Ark of the Covenant - Bible History Online
Bible History

Naves Topical Bible Dictionary

quicksands Summary and Overview

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quicksands in Easton's Bible Dictionary

found only in Acts 27:17, the rendering of the Greek Syrtis. On the north coast of Africa were two localities dangerous to sailors, called the Greater and Lesser Syrtis. The former of these is probably here meant. It lies between Tripoli and Barca, and near Cyrene. The Lesser Syrtis lay farther to the west.

quicksands in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The Syrtis, in the sea off the N. African coast between Carthage and Cyrene. (See CLAUDA; EUROCLYDON; MELITA; PAUL.) Acts 27:17, for "strake sail" (which would have hurried them into the danger), translated "they lowered the gear" (chalasantes to skeuos), i.e., afraid of falling into the Syrtis with the storm from the N.E., they took down the higher sail and kept only the storm sail set, turning the ship's head off shore and standing on as best they could. There were two Syrtes; the eastern one the gulf of Sidra, the western one, smaller, the gulf of Cabes.