euroclydon Summary and Overview

south-east billow, the name of the wind which blew in the Adriatic Gulf, and which struck the ship in which Paul was wrecked on the coast of Malta (Acts 27:14; R.V., "Euraquilo," i.e., NE wind). It is called a "tempestuous wind," i.e., as literally rendered, a "typhonic wind," or a typhoon. It is the modern Gregalia or Levanter. (Compare Jonah 1:4.)

(a violent agitation), a tempestuous wind or hurricane, cyclone, on the Mediterranean, and very dangerous; now called a "levanter." This wind seized the ship in which St. Paul was ultimately wrecked on the coast of Malta. It came down from the island and therefore must have blown more or less from the northward. #Ac 27:14|

EUROC'LYDON . Acts 27:14. A very tempestuous wind on the Mediterranean; now known under the name of a "Levanter." It blows from all points, and its danger results from its violence and the uncertainty of its course.

Acts 27:14. The Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Alexandrinus manuscripts read Euraquilon, i.e. the E.N.E. wind, just the wind best suited to the facts. It came down from the island of Crete, S. of which Paul was sailing. It was "typhoon like" (tufonikos, KJV "tempestuous"), such gales in the Levant being often accompanied by terrific squalls from the mountains. The "S. wind" (Acts 27:13) too is the one that often changes suddenly to a violent N. wind. The long continuance of the gale ("the fourteenth night," Acts 27:27), the beclouding of sun and stars for days (Acts 27:20), and the heavy "rain" after the storm (Acts 28:2), are characteristic of this wind in the Mediterranean in the present day. The vessel being driven from the coast to Clauda isle (Acts 27:16), and the fear lest she should be driven S.W. to the African Syrtis (Acts 27:17), favor this reading.