Place New Testament
Syrtis
Also known as Syrtis =ESV, NIV; quicksands =KJV
Syrtis, a dangerous area of shallow waters off the coast of Libya, feared by sailors (Act.27.17). Mentioned once in Scripture, at Acts 27:17.
Why it matters. Dangerous shallow waters off the coast of Libya
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.767, 18.506 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Syrtis
Syrtis is mentioned in Act.27.17 as a dangerous area of shallow waters that sailors feared. As the ship carrying Paul to Rome was caught in a storm, the crew took measures to avoid being driven into the Syrtis. The Syrtis, also known as the Gulf of Sirte, is located off the coast of modern-day Libya in North Africa. It was notorious in ancient times for its shifting sand bars and treacherous currents, which could easily trap and wreck ships. The mention of Syrtis in the context of Paul's journey to Rome highlights the perils faced by sailors in the Mediterranean Sea during that time.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
Acts (1 verse)