers returned to the historical core, underscoring God’s providence amid temporal dangers.

Summary

Ἀνευθέτου, though rare, illuminates the confluence of maritime pragmatism, apostolic mission, and divine oversight. Luke’s employment of the term grounds Acts in real-world conditions while reinforcing a theological message: no harbor is truly safe unless the Lord directs the voyage, and no human decision—however well-intentioned—can thwart His redemptive purpose.

Forms and Transliterations
ανευθετου ανευθέτου ἀνευθέτου aneuthetou aneuthétou
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 27:12 Adj-GMS
GRK: ἀνευθέτου δὲ τοῦ
NAS: Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering,
KJV: was not commodious to
INT: unsuitable moreover the

Strong's Greek 428
1 Occurrence


ἀνευθέτου — 1 Occ.

427
Top of Page
Top of Page