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Acts 27

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

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;

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

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

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,

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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:

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.

What does Acts 27:13 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:13 refers to a moment during the apostle Paul's voyage to Rome, where he was being sent as a prisoner to stand trial before Caesar.

In this specific verse, the narrative describes a change in the weather conditions.

A gentle south wind arose, leading the sailors to believe that they would have a smooth journey along the coast of the island of Crete.

Consequently, they loosened the ties and sailed closer to the shore, expecting a favorable trip. The “softly” blowing south wind was perceived as an opportunity to proceed with their journey.

However, this proved to be a misjudgment, as later events in the chapter reveal that they encountered a violent storm.

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Historical Context

Acts 27 is part of the New Testament book of Acts, which details the establishment and spread of the early Christian Church.

Luke, the author of Acts, accompanies Paul on this ill-fated journey, providing an eye-witness account.

The historical context of this verse occurs within the broader narrative of Paul's journey to Rome, sailing in the Mediterranean during the first century AD.

During this period, sea travel was perilous and heavily dependent on favorable weather conditions.

Ancient sailors relied on constant winds to navigate, and Crete's location in the Mediterranean made it a significant landmark for ships passing through.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 27:13 can serve as a reminder of the unpredictability of life and the limits of human perception.

Although the sailors supposed they had obtained their purpose with the gentle winds, they could not foresee the storm ahead, which could be seen as a metaphor for spiritual or life challenges that lie in wait.

Additionally, the text reflects the providence of God in Paul's life. Despite the adversity, he ultimately reached Rome, as God had intended, which can be interpreted to mean that God's plans prevail despite human error or natural circumstances.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 27:13 can teach the importance of caution and wisdom when circumstances seem favorable.

It can serve as a reminder not to become complacent when things are going smoothly, as sudden changes can occur.

It encourages believers to remain vigilant and to seek discernment even in seemingly harmless situations, relying not just on their understanding but also on faith and providential guidance.

Cross-References

Proverbs 27:12: "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished."
James 4:13-15: "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Ecclesiastes 9:12: "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text is "ὑποπνεύσαντος νότου," which directly translates to "when the south wind blew softly." The verb "ὑποπνεύσαντος" comes from "ὑποπνέω," meaning "to blow gently" or "to breathe softly." The word "νότου" refers to the "south wind," which in the Mediterranean region is often associated with gentle, favorable weather for sailing.

Therefore, the original language emphasizes the apparent gentleness of the wind that deceived the sailors into thinking they had favorable conditions for their journey.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient Greco-Roman culture, as in many others, the sea was often a symbol of chaos and unpredictability.

Myths abound with stories of gods and goddesses who controlled the winds and seas, such as Aeolus, the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology.

The sailors' attempt to read the weather and navigate accordingly would have been understood as not just a physical challenge but also a dealing with the divine or supernatural forces that control nature.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern meteorology would explain the sudden change in weather conditions as a common occurrence, especially in the Mediterranean region where weather can be variable and storms can develop quickly.

The gentle south wind (often a Sirocco in the region) can indeed be misleading, as it may precede a larger storm system.

The science of meteorology, with its sophisticated models and forecasting tools, provides a stark contrast to the limited understanding and tools available to ancient mariners.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have noted that Acts 27:13 is a turning point in the narrative of Paul's journey. They observe that despite the sailors' experience and skill, they were unable to foresee the violent storm that would soon arise.

Some commentators suggest that the verse serves as foreshadowing, while others emphasize the theme of God's sovereignty over human plans.

Many also point out Luke's attention to detail in his narrative, which has helped scholars to understand ancient maritime practices and the geography of the region during the first century AD.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 27:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?