STRONGS NT 2148: ΑὐροκλύδωνΑὐροκλύδων, Ἐυροκλυδωνος, ὁ (from Αὖρος the southeast wind, and κλύδων a wave), a southeast wind raising mighty waves: Acts 27:14 Rec. But respectable authorities read εὐρυκλύδων, preferred by Griesbach, et al., from εὐρύς broad, and κλύδων, a wind causing broad waves (German derBreitspülende, the Wide-washer); Etym. Magn., p. 772, 30 under the word Τυφῶν. "Τυφῶν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τοῦ ἀνέμου σφόδρα πνοή, ὅς καί εὐρυκλύδων καλεῖται." Others εὐρακύλων, which see

The term occurs a single time in the New Testament at Acts 27:14, where Luke narrates the violent storm that drove Paul’s ship off course on his journey to Rome: “But it was not long before a cyclone-like wind called the northeaster, swept down from the island” (Acts 27:14, Berean Standard Bible). The unique mention underscores both the precision of Luke’s historical record and the dramatic setting in which the apostle’s faith was displayed before sailors, soldiers, and fellow prisoners.

Historical and Geographical Background

Ancient mariners dreaded the late-autumn gales that swept the central and eastern Mediterranean. The “northeaster” rushed down from high terrain on Crete, hitting the open sea with sudden, hurricane-force gusts. Roman shipping routes often hugged the Cretan coast to avoid such winds, but Paul’s vessel had ventured into open water after the Fast (Day of Atonement, early October), a time when sailing was notoriously perilous (Acts 27:9). Luke’s nautical accuracy—referencing a named seasonal wind—confirms the historic reliability of Acts and situates the episode in the well-documented hazards of first-century Mediterranean trade.

Meteorological Characteristics

The wind was:
• Directional: driving from the northeast, contrary to the ship’s intended westerly course toward Italy.
• Seasonal: most common in late autumn and winter, when cold continental air masses swept southward.
• Sudden and cyclonic: the Greek adjective in Acts 27:14 conveys the notion of a “typhoon” or whirlwind, echoing modern descriptions of Mediterranean “Medicanes.”

These traits explain why the crew was forced to abandon their plan, undergirding the need for the drastic measures later taken—undergirding the ship, casting cargo overboard, and finally running aground on Malta (Acts 27:16-44).

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty amid Chaos

Luke juxtaposes the fury of nature with the unshakable word of God delivered through Paul: “Take courage, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me” (Acts 27:25). The uncontrollable wind becomes an instrument through which God accomplishes His promise that Paul “must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).

2. Providence in Mission

The storm rerouted Paul to Malta, opening a new field of ministry (Acts 28:1-10). The northeaster, therefore, serves not merely as adversity but as a providential means of expanding the gospel’s reach.

3. Faith Tested and Displayed

As in Jonah 1 and Mark 4:35-41, the tempest provides a stage upon which true faith is distinguished from fear. Paul’s leadership during the crisis exemplifies pastoral courage and godly composure.

Broader Biblical Context of Storms and Winds

• Psalm 107:23-31 portrays sailors who “cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.” Acts 27 embodies the psalm’s pattern of deliverance.
• Jonah 1 shows disobedience answered by a divinely sent storm; Acts 27 shows obedience sustained in a divinely permitted storm, highlighting contrasting lessons on the fear of the LORD.
• In Mark 4:39 Jesus rebukes the wind; in Acts 27:23-25 Christ’s servant speaks peace to men while the storm rages, demonstrating varied modes of divine intervention.

Lessons for Ministry

• Crisis Leadership: Paul models calm, informed guidance rooted in prayer and revelation, instructing modern servants of Christ to lead through adversity with Scripture-shaped confidence.
• Evangelistic Opportunity: Hardship often softens hearts; the sailors who once ignored Paul’s warning (Acts 27:10-11) listened eagerly when survival depended on the word of God (Acts 27:31).
• Endurance: The scene encourages believers to press on when external forces seem overwhelming, trusting the Lord who commands the winds (Nahum 1:3; Matthew 8:27).

Christological Connections

The Lord who promised Paul’s safety is the same who “commands even the winds and the water” (Luke 8:25). The Euroclydon episode thus foreshadows the unstoppable advance of the gospel under the care of the risen Christ, whose authority extends from Galilean squalls to Mediterranean hurricanes.

Conclusion

Strong’s Greek 2148 marks more than an ancient meteorological note; it anchors the believer’s assurance that no force of nature, however fierce, can thwart the redemptive purposes of God. The single scriptural occurrence serves as a vivid reminder that the Maker of the winds guides His servants safely to their appointed destiny.