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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 27:44 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:44 speaks of the climax of a perilous journey by ship experienced by the Apostle Paul and other individuals.

The verse describes the final moments of their escape from a shipwreck in which they were forced to rely on whatever debris they could find to keep afloat and reach safety.

Specifically, it details that some of the ship's passengers used boards while others clung to broken pieces of the ship to survive.

The emphasis is on the collective deliverance of all those aboard, as they all managed to reach the land safely.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the narrative in Acts 27 where Paul, as a prisoner being transported to Rome for trial, encounters a severe storm at sea. In this historical context, sea travel was hazardous, and shipwrecks were not uncommon.

The account in Acts 27 is an example of such dangers and highlights the faith and leadership of Paul during the crisis. It fits within the broader historical context of the early Christian church and its struggles as recounted in the New Testament.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse may represent the providence and salvation of God.

It shows that despite the dire circumstances, God can use even the fragmented remains of human hope (in this case, literal broken pieces of a ship) to bring about His purpose and ensure the safety of His people.

The verse can be interpreted as a metaphor for salvation, how individuals may come to God through various means, but all are saved through His grace.

Practical Applications

One could draw a lesson of resilience and resourcefulness from this verse.

It suggests that in times of crisis, one might have to make do with what is at hand, no matter how insufficient or broken it may seem.

Furthermore, it underscores the importance of community and mutual support, as everyone’s survival was dependent not only on their individual efforts but also on the collective action of the group.

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 27:31 - "Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved."
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;"

Language Study

In the original Greek language, the word for "boards" is "σανίς" (sanis), meaning plank or board.

The term for "broken pieces" is "κλάσμα" (klasma), pertaining to something that has been broken or fragmented.

These terms paint a vivid picture of the survivors clinging to whatever wreckage they could to save their lives.

The clear distinction in Greek between “some” (οἱ μέν) and “others” (οἱ δέ) also indicates diversity in how each person found their means of survival.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient myths, stories of cataclysmic floods and shipwrecks are common and are often associated with divine intervention or wrath.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim survives a great flood sent by the gods.

The biblical narrative of Noah's Ark in Genesis also presents a story of divine deliverance from a flood.

These cultural narratives underscore a recurring theme: survival against the odds through faith or favor of the divine.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding of survival at sea would involve knowledge of hypothermia, dehydration, the mechanics of buoyancy, and the physical stamina required to hold onto floating objects.

The passage of Acts 27:44 provides a realistic portrayal of a shipwreck's aftermath that aligns with what is known today about survival in such conditions.

Commentaries

According to Matthew Henry's commentary, the safe landing of all on board is an instance of God's faithful preservation.

He emphasizes that Paul's presence and God's providence are what delivered them safely, and that all means of safety should be made use of, in a dependence on God's providence.

John Gill's exposition also remarks on the fulfillment of God's promise given to Paul that no lives would be lost in this shipwreck, a promise which required faith and effort on the part of those on board to come to fruition.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:44 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 27:44 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?