Occurrence

• Acts 27:16 – “Running along the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to secure the lifeboat.” (Berean Standard Bible)

This is the sole New Testament appearance of the word, rendered “small island” (νησίον).

Geographical and Historical Setting

The “small island” lies south-west of Crete and is known in classical sources as Cauda (modern Gávdos or Gaudos). Situated roughly 40 km off Crete’s southern coast, it provided a temporary wind-break for vessels navigating the notoriously treacherous Gulf of Libya. First-century mariners valued even a minor isle as a strategic haven when caught in a sudden northerly gale. Luke’s notation corresponds exactly to known nautical routes and prevailing autumn winds, reinforcing both the historicity and the first-hand character of his narrative.

Luke’s Nautical Detail

Luke’s record of Paul’s voyage (Acts 27) is studded with technical sailing terms—“lee,” “undergirding the ship,” “Syrtis,” “soundings”—that match Mediterranean practice. The diminutive νησίον enhances this precision. Observers such as James Smith (The Voyage and Shipwreck of Saint Paul) and modern naval historians have affirmed that only an eye-witness or a professional sailor could supply such minute accuracy. Consequently, the single use of νησίον functions as subtle corroboration of Luke’s reliability, upholding Scripture’s inerrancy in historical matters.

Providence and Protection in Maritime Peril

Acts 27 traces a progression from human vulnerability to divine preservation. The ship, battered by storm, drifts under Crete’s lee; the tiny island becomes God’s first visible provision, enabling the crew to haul in the dinghy before it is lost. In a narrative that culminates with every soul saved (Acts 27:44), the μικρὸν νῆσον (little island) illustrates that what seems insignificant may be crucial in God’s larger rescue. Earlier Scripture rehearses similar patterns: Moses placed in a “papyrus basket” (Exodus 2:3), Elijah fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4), Jesus multiplying “five loaves and two fish” (Matthew 14:17). The consistent theme is that God uses small means to accomplish great deliverance—an echo embedded in the use of νησίον.

Ministry Applications

1. Trust amid Storms: Believers facing opposition or uncertainty can remember that the Lord often provides “Caudas”—small, timely protections that are easily overlooked yet indispensable.
2. Attention to Detail: Luke’s microscopic care for facts models responsible proclamation of the gospel. Teachers and missionaries are encouraged to ground testimony in verifiable reality, confident that truth invites scrutiny.
3. Servant-Leadership: Paul’s steady counsel to shipmates (Acts 27:21-26) demonstrates pastoral presence in crisis. Ministry sometimes means pointing frightened people to the “small islands” of God’s provision already at hand.

Intertextual Echoes and Theological Reflection

While νησίον appears only here, the motif of an island as a place of refuge features elsewhere in Scripture. Isaiah 42:4 speaks of “the coasts and islands” waiting for Messiah’s law, anticipating the gospel’s reach beyond the mainland of Israel. By the end of Acts, that prophetic hope materializes: Paul brings the message even to Rome, the center of the Gentile world. Thus the diminutive island in Acts 27 serves as a geographic waypoint in God’s unstoppable mission.

Contribution to Biblical Reliability

The precise naming of an obscure isle, coupled with correct maritime procedure, resists the notion that Acts is late fiction or theological romance. Instead, it reflects the genre of trustworthy historical narrative. From a doctrinal standpoint, the Spirit’s inspiration extends to geographical minutiae, underscoring that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Summary

Strong’s Greek 3519 (νησίον) denotes a small island, appearing once in Acts 27:16. Though minor in frequency, its occurrence powerfully reinforces Luke’s accuracy, illustrates divine providence amid danger, offers enduring ministry lessons, and contributes to the overarching biblical theme that God shepherds His servants to their appointed destiny—sometimes by means as humble as a little island in a storm-tossed sea.