Lexical Summary aneuthetos: Improper, disorderly, not fitting Original Word: ἀνευθέτως 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 Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and euthetos Definition not well placed NASB Translation suitable (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 428: ἀνεύθετοςἀνεύθετος, 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 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). 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 aneuthétouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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