The Greek word paralégomai, represented by G3881, is a specific nautical term meaning to sail past or pass. Its base definition is to lay one's course near something, and it appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Both occurrences are found in the book of Acts, detailing a ship's movement along a coastline during a voyage.
In the biblical narrative, G3881 is used exclusively to describe stages of the difficult sea journey carrying the Apostle Paul toward Rome. The word first appears when the ship, with great effort, is "hardly passing" the coast before it came G2064 to a place called The fair havens G2568 Acts 27:8. Later in the same chapter, after a soft south wind G3558 created favorable conditions, the crew made another attempt, and they "sailed close by" the island of Crete G2914 Acts 27:13. In both cases, the word marks a critical moment of navigation in a perilous journey.
Several related words from the surrounding text provide a richer context for the act of sailing past:
- G2914 Krḗtē (Crete): The specific island being sailed past in one of the occurrences Acts 27:13. It is defined as "Crete, an island in the Mediterranean" and serves as a key geographical marker in the narrative. Paul had previously left Titus there to set the church in order Titus 1:5.
- G3040 limḗn (haven): This word for a harbor represents the immediate goal of the ship's navigation. The crew sought a suitable haven to winter in Acts 27:12, leading them to the place named The fair havens Acts 27:8.
- G142 aírō (to lift up; to take up or away; to sail away): This verb describes the action that initiates the voyage. In Acts 27:13, the crew is "loosing" anchor, or sailing away, before they begin to sail past Crete. The word is also used figuratively, as when John the Baptist declares Jesus is the one who taketh away the sin of the world John 1:29.
- G3433 mólis (hardly): This adverb, meaning "with difficulty," modifies the act of passing in Acts 27:8. It emphasizes the struggle and exertion required for the ship to make progress, highlighting the perilous nature of the journey.
While G3881 is a technical term, its context within the narrative reveals deeper themes.
- Human Purpose vs. Divine Sovereignty: The sailors acted on their own perceived purpose G4286, supposing G1380 that the conditions were right to set their course Acts 27:13. This human intention unfolds within the framework of God's overarching purpose, which calls His people according to His plan Romans 8:28.
- The Difficult Journey: The act of passing is explicitly described as being done hardly G3433, or with much work Acts 27:8. This physical struggle on the sea can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of faith, where the righteous are scarcely saved 1 Peter 4:18, illustrating that the path is not always easy.
- Fallible Perception: The crew's decision to sail was based on the perception that the south wind "blew softly" G5285, leading them to think G1380 they had obtained their goal Acts 27:13. This reliance on what seems to be true is a recurring theme, with scripture warning against a faith that only seemeth to be religious James 1:26.
In summary, G3881 paralégomai is a precise verb used to describe the act of sailing past a coast. Its biblical usage is confined to the account of Paul's voyage to Rome. Although not an inherently theological term, its context highlights significant spiritual truths about the relationship between human plans and God's ultimate sovereignty, the challenging nature of the believer's journey, and the wisdom of trusting God over fallible human perception.
TRV