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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 27:25 mean?

Explanation

[Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.] (Acts 27:25 KJV)

This verse from the Book of Acts documents a moment of assurance and faith by Paul the Apostle during a perilous sea journey.

It reflects his strong conviction and trust in God's revelation to him, despite the dire circumstances.

The literal meaning is that Paul is encouraging his fellow travelers to have courage and be positive because he has faith that God's promise to him will be fulfilled.

Figuratively, the deeper meaning touches upon the themes of trust in divine providence, maintaining hope in difficult times, and the power of personal revelation and faith.

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Historical Context

This verse comes from Acts 27, which depicts Paul's journey to Rome to stand trial before Caesar.

He is traveling as a prisoner onboard a ship.

The ship encounters a violent storm that lasts many days, leaving the passengers and crew in despair.

Earlier in this chapter, an angel appears to Paul at night and assures him that he will stand before Caesar, and that all aboard the ship will be spared (Acts 27:23-24).

When Paul speaks the words in verse 25, he is sharing this divine revelation and encouraging those with him.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, there is an emphasis on the sovereignty and faithfulness of God.

The fact that Paul shares his faith so confidently suggests a belief in the infallibility of God's word.

For Christian theologians, this may exemplify the importance of divine guidance and the personal relationship between believers and God.

Moreover, it suggests that God cares for the collective fate of people and not just individual destiny, as Paul includes all those present in his declaration of faith.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, this verse can be an inspiration to maintain hope and remain positive during trying times.

It encourages individuals to hold onto their faith, even when the situation appears bleak.

For those who believe in a higher power, the verse suggests trusting in the assurances they find in their faith, just as Paul did.

It also encourages providing comfort and support to those around us who may be struggling with their own fears and doubts.

Cross-References

Acts 27:23-24: "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."
Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"be of good cheer" (εὐθυμέω - euthymeō), meaning to be cheerful or keep up one’s courage.
"believe" (πιστεύω - pisteuō), which means to have faith in, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow.
"God" (θεὸς - theos), referring to the deity worshiped by Christians, Jews, and others.
"it shall be" (γίνομαι - ginomai), meaning to become, to come into existence, happen, or to be made.
"even as" (οὕτω καθὼς - houtō kathōs), meaning in this way or manner, just as.

This language breakdown provides insight into the emphasis on cheerfulness, trust in God, and certainty about the future that Paul expresses.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In studying ancient texts and religions, parallels can often be found where individuals are portrayed as having visions or receiving messages from deities, leading to a deep sense of assurance about future events.

For example, in Greek mythology, oracles and seers played a role similar to that of prophets in the Bible, providing guidance to individuals based on divine insight.

In many religious traditions, the concept of trusting in the divine will during tumultuous events is a common theme, signifying a universal human search for reassurance amidst uncertainty.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not present a direct intersection with scientific understandings, as it deals with faith, a subjective and personal experience.

However, modern psychology recognizes the benefits of maintaining an optimistic outlook and the impact of faith and belief systems on mental health.

Studies show that positive expectations can improve outcomes in various life situations, which may provide a secular, scientific parallel to the encouragement Paul offers based on his faith.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various insights into this verse:

Some highlight Paul's role as a leader who provides psychological and spiritual support to those around him.
Others emphasize the fulfillment of God's promises, seeing Paul's steadfast faith as evidence that God's word is reliable.
Commentators also note this episode as an example of God's intervention in human affairs, suggesting that divine care extends beyond individual needs to encompass groups of people.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:25 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 27:25 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?