John Gill Commentary Acts 27:13

"And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore." — Acts 27:13 (ASV)

And when the south wind blew softly
Or moderately, which was a good wind for them:

supposing that they, had obtained their purpose ;
that things would succeed according to their wish, and favour their design:

loosing thence ;
from the Fair Havens; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions render it, "loosing from Assos"; which could not be Assos of Troas, mentioned in (Acts 20:13) which was many miles from hence; rather Asum, a town in Crete, of which Pliny ^F18 makes mention, though, according to him, it seems to be an inland town; wherefore it is best to take the word (asson) , to be an adverb, and render it "thence", as we do; or join it with the next word, and render it,

they came near, or they sailed close by Crete ;
along the shore, the wind favouring them, that they were in no danger of being dashed upon it, it being a soft gentle wind.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F18: Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 12.