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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 27:26 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:26 relates to the Apostle Paul's journey to Rome, where he is being transported as a prisoner to stand trial before Caesar.

This verse is a part of Luke's detailed account of the voyage that encountered a severe storm, forcing the ship onto the island of Malta.

Paul, speaking with divine assurance, indicates that although the ship will be destroyed, all the souls on board will be saved, but they must run aground on some island to reach safety.

The verse conveys messages of faith, divine intervention, and the fulfillment of God's promises, as Paul had earlier been assured by an angel that he would testify in Rome.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 27:26 is a part of the Book of Acts in the New Testament, which is traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul.

The events described happened around A.D. 59-60.

The first-century Mediterranean world was under Roman control, and sea travel was common for trade, military, and personal movement.

Shipwrecks were frequent hazards faced by mariners at that time.

Paul's journey to Rome is significant as it illustrates the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the heart of the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 27:26 reinforces the concept of divine providence and God's sovereignty over human events. Paul's calmness in the face of danger reflects his unwavering faith in God's plan for him.

This verse also serves as an illustration of the Christian idea that God often allows difficulties to occur but provides a means of deliverance and guides believers through them.

The notion that God's purposes will be accomplished despite human circumstances is a consistent theme throughout Christian theology.

Practical Applications

Practically, Acts 27:26 can be seen as an encouragement to trust in God’s plans, especially during turbulent times. It offers believers the lesson that they can find peace in divine promises and assurances, even when the outcome might seem uncertain.

It is a testament to the idea that faith can provide an anchor in life’s storms and lead to an eventual place of safety or fulfillment of destiny, even if the journey is perilous.

Cross-References

Acts 27:22-25: Paul reassures the crew that no lives would be lost, but the ship would be destroyed, as an angel of God had told him.
Acts 28:1: This verse confirms the fulfillment of Paul's words as they safely reach the island of Malta.
2 Timothy 4:17: Paul, facing trial, later reflects on God’s deliverance, which echoes the sentiment of divine preservation in Acts 27.
Psalm 107:28-30: This Psalm describes God’s deliverance of sailors caught in a storm, paralleling the Acts narrative.

Language Study

The key phrase in Acts 27:26 is "must be cast upon" (Greek: dei ekpiptein epi tina neson).

The Greek word "dei" implies a necessity or something that must happen, demonstrating Paul's certainty that their destiny is fixed.

The phrase "ekpiptein" translates to “to be cast” or "to fall out," suggesting the inevitability of the shipwreck, while "epi tina neson" literally means "upon a certain island," indicating the specificity of their landing place.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Greco-Roman culture, sea travel and storms were often associated with gods like Poseidon.

In contrast, Acts reveals a monotheistic perspective where one God controls all elements. The Acts narrative contrasts with ancient myths by centering on the power of the Christian God to save completely, rather than attributing safety to good luck or the favor of capricious deities.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the accounts of ship travel, storms, and safe harbors in Acts 27 are consistent with what we know about first-century Mediterranean maritime practices and the geography of the region.

Modern meteorological understanding can also shed light on the types of storms Paul’s ship might have encountered and their potential to drive a ship off course to an island such as Malta.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Acts 27:26 with general consensus about its significance in demonstrating God's faithfulness.

Some point to the historical accuracy of Luke's account as a valuable insight into ancient seafaring.

Others focus on the spiritual aspects, such as John Calvin who remarks on God's special care for His people.

Modern commentators often highlight the practical applications of trusting in divine outcomes, as shown through Paul's example.

These varying perspectives offer a multifaceted understanding of the verse and its implications for both ancient and contemporary readers.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:26 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 27:26 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?