Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They knew not (ouk epeginwskon). Imperfect active of epiginwskw, to recognize. Probably conative, tried to recognize and could not (Conybeare and Howson). The island was well-known (Acts 28:1, epegnwmen), but St. Paul's Bay where the wreck took place was some distance from the main harbour (Valetta) of Melita (Malta).
They perceived (katenooun). Imperfect active of katanoew, gradually perceived after some effort as in Acts 11:16. This beach seemed their only hope.
They took counsel (ebouleuonto). Imperfect middle showing the process of deliberation and doubt. The bay "having a beach" (exonta aigialon) is a phrase found in Xenophon's Anabasis VI. 4, 4.
Whether they could drive (ei dunainto ekswsai). This use of the optative with ei in questions of this sort (implied indirect) is a neat Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1021). B C Bohairic read ekswsai (first aorist active infinitive of ekswzw), to save out (so Westcott and Hort), instead of ecwsai (from ecwqew, to push out, as Textus Receptus).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 27:39:
Acts 7:45
Acts 27:33
Acts 28:1
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