PrevActs 27:20Next

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 27:20 mean?

Explanation

This verse is an account of the despair faced by Paul the Apostle and his companions during a perilous sea journey to Rome, as narrated in the Book of Acts.

The phrase "neither sun nor stars in many days appeared" describes the relentless overcast conditions that obscured celestial bodies which were crucial for ancient navigation.

"No small tempest lay on us" suggests that they were enduring a severe storm at sea.

Consequently, the collective hope among the crew and passengers "that we should be saved" began to wane, highlighting the severity of the situation and their anticipation of a tragic end.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 27:20 is situated within the narrative of Paul's voyage to Rome, where he was to stand trial before Caesar as a Roman citizen.

This voyage took place around AD 59-60.

The reference to the absence of the sun and stars for navigation implies that they were likely in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea during storm season, which could produce particularly treacherous conditions for ancient sailing vessels.

Maritime travel during this time relied heavily on clear skies for celestial navigation, and a storm of this magnitude posed a significant threat to their survival.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the verse is often seen as a metaphor for spiritual trials and the testing of faith. It reflects the Christian belief that even in moments of utter despair, faith in God's plan and providence must be maintained.

Additionally, some may interpret this event as a test of Paul's own faith and leadership, as well as a demonstration of God's deliverance, given that the story eventually leads to their miraculous survival and safe arrival in Malta (Acts 28:1).

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, this verse speaks to the human experience of facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

It can be applied to personal situations where individuals feel lost and without guidance, much like sailors without the stars to navigate by.

The lesson here is one of endurance, maintaining hope, and the importance of supporting one another in times of collective hardship.

Cross-References

"Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." (Psalm 107:28)
"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." (Matthew 8:26)
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to study include:

"Neither sun nor stars" (οὔτε ἥλιος οὔτε ἄστρα) reflects the dire navigational conditions.
"In many days" (ἐπὶ πλείονας ἡμέρας) indicates an extended period of time.
"No small tempest" (οὐκ ὀλίγη τυφωνικὸς ἀνεμος) implies a great or mighty storm, with the word "τυφωνικὸς" associating the storm with a typhoon or hurricane-like conditions.
"All hope" (πᾶσα ἐλπὶς) speaks to the complete loss of hope, with "ἐλπὶς" being a general term for expectation or hope.
"Should be saved" (σωθῆναι) uses the Greek concept of salvation or deliverance, related to safety and preservation from harm.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of facing overwhelming natural forces is common across many cultures and religious narratives.

For instance, the story of Noah's Ark in the Hebrew Bible describes humanity's survival of a cataclysmic flood.

Similarly, ancient Greek epics like Homer's "The Odyssey" recount Odysseus’s perilous sea voyages, where the protagonist must rely on the gods for deliverance from storms and other dangers.

Scientific Perspectives

The description of a prolonged period without visible celestial bodies would be consistent with enduring bad weather, which can occur in the Mediterranean due to cyclical storm seasons.

Modern meteorology acknowledges that such conditions could easily disorient sailors and lead to shipwrecks, particularly in antiquity when technological aids were not available.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of this verse:

Some view the verse as a literal historical account, analyzing the nautical details for accuracy.
Others, like John Chrysostom, a Church Father, interpret it as an allegory for spiritual perseverance.
Modern commentators often reflect on the psychological impact of such desperation on those aboard and draw parallels with the trials faced by Christian missionaries throughout history.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:20 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 27:20 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?