Acts 27:13
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
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 {r} 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.
{r} Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 12.