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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 27:15 mean?

Explanation

The verse from Acts 27:15, ["And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive."], comes from the narrative in the Book of Acts that details Apostle Paul's journey by sea to Rome, where he is to stand trial.

In this specific passage, the ship he is on encounters a severe storm.

To be "caught" can be understood as the ship being seized or overpowered by the storm.

Not being able to "bear up into the wind" indicates that the vessel could not be steered into the wind or against it effectively due to the storm's ferocity; it was, therefore, at the mercy of the elements.

The decision to "let her drive" means that the crew gave up trying to navigate and allowed the ship to be driven wherever the storm took it.

This literal description also carries a deeper significance, reflecting human vulnerability in the face of nature's overwhelming force, as well as the relinquishing of control and reliance on faith amidst dire situations.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The voyage described in Acts 27 is part of Paul's journey as a prisoner around AD 59-62.

The account is generally accepted as a historical event.

Paul is being taken to Rome to appeal before Caesar.

The journey occurs during the late summer and early fall, which could correspond with the season of rough seas in the Mediterranean.

Ships of that era were significantly less sophisticated than modern ships and were vulnerable to strong winds and storms.

The decision described in the verse speaks to an actual nautical maneuver where a ship, unable to make headway against the wind, would be left to drift or be driven along by the storm.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse can be seen as a metaphor for the way believers may have to sometimes relinquish their sense of control and place their trust in God's direction in their lives.

It can be viewed within the context of divine providence where, despite apparent setbacks and dangers, God's purpose is still unfolding.

In Paul's case, it was necessary for him to reach Rome, and the trial he faced was also part of a larger plan for him to witness and testify for Christ at the heart of the then-known world.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can resonate with individuals who face situations beyond their control.

It could be an encouragement to exhibit resilience and to trust in a higher purpose or larger plan when confronted with overwhelming circumstances.

It can also teach about wisdom in discerning when to act and when to accept the situation, understanding the limitations of human ability in certain scenarios.

Cross-References

Acts 27:20 "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."
2 Corinthians 11:25 "Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;"
Psalm 107:29 "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Language Study

In the Greek text, key words to consider are:

"caught" (syllambanō): to be seized or taken hold of.
"could not bear up" (antophthalmeō): to not be able to face up to, or not able to head into.
"wind" (anemos): represents the wind or a storm.
"let her drive" (pheirō): to carry or to be driven, to let a course be taken without resistance.

The use of these terms paints a picture of a struggle against an overpowering force and a subsequent surrender to the circumstances.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This narrative of man versus storm can be found in many other cultural mythologies, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or Homer's Odyssey, where the heroes face the wrath of the gods in the form of natural disasters at sea.

In both of those ancient texts, the storm also signifies a lack of control and a need to rely on divine or supernatural aid.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the description matches well with what is known about storms in the Mediterranean.

The decision to "let her drive" suggests that the sailors might have taken down their sails to prevent them from being damaged or causing the ship to capsize, a practice that aligns with modern-day sailing strategies in face of storms.

Commentaries

Commentators offer different insights into this verse:

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible emphasizes the severity of the storm and the skill of the mariners, who, recognizing the futility of their efforts, allowed the ship to be driven.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary discusses how some of life's storms are such that "all human skill and effort are vain."
The MacArthur Study Bible notes that Luke (the author of Acts) uses professional nautical terminology, indicating an accurate and detailed understanding of the events.
The ESV Study Bible provides historical background on the ship's voyage and the types of storms common to the Mediterranean area, affirming the realistic portrayal of the event in Acts.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:15 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 27:15 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?