Strong’s Greek 4330 conveys the idea of permitting or enabling approach. In Acts 27:7 the term is negated (“the wind did not allow us to proceed”), describing an external force that prevented a desired advance.

Historical Background: Maritime Travel in the First Century

• Mediterranean navigation depended on seasonal winds and coastal sailing.
• Ships hugged shorelines whenever possible; open-sea crossings were timed to predictable weather.
• Adverse winds not only slowed progress but also exposed vessels to hazards such as shoals, reefs, and pirates.
• Roman grain ships—like the Alexandrian vessel Paul boarded—could exceed 140 feet in length and required favorable winds to maneuver.

The single New Testament use of 4330 captures this maritime reality: even the largest merchantmen were ultimately at the mercy of wind patterns ordained by God (Psalm 107:25).

Context in Acts 27

1. Voyage Stage: After leaving Myra in Lycia, the crew labored “for many days” against unfavorable conditions until they reached the lee of Cnidus.
2. Critical Moment: “the wind did not allow us to proceed” (Acts 27:7). The thwarted attempt forced a change of course southward under Crete.
3. Providential Outcome: This detour set the stage for Paul’s later address of comfort (Acts 27:21-26) and God’s assurance that all aboard would be spared.

Luke’s nautical precision heightens the historical reliability of Acts while underscoring divine sovereignty; seemingly minor delays become pivotal for the fulfillment of God’s purposes (Acts 23:11).

Spiritual Themes and Applications

• Divine Restraint: The Lord sometimes restricts human plans—whether by weather (Acts 27:7), government decree (Acts 16:6-7), or personal circumstance—to align events with His redemptive agenda.
• Perseverance in Ministry: Paul accepted the delay without complaint, modeling patient trust. His eventual arrival in Rome illustrates that God’s timing prevails over natural opposition.
• Guidance through Obstacles: The redirection under Crete led to the haven of Fair Havens, where Paul’s prophetic counsel was first ignored but later vindicated. Believers learn to read obstacles as prompts to seek the Lord’s wisdom rather than as mere frustrations.

Related Biblical Concepts

• “Hindered” journeys (1 Thessalonians 2:18) show spiritual opposition parallel to natural impediments.
• Jesus calming the wind (Mark 4:39) reveals His authority over the same elemental forces that halted Paul’s ship.
• The Old Testament motif of God “closing” and “opening” paths (Exodus 14:21-22; Isaiah 43:16) frames Acts 27 within a broader canonical witness to divine control of creation.

Legacy in Christian Teaching

Early church fathers cited Acts 27 to encourage trust amid persecution; medieval sermons used the passage to illustrate the church as a ship steered by Christ; modern missionaries draw comfort from the promise that delays cannot thwart the gospel’s advance (Philippians 1:12-13).

Strong’s 4330 therefore enriches our understanding of how a single participle—recording an uncooperative wind—communicates both historical accuracy and abiding theological truth: God governs the elements and human affairs so that His servants reach their appointed destination.