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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 27:39 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Acts 27:39, describes a moment of uncertainty and hope during the shipwreck experienced by the Apostle Paul and the other passengers and crew aboard a vessel destined for Italy.

In the narrative, as day breaks, the stranded individuals observe that they are near an unfamiliar land.

They spot a creek with a beach and devise a plan to run the ship aground on the shore if possible.

This verse speaks both to the literal situation, a critical juncture in their attempt at survival, and symbolically to the search for salvation and the discovery of new directions in moments of adversity.

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Historical Context

Acts 27 narrates the voyage of Paul as a prisoner on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar.

The journey takes place in the first century AD, during a time when sea travel was fraught with danger, especially in the volatile weather conditions of the Mediterranean.

Shipwrecks were not uncommon, and navigational tools were basic compared to modern standards.

The verse is part of a larger story that demonstrates divine providence and Paul's leadership amidst crisis. Culturally, the event illustrates the perils of travel in antiquity and the reliance on divine intervention for survival.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Paul's shipwreck can be seen as a metaphor for human helplessness and God's deliverance.

The recognition that they did not know the land speaks to the idea of human limitation and the need for divine guidance.

The will to push the ship towards the creek can be interpreted as an act of faith and a gesture towards redemption, entering a safe haven or promised land.

Various theological viewpoints might draw parallels between this narrative and the concept of salvation or God providing a refuge for His faithful in times of trouble.

Practical Applications

Acts 27:39 can be applied to everyday life in several ways. It teaches the value of perseverance and hope in the midst of uncertainty and encourages people to take initiative when facing challenges.

The verse suggests the importance of being observant, resourceful, and willing to adapt when confronted with unexpected circumstances.

Furthermore, it may inspire individuals to seek divine guidance and trust in a higher power when navigating the unknown aspects of their own lives.

Cross-References

Acts 27:22 – "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."
Acts 27:44 – "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."

Acts 28:1 – "And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita."
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 107:28-30 – "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key words in this verse carry significant meanings:

"katalabousin" (καταλαβούσιν): this verb means "they knew not," implying a lack of recognition or understanding of the place.
"anakuptontes" (ἀνακύψαντες): translated as "they discovered," which means "they observed" or "they looked closely."
"kolpon" (κόλπον): the word for "creek," which can refer to a bay or inlet.
"bouleusamenoi" (βουλευσάμενοι): meaning "they were minded" or "they planned" showing deliberate intention.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The story of Paul's shipwreck can be compared to other ancient accounts of sea voyages and divine intervention.

In Greek mythology, Odysseus's journey as described in Homer's "Odyssey" includes shipwrecks and divine encounters.

Similarly, Paul's reliance on God during the shipwreck and resulting safe passage to Malta may parallel accounts where individuals or peoples are guided to their destinies by the gods, such as the founding of Rome ascribed to Aeneas in Virgil's "Aeneid."

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the detailed description of the shipwreck in Acts 27 provides insights into ancient maritime practices and the natural conditions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Modern studies of weather patterns and archaeological findings of ancient shipwrecks offer corroborating evidence for the plausibility of the biblical account.

Furthermore, the description of identifying unknown land and using physical landmarks aligns with ancient methods of navigation by sight.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various interpretations of Acts 27:39.

For instance, Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the miraculous preservation of Paul and his companions and the fulfillment of God's promise that all would be saved.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible discusses the practical and spiritual aspects of the shipwreck account, mentioning God's providence and the courage of those on board.

Other modern commentaries discuss the historical accuracy, geographical details provided in the narrative, and Paul's leadership role during the crisis.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:39 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 27:39 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?