Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Acts » Chapter 27 » Verse 1-44

Acts 27:1-44 King James Version (KJV)

1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.


Acts 27:1-44 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G1161 when G5613 it was determined G2919 that we G2248 should sail G636 into G1519 Italy, G2482 they delivered G3860 G5037 Paul G3972 and G2532 certain G5100 other G2087 prisoners G1202 unto one named G3686 Julius, G2457 a centurion G1543 of Augustus' G4575 band. G4686

2 And G1161 entering G1910 into a ship G4143 of Adramyttium, G98 we launched, G321 meaning G3195 to sail G4126 by G2596 the coasts G5117 of Asia; G773 one Aristarchus, G708 a Macedonian G3110 of Thessalonica, G2331 being G5607 with G4862 us. G2254

3 And G5037 the next G2087 day we touched G2609 at G1519 Sidon. G4605 And G5037 Julius G2457 courteously G5364 entreated G5530 Paul, G3972 and gave him liberty G2010 to go G4198 unto G4314 his friends G5384 to refresh himself. G5177 G1958

4 And G2547 when we had launched G321 from thence, G2547 we sailed under G5284 Cyprus, G2954 because G1223 the winds G417 were G1511 contrary. G1727

5 And G5037 when we had sailed over G1277 the sea G3989 of G2596 Cilicia G2791 and G2532 Pamphylia, G3828 we came G2718 to G1519 Myra, G3460 a city of Lycia. G3073

6 And there G2546 the centurion G1543 found G2147 a ship G4143 of Alexandria G222 sailing G4126 into G1519 Italy; G2482 and he put G1688 us G2248 therein. G1519 G846

7 And G1161 when we had sailed slowly G1020 G1722 many G2425 days, G2250 and G2532 scarce G3433 were come G1096 over against G2596 Cnidus, G2834 the wind G417 not G3361 suffering G4330 us, G2248 we sailed under G5284 Crete, G2914 over against G2596 Salmone; G4534

8 And, G5037 hardly G3433 passing G3881 it, G846 came G2064 unto G1519 a G5100 place G5117 which is called G2564 The fair G2570 havens; G2568 G3040 nigh G1451 whereunto G3739 was G2258 the city G4172 of Lasea. G2996

9 Now G1161 when much G2425 time G5550 was spent, G1230 and G2532 when sailing G4144 was G5607 now G2235 dangerous, G2000 because G1223 the fast G3521 was G3928 now G2532 already G2235 past, G3928 Paul G3972 admonished G3867 them,

10 And said G3004 unto them, G846 Sirs, G435 I perceive G2334 that G3754 this voyage G4144 will be G3195 G1510 with G3326 hurt G5196 and G2532 much G4183 damage, G2209 not G3756 only G3440 of the lading G5414 and G2532 ship, G4143 but G235 also G2532 of our G2257 lives. G5590

11 Nevertheless G1161 the centurion G1543 believed G3982 the master G2942 and G2532 the owner of the ship, G3490 more G3123 than G2228 those things which were spoken G3004 by G5259 Paul. G3972

12 And G1161 because G5225 the haven G3040 was G5225 not commodious G428 to G4314 winter in, G3915 the more part G4119 advised G1012 G5087 to depart G321 thence also, G2547 if G1513 by any means G4458 they might G1410 attain G2658 to G1519 Phenice, G5405 and there to winter; G3914 which is an haven G3040 of Crete, G2914 and lieth G991 toward G2596 the south west G3047 and G2532 G2596 north west. G5566

13 And G1161 when the south wind G3558 blew softly, G5285 supposing G1380 that they had obtained G2902 their purpose, G4286 loosing G142 thence, they sailed G3881 close by G788 Crete. G2914

14 But G1161 not G3756 long G4183 after G3326 there arose G906 against G2596 it G846 a tempestuous G5189 wind, G417 called G2564 Euroclydon. G2148

15 And G1161 when the ship G4143 was caught, G4884 and G2532 could G1410 not G3361 bear up into G503 the wind, G417 we let her drive. G1929 G5342

16 And G1161 running under G5295 a certain G5100 island G3519 which is called G2564 Clauda, G2802 we had G2480 much G3433 work G2480 to come by G4031 G1096 the boat: G4627

17 Which G3739 when they had taken up, G142 they used G5530 helps, G996 undergirding G5269 the ship; G4143 and, G5037 fearing G5399 lest G3361 they should fall G1601 into G1519 the quicksands, G4950 strake G5465 sail, G4632 and so G3779 were driven. G5342

18 And G1161 we G2257 being exceedingly G4971 tossed with a tempest, G5492 the next G1836 day they lightened the ship; G1546 G4160

19 And G2532 the third G5154 day we cast out G4496 with our own hands G849 the tackling G4631 of the ship. G4143

20 And G1161 when neither G3383 sun G2246 nor G3383 stars G798 in G1909 many G4119 days G2250 appeared, G2014 and G5037 no G3756 small G3641 tempest G5494 lay on G1945 us, all G3956 hope G1680 that we G2248 should be saved G4982 was G4014 then G3063 taken away. G4014

21 But G1161 after G5225 long G4183 abstinence G776 G5119 Paul G3972 stood forth G2476 in G1722 the midst G3319 of them, G846 and said, G2036 Sirs, G5599 G435 ye should G1163 G3303 have hearkened G3980 unto me, G3427 and not G3361 have loosed G321 from G575 Crete, G2914 and G5037 to have gained G2770 this G5026 harm G5196 and G2532 loss. G2209

22 And G2532 now G3569 I exhort G3867 you G5209 to be of good cheer: G2114 for G1063 there shall be G2071 no G3762 loss G580 of any man's life G5590 among G1537 you, G5216 but G4133 of the ship. G4143

23 For G1063 there stood by G3936 me G3427 this G5026 night G3571 the angel G32 of God, G2316 whose G3739 I am, G1510 and G2532 whom G3739 I serve, G3000

24 Saying, G3004 Fear G5399 not, G3361 Paul; G3972 thou G4571 must G1163 be brought before G3936 Caesar: G2541 and, G2532 lo, G2400 God G2316 hath given G5483 thee G4671 all G3956 them that sail G4126 with G3326 thee. G4675

25 Wherefore, G1352 sirs, G435 be of good cheer: G2114 for G1063 I believe G4100 God, G2316 that G3754 it G3779 shall be G2071 even G2596 G3739 as G5158 it was told G2980 me. G3427

26 Howbeit G1161 we G2248 must G1163 be cast G1601 upon G1519 a certain G5100 island. G3520

27 But G1161 when G5613 the fourteenth G5065 night G3571 was come, G1096 as we G2257 were driven up and down G1308 in G1722 Adria, G99 about G2596 midnight G3319 G3571 the shipmen G3492 deemed G5282 that they G846 drew near G4317 to some G5100 country; G5561

28 And G2532 sounded, G1001 and found G2147 it twenty G1501 fathoms: G3712 and G1161 when they had gone G1339 a little further, G1024 they sounded G1001 again, G3825 and G2532 found G2147 it fifteen G1178 fathoms. G3712

29 Then G5037 fearing G5399 lest G3381 G4458 we should have fallen G1601 G1601 upon G1519 rocks, G5117 G5138 they cast G4496 four G5064 anchors G45 out of G1537 the stern, G4403 and wished G2172 G1096 for the day. G2250

30 And G1161 as the shipmen G3492 were about G2212 to flee G5343 out of G1537 the ship, G4143 when G2532 they had let down G5465 the boat G4627 into G1519 the sea, G2281 under colour G4392 as though G5613 they would G3195 have cast G1614 anchors G45 out of G1537 the foreship, G4408

31 Paul G3972 said G2036 to the centurion G1543 and G2532 to the soldiers, G4757 Except G3362 these G3778 abide G3306 in G1722 the ship, G4143 ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 be saved. G4982

32 Then G5119 the soldiers G4757 cut off G609 the ropes G4979 of the boat, G4627 and G2532 let G1439 her G846 fall off. G1601

33 And G1161 while G891 G3739 the day G2250 was coming G1096 on, G3195 Paul G3972 besought G3870 them all G537 to take G3335 meat, G5160 saying, G3004 This day G4594 is the fourteenth G5065 day G2250 that ye have tarried G4328 and continued G1300 fasting, G777 having taken G4355 nothing. G3367

34 Wherefore G1352 I pray G3870 you G5209 to take G4355 some meat: G5160 for G1063 this G5124 is G5225 for G4314 your G5212 health: G4991 for G1063 there shall G4098 not G3762 an hair G2359 fall G4098 from G1537 the head G2776 of any G3762 of you. G5216

35 And G1161 when he had thus G5023 spoken, G2036 G2532 he took G2983 bread, G740 and gave thanks G2168 to God G2316 in presence G1799 of them all: G3956 and G2532 when he had broken G2806 it, he began G756 to eat. G2068

36 Then G1161 were G1096 they G846 G1096 all G3956 of good cheer, G2115 and they G4355 also G2532 took G4355 some meat. G5160

37 And G1161 we were G2258 in all G3956 in G1722 the ship G4143 two hundred G1250 threescore G1440 and sixteen G1803 souls. G5590

38 And G1161 when they had eaten G5160 enough, G2880 they lightened G2893 the ship, G4143 and cast out G1544 the wheat G4621 into G1519 the sea. G2281

39 And G1161 when G3753 it was G1096 day, G2250 they knew G1921 not G3756 the land: G1093 but G1161 they discovered G2657 a certain G5100 creek G2859 with G2192 a shore, G123 into G1519 the which G3739 they were minded, G1011 if G1487 it were possible, G1410 to thrust in G1856 the ship. G4143

40 And G2532 when they had taken up G4014 the anchors, G45 they committed G1439 themselves unto G1519 the sea, G2281 and G260 loosed G447 the rudder G4079 bands, G2202 and G2532 hoised up G1869 the mainsail G736 to the wind, G4154 and made G2722 toward G1519 shore. G123

41 And G1161 falling G4045 into G1519 a place G5117 where two seas met, G1337 they ran G2027 the ship G3491 aground; G2027 and G2532 the forepart G4408 G3303 stuck fast, G2043 and remained G3306 unmoveable, G761 but G1161 the hinder part G4403 was broken G3089 with G5259 the violence G970 of the waves. G2949

42 And G1161 the soldiers' G4757 counsel G1012 was G1096 to G2443 kill G615 the prisoners, G1202 lest G3361 any of them G5100 should swim out, G1579 and escape. G1309

43 But G1161 the centurion, G1543 willing G1014 to save G1295 Paul, G3972 kept G2967 them G846 from their purpose; G1013 and G5037 commanded G2753 that they which could G1410 swim G2860 should cast G641 themselves first G4413 into the sea, and get G1826 to G1909 land: G1093

44 And G2532 the rest, G3062 some G3739 G3303 on G1909 boards, G4548 and G1161 some G3739 on G1909 broken pieces of G575 the ship. G4143 G5100 And G2532 so G3779 it came to pass, G1096 that they escaped G1295 all G3956 safe G1295 to G1909 land. G1093


Acts 27:1-44 American Standard (ASV)

1 And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.

4 And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, `a city' of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;

8 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

10 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.

11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter `there; which is' a haven of Crete, looking northeast and south-east.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.

14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:

15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way `to it,' and were driven.

16 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:

17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the `the freight' overboard;

19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.

20 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon `us' for many days, and no small tempest lay on `us,' all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.

21 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but `only' of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,

24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.

26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the `sea of' Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:

28 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.

29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.

40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence `of the waves'.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any `of them' should swim out, and escape.

43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;

44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on `other' things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.


Acts 27:1-44 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And when our sailing to Italy was determined, they were delivering up both Paul and certain others, prisoners, to a centurion, by name Julius, of the band of Sebastus,

2 and having embarked in a ship of Adramyttium, we, being about to sail by the coasts of Asia, did set sail, there being with us Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,

3 on the next `day' also we touched at Sidon, and Julius, courteously treating Paul, did permit `him', having gone on unto friends, to receive `their' care.

4 And thence, having set sail, we sailed under Cyprus, because of the winds being contrary,

5 and having sailed over the sea over-against Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myria of Lycia,

6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria, sailing to Italy, did put us into it,

7 and having sailed slowly many days, and with difficulty coming over-against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over-against Salmone,

8 and hardly passing it, we came to a certain place called `Fair Havens,' nigh to which was the city `of' Lasaea.

9 And much time being spent, and the sailing being now dangerous -- because of the fast also being already past -- Paul was admonishing,

10 saying to them, `Men, I perceive that with hurt, and much damage, not only of the lading and of the ship, but also of our lives -- the voyage is about to be;'

11 but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

12 and the haven being incommodious to winter in, the more part gave counsel to sail thence also, if by any means they might be able, having attained to Phenice, `there' to winter, `which is' a haven of Crete, looking to the south-west and north-west,

13 and a south wind blowing softly, having thought they had obtained `their' purpose, having lifted anchor, they sailed close by Crete,

14 and not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, that is called Euroclydon,

15 and the ship being caught, and not being able to bear up against the wind, having given `her' up, we were borne on,

16 and having run under a certain little isle, called Clauda, we were hardly able to become masters of the boat,

17 which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast -- so were borne on.

18 And we, being exceedingly tempest-tossed, the succeeding `day' they were making a clearing,

19 and on the third `day' with our own hands the tackling of the ship we cast out,

20 and neither sun nor stars appearing for more days, and not a little tempest lying upon us, thenceforth all hope was taken away of our being saved.

21 And there having been long fasting, then Paul having stood in the midst of them, said, `It behoved `you', indeed, O men -- having hearkened to me -- not to set sail from Crete, and to save this hurt and damage;

22 and now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of life among you -- but of the ship;

23 for there stood by me this night a messenger of God -- whose I am, and whom I serve --

24 saying, Be not afraid Paul; before Caesar it behoveth thee to stand; and, lo, God hath granted to thee all those sailing with thee;

25 wherefore be of good cheer, men! for I believe God, that so it shall be, even as it hath been spoken to me,

26 and on a certain island it behoveth us to be cast.'

27 And when the fourteenth night came -- we being borne up and down in the Adria -- toward the middle of the night the sailors were supposing that some country drew nigh to them;

28 and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms,

29 and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.

30 And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat to the sea, in pretence as `if' out of the foreship they are about to cast anchors,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, `If these do not remain in the ship -- ye are not able to be saved;'

32 then the soldiers did cut off the ropes of the boat, and suffered it to fall off.

33 And till the day was about to be, Paul was calling upon all to partake of nourishment, saying, `Fourteen days to-day, waiting, ye continue fasting, having taken nothing,

34 wherefore I call upon you to take nourishment, for this is for your safety, for of not one of you shall a hair from the head fall;'

35 and having said these things, and having taken bread, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken `it', he began to eat;

36 and all having become of good cheer, themselves also took food,

37 (and we were -- all the souls in the ship -- two hundred, seventy and six),

38 and having eaten sufficient nourishment, they were lightening the ship, casting forth the wheat into the sea.

39 And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship,

40 and the anchors having taken up, they were committing `it' to the sea, at the same time -- having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the mainsail to the wind -- they were making for the shore,

41 and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the fore-part, indeed, having stuck fast, did remain immoveable, but the hinder-part was broken by the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one having swam out should escape,

43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, hindered them from the counsel, and did command those able to swim, having cast themselves out first -- to get unto the land,

44 and the rest, some indeed upon boards, and some upon certain things of the ship; and thus it came to pass that all came safe unto the land.


Acts 27:1-44 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 But when it had been determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion, by name Julius, of Augustus' company.

2 And going on board a ship of Adramyttium about to navigate by the places along Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And the next day we arrived at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and suffered him to go to his friends and refresh himself.

4 And setting sail thence we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 And having sailed over the waters of Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra in Lycia:

6 and there the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, he made us go on board her.

7 And sailing slowly for many days, and having with difficulty got abreast of Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete abreast of Salmone;

8 and coasting it with difficulty we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near to which was [the] city of Lasaea.

9 And much time having now been spent, and navigation being already dangerous, because the fast also was already past, Paul counselled them,

10 saying, Men, I perceive that the navigation will be with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.

11 But the centurion believed rather the helmsman and the shipowner than what was said by Paul.

12 And the harbour being ill adapted to winter in, the most counselled to set sail thence, if perhaps they might reach Phoenice to winter in, a port of Crete looking north-east and south-east.

13 And [the] south wind blowing gently, supposing that they had gained their object, having weighed anchor they sailed close in shore along Crete.

14 But not long after there came down it a hurricane called Euroclydon.

15 And the ship being caught and driven, and not able to bring her head to the wind, letting her go we were driven [before it].

16 But running under the lee of a certain island called Clauda, we were with difficulty able to make ourselves masters of the boat;

17 which having hoisted up, they used helps, frapping the ship; and fearing lest they should run into Syrtis and run aground, and having lowered the gear they were so driven.

18 But the storm being extremely violent on us, on the next day they threw cargo overboard,

19 and on the third day with their own hands they cast away the ship furniture.

20 And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm lying on us, in the end all hope of our being saved was taken away.

21 And when they had been a long while without taking food, Paul then standing up in the midst of them said, Ye ought, O men, to have hearkened to me, and not have made sail from Crete and have gained this disaster and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good courage, for there shall be no loss at all of life of [any] of you, only of the ship.

23 For an angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me this night,

24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted to thee all those that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore be of good courage, men, for I believe God that thus it shall be, as it has been said to me.

26 But we must be cast ashore on a certain island.

27 And when the fourteenth night was come, we being driven about in Adria, towards the middle of the night the sailors supposed that some land neared them,

28 and having sounded found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther and having again sounded they found fifteen fathoms;

29 and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.

30 But the sailors wishing to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat into the sea under pretext of being about to carry out anchors from the prow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these abide in the ship *ye* cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her fall.

33 And while it was drawing on to daylight, Paul exhorted them all to partake of food, saying, Ye have passed the fourteenth day watching in expectation without taking food.

34 Wherefore I exhort you to partake of food, for this has to do with your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.

35 And, having said these things and taken a loaf, he gave thanks to God before all, and having broken it began to eat.

36 And all taking courage, themselves also took food.

37 And we were in the ship, all the souls, two hundred and seventy-six.

38 And having satisfied themselves with food, they lightened the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day they did not recognise the land; but they perceived a certain bay having a strand, on which they were minded, if they should be able, to run the ship ashore;

40 and, having cast off the anchors, they left [them] in the sea, at the same time loosening the lashings of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the strand.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground, and the prow having stuck itself fast remained unmoved, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves.

42 And [the] counsel of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should swim off and escape.

43 But the centurion, desirous of saving Paul, hindered them of their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim, casting themselves first [into the sea], to get out on land;

44 and the rest, some on boards, some on some of the things [that came] from the ship; and thus it came to pass that all got safe to land.


Acts 27:1-44 World English Bible (WEB)

1 When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2 Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

4 Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

5 When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.

7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

8 With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.

9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,

10 and said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."

11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.

13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.

14 But before long, a tempestuous wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.{Or, "a northeaster."}

15 When the ship was caught, and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.

16 Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.

17 After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.

18 As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.

19 On the third day, they threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands.

20 When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small tempest pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.

21 When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

22 Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

24 saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

25 Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.

26 But we must run aground on a certain island."

27 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven back and forth in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some land.

28 They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms.{20 fathoms = 120 feet = 36.6 meters} After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms.{15 fathoms = 90 feet = 27.4 meters}.

29 Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

30 As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these stay in the ship, you can't be saved."

32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it fall off.

33 While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Therefore I beg you to take some food, for this is for your safety; for not a hair will perish from any of your heads."

35 When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.

36 Then they all cheered up, and they also took food.

37 In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.

38 When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39 When it was day, they didn't recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.

40 Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41 But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

42 The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.

43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;

44 and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So it happened that they all escaped safely to the land.


Acts 27:1-44 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And when the decision had been made that we were to go by sea to Italy, they gave Paul and certain other prisoners into the care of a captain named Julius, of the Augustan band.

2 And we went to sea in a ship of Adramyttium which was sailing to the sea towns of Asia, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

3 And on the day after, we came to Sidon; and Julius was kind to Paul, and let him go to see his friends and take a rest.

4 And sailing again from there, we went on under cover of Cyprus, because the wind was against us.

5 And having gone across the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia we came to Myra, in Lycia.

6 And there the captain came across a ship of Alexandria, sailing for Italy, and put us in it.

7 And when we had gone on slowly for a long time, and had had hard work getting across to Cnidus, for the wind was against us, we went under cover of Crete, in the direction of Salmone;

8 And sailing down the side of it, as well as we were able, we came to a certain place named Fair Havens, near which was the town of Lasea.

9 And as a long time had gone by, and the journey was now full of danger, because it was late in the year, Paul put the position before them,

10 Saying, Friends, I see that this journey will be one of great damage and loss, not only to the goods and the ship, but to ourselves.

11 But the captain gave more attention to the master and the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

12 And as the harbour was not a good one in which to be for the winter, the greater number of them were for going out to sea, in order, if possible, to put in for the winter at Phoenix, a harbour of Crete, looking to the north-east and south-east.

13 And when the south wind came softly, being of the opinion that their purpose might be effected, they let the ship go and went sailing down the side of Crete, very near to the land.

14 But after a little time, a very violent wind, named Euraquilo, came down from it with great force.

15 And when the ship got into the grip of it, and was not able to make headway into the wind, we gave way, and went before it.

16 And, sailing near the side of a small island named Cauda, we were able, though it was hard work, to make the ship's boat safe:

17 And having got it up, they put cords under and round the ship; but fearing that they might be pushed on to the Syrtis, they let down the sails and so went running before the wind.

18 And, still fighting the storm with all our strength, the day after they made a start at getting the goods out of the ship;

19 And on the third day, they let all the sailing apparatus go over the side.

20 And as we had not seen the sun or stars for a long time, and a great storm was on us, all hope of salvation was gone.

21 And when they had been without food for a long time, Paul got up among them and said, Friends, it would have been better if you had given attention to me and not gone sailing out from Crete, to undergo this damage and loss.

22 But now, I say to you, be of good heart, for there will be no loss of life, but only of the ship.

23 For this night there came to my side an angel of the God who is my Master and whose servant I am,

24 Saying, Have no fear, Paul, for you will come before Caesar, and God has given to you all those who are sailing with you.

25 And so, O men, be of good heart, for I have faith in God that it will be as he said to me.

26 But we will be sent on to a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth day came, while we were going here and there in the Adriatic sea, about the middle of the night the sailors had an idea that they were getting near land;

28 And they let down the lead, and saw that the sea was a hundred and twenty feet deep; and after a little time they did it again and it was ninety feet.

29 Then, fearing that by chance we might come on to the rocks, they let down four hooks from the back of the ship, and made prayers for the coming of day.

30 Then the sailors made attempts secretly to get away from the ship, letting down a boat as if they were about to put down hooks from the front of the ship;

31 But Paul said to the captain and his men, If you do not keep these men in the ship, you will not be safe.

32 Then the armed men, cutting the cords of the boat, let her go.

33 And when dawn was near, Paul gave them all orders to take food, saying, This is the fourteenth day you have been waiting and taking no food.

34 So I make request to you to take food; for this is for your salvation: not a hair from the head of any of you will come to destruction.

35 And when he had said this and had taken bread, he gave praise to God before them all, and took a meal of the broken bread.

36 Then they all took heart and did the same.

37 And we were, in the ship, two hundred and seventy-six persons.

38 And when they had had enough food, they made the weight of the ship less, turning the grain out into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they had no knowledge of the land, but they saw an inlet of the sea with a floor of sand, and they had the idea of driving the ship up on to it if possible.

40 So cutting away the hooks, and letting them go into the sea, and freeing the cords of the guiding-blades, and lifting up the sail to the wind, they went in the direction of the inlet.

41 And coming to a point between two seas, they got the ship to land; and the front part was fixed in the sand and not able to be moved, but the back part was broken by the force of the waves.

42 Then the armed men were for putting the prisoners to death, so that no one would get away by swimming.

43 But the captain, desiring to keep Paul safe, kept them from their purpose, and gave orders that those who had knowledge of swimming were to go off the ship and get first to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards and some on things from the ship. And so it came about that they all got safe to land.

Commentary on Acts 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 27

Ac 27:1-44. The Voyage to ItalyThe Shipwreck and Safe Landing at Malta.

1. we should sail, &c.—The "we" here reintroduces the historian as one of the company. Not that he had left the apostle from the time when he last included himself (Ac 21:18), but the apostle was parted from him by his arrest and imprisonment, until now, when they met in the ship.

delivered Paul and certain other prisoners—State prisoners going to be tried at Rome; of which several instances are on record.

Julius—who treats the apostle throughout with such marked courtesy (Ac 27:3, 43; Ac 28:16), that it has been thought [Bengel] he was present when Paul made his defense before Agrippa (see Ac 25:23), and was impressed with his lofty bearing.

a centurion of Augustus' band—the Augustan cohort, an honorary title given to more than one legion of the Roman army, implying, perhaps, that they acted as a bodyguard to the emperor or procurator, as occasion required.

2. a ship of—belonging to.

Adramyttium—a port on the northeast coast of the Ægean Sea. Doubtless the centurion expected to find another ship, bound for Italy, at some of the ports of Asia Minor, without having to go with this ship all the way to Adramyttium; and in this he was not disappointed. See on Ac 27:6.

meaning to sail by the coasts—"places."

of Asia—a coasting vessel, which was to touch at the ports of proconsular Asia.

one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us—rather, "Aristarchus the Macedonian," &c. The word "one" should not have been introduced here by our translators, as if this name had not occurred before; for we find him seized by the Ephesian mob as a "man of Macedonia and Paul's companion in travel" (Ac 19:29) and as a "Thessalonian" accompanying the apostle from Ephesus on his voyage back to Palestine (Ac 20:4). Here both these places are mentioned in connection with his name. After this we find him at Rome with the apostle (Col 4:10; Phm 24).

3. next day we touched at Sidon—To reach this ancient and celebrated Mediterranean port, about seventy miles north from Cæsarea, in one day, they must have had a fair wind.

Julius courteously—(See on Ac 27:1).

gave him liberty to go to his friends—no doubt disciples, gained, it would seem, by degrees, all along the Phœnician coast since the first preaching there (see on Ac 11:19 and Ac 21:4).

to refresh himself—which after his long confinement would not be unnecessary. Such small personal details are in this case extremely interesting.

4. when we had launched—"set sail."

from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary—The wind blowing from the westward, probably with a touch of the north, which was adverse, they sailed under the lee of Cyprus, keeping it on their left, and steering between it and the mainland of Phœnicia.

5. when we had sailed over the Sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia—coasts with which Paul had been long familiar, the one, perhaps, from boyhood, the other from the time of his first missionary tour.

we came to Myra, a city of Lycia—a port a little east of Patara (see on Ac 21:1).

6. there … found a ship of Alexandria, sailing into Italy, and he put us therein—(See on Ac 27:2). As Egypt was the granary of Italy, and this vessel was laden with wheat (Ac 27:35), we need not wonder it was large enough to carry two hundred seventy-six souls, passengers and crew together (Ac 27:37). Besides, the Egyptian merchantmen, among the largest in the Mediterranean, were equal to the largest merchantmen in our day. It may seem strange that on their passage from Alexandria to Italy they should be found at a Lycian port. But even still it is not unusual to stand to the north towards Asia Minor, for the sake of the current.

7. sailed slowly many days—owing to contrary winds.

and scarce—"with difficulty."

were come over against Cnidus—a town on the promontory of the peninsula of that name, having the island of Coos (see on Ac 21:1) to the west of it. But for the contrary wind they might have made the distance from Myra (one hundred thirty miles) in one day. They would naturally have put in at Cnidus, whose larger harbor was admirable, but the strong westerly current induced them to run south.

under—the lee of

Crete—(See on Tit 1:5).

over against Salmone—the cape at the eastern extremity of the island.

8. And hardly passing it—"with difficulty coasting along it," from the same cause as before, the westerly current and head winds.

came to … the Fair Havens—an anchorage near the center of the south coast, and a little east of Cape Matala, the southern most point of the island.

nigh whereunto was the city Lasea—identified by the Reverend George Brown [Smith, Voyages and Shipwreck of St. Paul, Appendix 3, Second Edition, 1856]. (To this invaluable book commentators on this chapter, and these notes, are much indebted).

9, 10. when much time was spent—since leaving Cæsarea. But for unforeseen delays they might have reached the Italian coast before the stormy season.

and when sailing—the navigation of the open sea.

was now dangerous, because the fast was now … past—that of the day of atonement, answering to the end of September and beginning of October, about which time the navigation is pronounced unsafe by writers of authority. Since all hope of completing the voyage during that season was abandoned, the question next was, whether they should winter at Fair Havens, or move to Port Phenice, a harbor about forty miles to the westward. Paul assisted at the consultation and strongly urged them to winter where they were.

10. Sirs, I perceive, that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, &c.—not by any divine communication, but simply in the exercise of a good judgment aided by some experience. The event justified his decision.

11. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and owner … more than … Paul—He would naturally think them best able to judge, and there was much to say for their opinion, as the bay at Fair Havens, being open to nearly one-half of the compass, could not be a good winter harbor.

12. Phenice—"Phenix," now called Lutro.

which lieth toward the southwest and northwest—If this means that it was open to the west, it would certainly not be good anchorage! It is thought therefore to mean that a wind from that quarter would lead into it, or that it lay in an easterly direction from such a wind [Smith]. Ac 27:13 seems to confirm this.

13. when the south wind blew softly, supposing they had attained their purpose—With such a wind they had every prospect of reaching their destination in a few hours.

14, 15. a tempestuous—"typhonic"

wind—that is, like a typhon or tornado, causing a whirling of the clouds, owing to the meeting of opposite currents of air.

called Euroclydon—The true reading appears to be Euro-aquilo, or east-northeast, which answers all the effects here ascribed to it.

15. could not bear up into—"face"

the wind, we let her drift—before the gale.

16, 17. under—the lee of.

a certain—"small"

island … Clauda—southwest of Crete, now called Gonzo; about twenty-three miles to leeward.

we had much work to come by—that is, to hoist up and secure.

the boat—now become necessary. But why was this difficult? Independently of the gale, raging at the time, the boat had been towed between twenty and thirty miles after the gale sprang up, and could scarcely fail to be filled with water [Smith].

17. undergirding the ship—that is, passing four or five turns of a cable-laid rope round the hull or frame of the ship, to enable her to resist the violence of the seas, an operation rarely resorted to in modern seamanship.

fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands—"be cast ashore" or "stranded upon the Syrtis," the Syrtis Major, a gulf on the African coast, southwest of Crete, the dread of mariners, owing to its dangerous shoals.

they strake—"struck"

sail—This cannot be the meaning, for to strike sail would have driven them directly towards the Syrtis. The meaning must be, "lowered the gear" (appurtenances of every kind); here, perhaps, referring to the lowering of the heavy mainyard with the sail attached to it [Smith].

19, 20. cast out with our own hands—passengers and crew together.

the tackling of the ship—whatever they could do without that carried weight. This further effort to lighten the ship seems to show that it was now in a leaking condition, as will presently appear more evident.

20. neither sun nor stars appeared in many—"several"

days—probably most of the fourteen days mentioned in Ac 27:27. This continued thickness of the atmosphere prevented their making the necessary observations of the heavenly bodies by day or by night; so that they could not tell where they were.

all hope that we should be saved was taken away—"Their exertions to subdue the leak had been unavailing; they could not tell which way to make for the nearest land, in order to run their ship ashore, the only resource for a sinking ship: but unless they did make the land, they must founder at sea. Their apprehensions, therefore, were not so much caused by the fury of the tempest, as by the state of the ship" [Smith]. From the inferiority of ancient to modern naval architecture, leaks were sprung much more easily, and the means of repairing them were fewer than now. Hence the far greater number of shipwrecks from this cause.

21-26. But after long abstinence—(See on Ac 27:33). "The hardships which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from laboring at the pumps and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described" [Smith].

Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, &c.—not meaning to reflect on them for the past, but to claim their confidence for what he was now to say:

23. there stood by me this night the angel of God—as in Ac 16:9; 23:11.

whose I am—(1Co 6:19, 20).

and whom I serve—in the sense of worship or religious consecration (see on Ac 13:2).

24. saying, Fear not, Paul: thou must be brought before Cæsar and, lo, God hath given thee all … that sail with thee—While the crew were toiling at the pumps, Paul was wrestling in prayer, not for himself only and the cause in which he was going a prisoner to Rome, but with true magnanimity of soul for all his shipmates; and God heard him, "giving him" (remarkable expression!) all that sailed with him. "When the cheerless day came he gathered the sailors (and passengers) around him on the deck of the laboring vessel, and raising his voice above the storm" [Howson], reported the divine communication he had received; adding with a noble simplicity, "for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me," and encouraging all on board to "be of good cheer" in the same confidence. What a contrast to this is the speech of Cæsar in similar circumstances to his pilot, bidding him keep up his spirit because he carried Cæsar and Cæsar's fortune! [Plutarch]. The Roman general knew no better name for the Divine Providence, by which he had been so often preserved, than Cæsar's fortune [Humphry]. From the explicit particulars—that the ship would be lost, but not one that sailed in it, and that they "must be cast on a certain island"—one would conclude a visional representation of a total wreck, a mass of human beings struggling with the angry elements, and one and all of those whose figures and countenances had daily met his eye on deck, standing on some unknown island shore. From what follows, it would seem that Paul from this time was regarded with a deference akin to awe.

27-29. when the fourteenth night was come—from the time they left Fair Havens.

as we were driven—drifting

up and down in Adria—the Adriatic, that sea which lies between Greece and Italy.

about midnight the shipmen deemed—no doubt from the peculiar sound of the breakers.

that they drew near some country—"that some land was approaching them." This nautical language gives a graphic character to the narrative.

29. they cast four anchors out of the stern—The ordinary way was to cast the anchor, as now, from the bow: but ancient ships, built with both ends alike, were fitted with hawseholes in the stern, so that in case of need they could anchor either way. And when the fear was, as here, that they might fall on the rocks to leeward, and the intention was to run the ship ashore as soon as daylight enabled them to fix upon a safe spot, the very best thing they could do was to anchor by the stern [Smith]. In stormy weather two anchors were used, and we have instances of four being employed, as here.

and wished—"anxiously" or "devoutly wished."

for day—the remark this of one present, and with all his shipmates alive to the horrors of their condition. "The ship might go down at her anchors, or the coast to leeward might be iron-bound, affording no beach on which they could land with safety. Hence their anxious longing for day, and the ungenerous but natural attempt, not peculiar to ancient times, of the seamen to save their own lives by taking to the boat" [Smith].

30. as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship—under cover of night.

when they had let down the boat … as though they would … cast anchors out of the foreship—"bow"—rather, "carry out" anchors, to hold the ship fore as well as aft. "This could have been of no advantage in the circumstances, and as the pretext could not deceive a seaman, we must infer that the officers of the ship were parties to the unworthy attempt, which was perhaps detected by the nautical skill of St. Luke, and communicated by him to St. Paul" [Smith].

31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers—the only parties now to be trusted, and whose own safety was now at stake.

except ye abide in the ship ye cannot be saved—The soldiers and passengers could not be expected to possess the necessary seamanship in so very critical a case. The flight of the crew, therefore, might well be regarded as certain destruction to all who remained. In full assurance of ultimate safety, in virtue of a DIVINE pledge, to all in the ship, Paul speaks and acts throughout this whole scene in the exercise of a sound judgment as to the indispensable HUMAN conditions of safety; and as there is no trace of any feeling of inconsistency between these two things in his mind, so even the centurion, under whose orders the soldiers acted on Paul's views, seems never to have felt perplexed by the twofold aspect, divine and human, in which the same thing presented itself to the mind of Paul. Divine agency and human instrumentality are in all the events of life quite as much as here. The only difference is that the one is for the most part shrouded from view, while the other is ever naked and open to the senses.

32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat—already lowered.

and let her fall off—let the boat drift away.

33-37. while day was coming on—"until it should be day"; that is, in the interval between the cutting off of the boat and the approach of day, which all were "anxiously looking for" (Ac 27:29).

Paul—now looked up to by all the passengers as the man to direct them.

besought them all to take meat—"partake of a meal."

saying, This is the fourteenth day ye have tarried—"waited for a breathing time."

having eaten nothing—that is, taken no regular meal. The impossibility of cooking, the occupation of all hands to keep down leakage, &c., sufficiently explain this, which is indeed a common occurrence in such cases.

34. I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health, for there shall not a hair fall from … any of you—On this beautiful union of confidence in the divine pledge and care for the whole ship's health and safety see on Ac 27:31.

35. when he had thus spoken he took bread—assuming the lead.

and gave thanks to God in presence of them all—an impressive act in such circumstances, and fitted to plant a testimony for the God he served in the breasts of all.

when he had broken it, he began to eat—not understood by the Christians in the ship as a love-feast, or celebration of the Lord's Supper, as some think, but a meal to recruit exhausted nature, which Paul shows them by his own example how a Christian partakes of.

36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat—"took food"; the first full meal since the commencement of the gale. Such courage in desperate circumstances as Paul here showed is wonderfully infectious.

38-40. when they had eaten enough, &c.—With fresh strength after the meal, they make a third and last effort to lighten the ship, not only by pumping, as before, but by throwing the whole cargo of wheat into the sea (see on Ac 27:6).

39. when it was day they knew not the land—This has been thought surprising in sailors accustomed to that sea. But the scene of the wreck is remote from the great harbor, and possesses no marked features by which it could be recognized, even by a native if he came unexpectedly upon it [Smith], not to speak of the rain pouring in torrents (Ac 28:2), which would throw a haze over the coast even after day broke. Immediately on landing they knew where they were (Ac 28:1).

discovered a creek with a shore—Every creek of course, must have a shore; but the meaning is, a practicable shore, in a nautical sense, that is, one with a smooth beach, in contradistinction to a rocky coast (as Ac 27:41 shows).

into which they were minded, if … possible, to thrust the ship—This was their one chance of safety.

40. taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea—The Margin is here evidently right, "cut the anchors (away), they left them in the sea."

loosed the rudder bands—Ancient ships were steered by two large paddles, one on each quarter. When anchored by the stern in a gale, it would be necessary to lift them out of the water and secure them by lashings or rudder bands, and to loose these when the ship was again got under way [Smith].

hoised up the mainsail—her, "the foresail," the best possible sail that be set in the circumstances. How necessary must the crew have been to execute all these movements, and how obvious the foresight which made their stay indispensable to the safety of all on board (see on Ac 27:31)!

41. falling into a place where two seas met—Smith thinks this refers to the channel, not more than one hundred yards broad, which separates the small island of Salmone from Malta, forming a communication between the sea inside the bay and that outside.

the fore part stuck fast, and remained immovable—"The rocks of Malta disintegrate into extremely minute particles of sand and clay, which, when acted upon by the currents or surface agitation, form a deposit of tenacious clay; but, in still waters, where these causes do not act, mud is formed; but it is only in creeks, where there are no currents, and at such a depth as to be undisturbed by the waves, that the mud occurs. A ship, therefore, impelled by the force of a gale, into a creek, with such a bottom, would strike a bottom of mud, graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself, and be held fast, while the stern was exposed to the force of the waves" [Smith].

hinder part was broken—The continued action denoted by the tense here is to be noted—"was fast breaking," going to pieces.

42-44. the soldiers' counsel was to hill the prisoners, lest any … should escape—Roman cruelty, which made the keepers answerable for their prisoners with their own lives, is here reflected in this cruel proposal.

43. the centurion, &c.—Great must have been the influence of Paul over the centurion's mind to produce such an effect. All followed the swimmers in committing themselves to the deep, and according to the divine pledge and Paul's confident assurance given them, every soul got safe to land—yet without miracle. (While the graphic minuteness of this narrative of the shipwreck puts it beyond doubt that the narrator was himself on board, the great number of nautical phrases, which all critics have noted, along with the unprofessional air which the whole narrative wears, agrees singularly with all we know and have reason to believe of "the beloved physician"; see on Ac 16:40).