Luke for landlubbers: The translation and interpretation of ὑποπλέω in Acts 27

Abstract

The nautical term ὑποπλέω is a hapax legomenon used twice in Acts 27 in the context of Paul’s captivity voyage to Rome. This article begins by examining how the word has been translated in verses 4 and 7 in relation to other sailing terms in the chapter. The varying translations, particularly of verse 4, are dependent on the interpretation of the journey’s route. Next the depiction of the journey in some Bible atlases is discussed. The atlases typically show two different routes around Cyprus, again dependent on how ὑποπλέω is interpreted. The voyages of Herod and Lucian in the north-eastern Mediterranean are also examined for interpretative clues. Mediterranean geography, nautical archaeology, and seafaring praxis will also contribute to a suggested translation and interpretation of the word’s uses in this pericope in Acts.