Strong’s Greek 5566 refers to a particular point of the compass that we render “northwest” in English. It appears once in the New Testament and contributes to the vivid, eyewitness quality of Luke’s account of Paul’s voyage to Rome.

Biblical setting: Acts 27

The single occurrence comes in Acts 27:12. Luke records that the harbor of Phoenix in Crete was “facing both southwest and northwest”. The descriptive clause frames the decision of the ship’s officers and crew to leave Fair Havens and attempt to winter in a more sheltered anchorage. The term translated “northwest” (5566) identifies one of the two prevailing directions toward which the harbor opened.

Nautical and geographical background

1. Mediterranean seamanship depended on seasonal winds. From mid-September to mid-March (the “dangerous” period, Acts 27:9) mariners sought harbors whose mouths did not open toward the strongest winter gales.
2. Phoenix was probably modern‐day Loutro, on the south coast of Crete, a curved inlet with a narrow opening between two headlands. Luke, an educated physician, knew enough nautical terminology to specify its orientation. His precision matches classical Greek and Roman sailing manuals that list the eight principal winds (e.g., “Líbas” for southwest, “Chōros/Caurus” for northwest).
3. The ship’s officers judged that a harbor opening northwest and southwest would shield them from northeasterly storms such as the “Northeaster” (Acts 27:14). Ironically, their optimistic assessment was overturned by just such a storm, highlighting the limits of human wisdom versus divine providence.

Luke’s historical reliability

The accurate use of a rare nautical term supports Luke’s credibility:
• Contemporary Greek writers (e.g., Aristotle’s Meteorologica 2.6, Strabo’s Geography 1.3.4) employ the same wind name for the northwest quadrant.
• Archaeology and hydrographic surveys confirm that the inlet at Loutro indeed looks southwest and northwest.

The inspired text thus weaves precise technical detail into the larger narrative, reinforcing confidence in Scripture’s trustworthiness.

Symbolic and theological reflections

• Human calculation vs. God’s sovereignty: The mariners fixated on harbor orientation; Paul listened to the Lord’s messenger (Acts 27:23–25). Their chosen direction could not avert the storm, but obedience to God’s word preserved every life on board (Acts 27:44).
• Providence in ordinary particulars: Even a compass point falls under divine orchestration. The Lord who “appoints the wind” (Jonah 4:8) rules the winds that fill a ship’s sails and the circumstances that carry His servant toward Rome.
• Gospel advance through adversity: The voyage, with its meteorological detail, forms part of Luke’s testimony that nothing—storm, sea, or human decision—can hinder the spread of the gospel to the center of the empire (Acts 23:11; Acts 28:14–31).

Lessons for ministry today

1. Accuracy matters. Luke’s careful observation models diligence for pastors, teachers, and missionaries who communicate the gospel in concrete historical settings.
2. Natural knowledge is valuable but limited. Modern navigation and planning are gifts, yet they must be subordinated to prayerful dependence on God’s leading.
3. God uses crises for witness. Paul’s calm assurance aboard ship sprang from confidence in the Lord’s promise. Believers in every vocation can emulate that poise when circumstances appear to spin out of control.
4. Scripture’s minute details encourage trust. When the Bible proves reliable in a single compass term, it invites us to rely on its message concerning salvation, ethics, and eternity.

Conclusion

Though occurring only once, Strong’s Greek 5566 enriches our understanding of Acts 27 and stands as a small but telling witness to the historical precision and theological depth of the Word of God.