Acts 27:17 kjv
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.
Acts 27:17 nkjv
When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
Acts 27:17 niv
so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.
Acts 27:17 esv
After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.
Acts 27:17 nlt
Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
Acts 27 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 27:14 | But soon a tempestuous wind, called the "Northeaster," struck them. | Shipwreck foreshadowing |
| Acts 27:15 | When the ship was caught and could not be kept facing the wind, | Lack of control |
| Acts 27:16 | they let her drive. | Surrender to the elements |
| Acts 27:18 | Now when we had a rough sea beyond measure, the next day they light | Physical distress |
| Acts 27:19 | ened the ship of their freight. | Giving up possessions |
| Acts 27:20 | And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small | Loss of navigation |
| Acts 27:20 | tempest beat upon us, all hope that we should be saved was | Despair |
| Acts 27:25 | But take heart, men, for there will be no loss of life among you, | Divine assurance |
| Acts 27:30 | But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship, and had let down | Attempted escape |
| Acts 27:31 | the ship's boat into the sea on the pretense of about to run out | Deception/cowardice |
| Acts 27:33 | As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, | Trusting in God during trials |
| Acts 28:1 | When we had escaped, we learned that the island was called Malta. | Deliverance |
| Job 9:8 | He alone spreads out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea | God's power over nature |
| Ps 107:23 | Some went down to the seas in ships, doing business on the great waters | Human endeavors at sea |
| Ps 107:25 | For he commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts the waves | God's control of storms |
| Ps 107:28 | Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them | Crying to God in distress |
| Ps 107:29 | He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea hushed. | Divine intervention |
| Prov 1:33 | but who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without | Peace through obedience |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the | God's presence in trials |
| Jer 51:57 | I will make them drunk, that they may prophesy, and that they may | Judgment through intoxication |
| Jonah 1:4 | But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty | God sending a storm |
| Jonah 1:12 | But Jonah said to them, "I know that it is on my account that this | Personal responsibility for trouble |
| Luke 5:4 | When Simon Peter had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out | Jesus' authority over the sea |
| Heb 6:19 | We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, | Hope as an anchor |
| Rev 18:10 | and from a distance they will stand and cry out over her downfall, | Lament over destruction |
Acts 27 verses
Acts 27 17 Meaning
This verse describes the actions taken by Paul and his companions during a difficult sea journey, specifically when faced with a violent storm. They were in distress and experiencing prolonged hardship. They lowered the ship's boat, intending to set the "sea anchors," which are devices used to slow down a ship and keep it from being driven backward by the waves and wind. This action was a measure of desperation to secure the vessel.
Acts 27 17 Context
This verse is found in Acts chapter 27, which details the apostle Paul's perilous voyage to Rome, under guard. He is on a ship sailing with other prisoners and Roman soldiers, under the charge of Julius, a centurion. The chapter describes the gradual worsening of a storm after they depart from Fair Havens. This specific verse occurs when the storm has become severe, threatening the lives of everyone aboard. The maritime conditions are described as extreme, leading to a point of near total despair and helplessness. The cultural context involves Roman maritime law and practices, as well as the prevalent understanding of sailing and survival at sea during the first century.
Acts 27 17 Word analysis
- they - refers to the sailors and possibly Paul and the others on the ship.
- took up - indicates a lifting action, possibly a strenuous one given the circumstances.
- the boat - refers to the ship's lifeboat or tender, a smaller vessel carried on larger ships.
- and - conjunction connecting two actions.
- doubtless - This Greek word (ἀμφιβόλους, amphipólous) can be translated as "doubtless" or "fastened," or even referring to "boat-ropes" or "boats." It's debated among scholars. Some see it as an adverb describing how the boat was managed, implying carefulness. Others interpret it as a reference to the securing lines or anchors that held the small boat. Another significant interpretation is that it refers to the sea anchors themselves, or ropes used with them.
- let them down - describes the act of lowering the boat, presumably into the water. This is in preparation for deploying the sea anchors.
- after they had made fast - this phrase relates to securing the boat with ropes.
- to the ship - indicates the attachment point for the securing lines.
Word group analysis:
- took up the boat, and let them down after they had made fast to the ship: This sequence of actions highlights the attempts to manage the ship's survival in the storm. The small boat, instead of being used for escape (as some soldiers later attempted), was being utilized as an auxiliary means to keep the main vessel stable.
Acts 27 17 Bonus section
The term translated as "doubtless" (ἀμφιβόλους) is linguistically challenging. Some scholars suggest it might refer to grappling hooks or some specific equipment used to attach the lifeboat. However, the most commonly accepted interpretation in light of the context is related to "sea anchors." Sea anchors are designed not to hold the vessel in one spot but to control its drift and prevent the stern from being tossed by waves. They are essentially drogues that increase drag, keeping the bow pointed into the waves or slowing the sideways motion. This practical nautical technique underscores the grave danger and the need for extreme measures to survive. The description also emphasizes the vulnerability of even a large Roman ship and its complement of people to the overwhelming power of nature.
Acts 27 17 Commentary
The verse depicts a critical moment of crisis management at sea. The prevailing storm had incapacitated the ship, and traditional sailing methods were failing. The action of lowering the boat and securing it indicates a strategy to provide drag and stability, essentially creating artificial anchors (sea anchors) from the ship's boat to prevent it from being driven uncontrollably by the wind and waves. This suggests a calculated, albeit desperate, effort by the experienced crew and possibly with guidance from Paul, who later offered reassurance based on divine revelation. This was not an attempt to abandon ship, but rather to keep the ship from being broken apart by the relentless elements, a practical but difficult maneuver in such conditions. The uncertainty implied by "doubtless" may reflect the precariousness of the task or the difficulty in accurately identifying the precise equipment being used by the sailors, given varying textual readings.