Original Word: ἐπιγίνομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: epiginomai
Pronunciation: eh-pee-GHEE-no-my
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ig-in'-om-ahee)
KJV: blow
NASB: sprang
Word Origin: [from G1909 (ἐπί - over) and G1096 (γίνομαι - become)]

1. to arrive upon, i.e. spring up (as a wind)

come to pass, spring up

From epi and ginomai; to arrive upon, i.e. Spring up (as a wind) -- blow.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK ginomai

Word Origin
from epi and ginomai
Definition
to come on, arrive
NASB Translation
sprang (1).

STRONGS NT 1920: ἐπιγίνομαι

ἐπιγίνομαι: 2 aorist ἐπεγενομην;

1. to become or happen afterward; to be born after.

2. to come to, arrive: of time, τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ νύξ ἐπεγενετο, Acts 27:27 L (stereotyped edition), T (editions 2, 7); (ἔαρος ἐπιγίγνεται ὤρη, Homer, Iliad 6,148).

3. to arise, spring up, come on: ἐπιγενομένου νότου, a south wind having sprung up, Acts 28:13; (Thucydides 3, 74; 4, 30).

Etymological and Semantic Overview

The verb ἐπιγίνομαι conveys the idea of something arising or occurring in addition to what is already taking place. It pictures a new circumstance that “comes upon” an existing situation, adding an unexpected or fresh dynamic to the narrative.

Biblical Occurrence and Narrative Setting

Acts 28:13 is the sole New Testament occurrence. After surviving shipwreck on Malta, Paul’s company “put out to sea and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and the next day we reached Puteoli”. The verb describes the coming of the south wind—an event sudden enough to be noticed, providential enough to be decisive, and brief enough to keep the itinerary moving toward Rome.

Historical and Cultural Background

1. Maritime Travel in the First Century: Sailing from Malta to Puteoli involved navigating the Straits of Messina, notorious for shifting currents and winds. Mariners typically waited for favorable southerlies before attempting the open Tyrrhenian Sea.
2. Seasonal Constraints: Acts locates the voyage after the Fast (Acts 27:9), corresponding to early October. Winter sailing was perilous; thus, a timely wind was critical for safe passage.
3. Strategic Ports: Rhegium (modern Reggio di Calabria) offered shelter while crews awaited appropriate winds. Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) was the principal port of Rome’s grain fleet, facilitating swift overland travel to the capital along the Via Appia.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Providence: The sudden, favorable wind embodies God’s sovereign orchestration. What sailors interpreted as meteorological fortune Luke records as an act of God ensuring the fulfillment of His word that Paul would “stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).
2. Missionary Momentum: Each shift in the voyage narrative underscores the unstoppable advance of the gospel. Even as a prisoner, Paul continues his forward progress, illustrating that ministry cannot be chained (compare 2 Timothy 2:9).
3. Creation’s Servanthood: Scripture consistently portrays natural forces as instruments in God’s hand— whether the east wind at the Exodus (Exodus 14:21), the great wind sent upon Jonah (Jonah 1:4), or the south wind here assisting Paul. The elements serve redemptive purposes.

Echoes in the Wider Canon

While ἐπιγίνομαι itself is unique to Acts 28:13, its concept aligns with other “God-arranged moments” where an external occurrence redirects events:
• “A great tempest arose on the sea” (Matthew 8:24) revealing Christ’s authority.
• “A vision appeared to Paul in the night” (Acts 16:9) redirecting the mission to Macedonia.

Each instance showcases a divinely timed intervention that both progresses salvation history and strengthens faith.

Ministry Implications

1. Readiness for Divine Opportunities: Like the sailors at Rhegium, believers must remain prepared to move when God “brings about” the next step. Ministry often turns on swiftly changing circumstances under God’s control.
2. Confidence in Transit: Christians engaged in gospel work can trust that unforeseen developments—be they winds, rulings, or encounters—are overseen by the same Lord who ordered Paul’s path to Rome.
3. Stewardship of Time: The one-day pause at Rhegium reminds ministry leaders to balance patience with prompt action once God provides the opening.

Devotional Reflection

The lone New Testament occurrence of ἐπιγίνομαι is a quiet witness to the God who adds the precise conditions required for His servants to finish their course. When the “south wind” arises in our own service—unexpected resources, timely relationships, sudden clarity of direction—we may echo the gratitude implicit in Luke’s narrative: the Lord has once again intervened so that His purpose might advance unhindered.

επιγενομενου επιγενομένου ἐπιγενομένου epigenomenou epigenoménouInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts