Acts 27 20

Acts 27:20 kjv

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.

Acts 27:20 nkjv

Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

Acts 27:20 niv

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Acts 27:20 esv

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Acts 27:20 nlt

The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 20 Meaning

Acts 27:20 profoundly captures a moment of ultimate human despair during a severe sea storm. It describes the harrowing situation where, for many continuous days, the crucial celestial guides—the sun and stars—were hidden from view, signifying complete disorientation. This ceaseless period of navigational blindness was coupled with the unrelenting force of an "enormous" tempest that constantly pressed upon them. The combined physical and psychological toll led the ship's entire company to abandon all hope of survival or being rescued from their perilous predicament.

Acts 27 20 Context

Acts chapter 27 provides a vivid, detailed account of Paul's arduous sea voyage as a prisoner being transported to Rome for trial before Caesar. After setting sail from Fair Havens despite Paul's warnings, the ship, a large Alexandrian grain vessel, was caught by a devastating north-easterly tempest, the "Euraquilo" (v. 14). Over several days, the crew fought relentlessly to save the ship, employing various desperate measures like undergirding the hull, lowering the sea anchor, and jettisoning cargo and ship's tackle (v. 16-19). Verse 20 describes the climax of this relentless struggle. After an extended period without any visible sun or stars—essential for navigation in the ancient world—and the storm showing no sign of abating, the crew and passengers reached their absolute breaking point. This complete exhaustion of all human solutions and the loss of all external markers of hope precede Paul's divine assurance in the following verses, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention.

Acts 27 20 Word analysis

• And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days:

  • And when: "Ὅτε δέ" (Hote de) – This phrase introduces a pivotal moment, marking a critical transition point in their prolonged ordeal, signaling the onset of absolute despair.
  • neither sun nor stars: "μήτε ἡλίου μήτε ἄστρων" (mēte hēliou mēte astrōn) – This highlights the complete loss of celestial guidance. In the ancient world, the sun indicated direction and time during the day, while specific stars, particularly the North Star, were vital for night navigation. Their continuous absence rendered ancient maritime skills useless, placing them in an existential limbo.
  • appeared: "ἐπιφαινόντων" (epiphainontōn) – A present participle indicating a continuous state of not appearing. This emphasizes the relentless cloud cover and stormy conditions, preventing any glimmer of hope or orientation from the heavens for a sustained period.
  • for many days: "ἐπὶ πλείονας ἡμέρας" (epi pleionas hēmeras) – Signifies an extended, arduous duration, likely over a week or more from the storm's initial onset. This prolonged period intensified physical exhaustion, dwindling supplies, and, most critically, psychological torment, leading to the ultimate loss of hope.

• and no small tempest lay on us:

  • and no small tempest: "χειμῶνός τε οὐκ ὀλίγου" (cheimōnos te ouk oligou) – This employs a rhetorical figure known as litotes, a double negative that powerfully emphasizes the positive. "Not a small tempest" translates to an immensely violent, continuous, and devastating storm. The Greek word for "tempest" (χειμών, cheimōn) implies a winter storm, characterized by extreme cold and severe weather, contributing to the prolonged suffering.
  • lay on us: "ἐπικειμένου" (epikeimenou) – A vivid present participle meaning "lying upon," "pressing down," or "impending." It conveys the imagery of the storm's oppressive, relentless force physically and psychologically weighing down the ship and its occupants, leaving no respite or moment of calm.

• all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned:

  • all hope: "πᾶσα ἐλπὶς" (pasa elpis) – Emphasizes totality; not a fragment of hope remained, but every last expectation of survival or rescue was extinguished. It highlights the profound depth of their despair.
  • of our being saved: "τοῦ σώζεσθαι ἡμᾶς" (tou sōzesthai hēmas) – Refers specifically to physical rescue from death or shipwreck. This was their ultimate concern, and the very concept of such salvation seemed utterly impossible from a human perspective.
  • was at last abandoned: "περιῃρεῖτο λοιπόν" (periēreito loipon) – The imperfect indicative "περιῃρεῖτο" signifies a process of being taken away or removed, rather than a single sudden event, suggesting a gradual but complete fading and eventual definitive surrender of hope. "λοιπόν" (loipon), meaning "finally" or "henceforth," confirms this was their final state of mind, leaving them with no further human options.

Acts 27 20 Bonus section

Luke's choice of language and detailed observations throughout Acts 27 (especially verse 20) are consistent with an eyewitness account and reflect his background as a physician. He understood the profound physical and psychological impact of sustained trauma and disorientation. The phrase "no small tempest" serves as a literary device (litotes) to underline the unprecedented and terrifying nature of the storm, often referred to by commentators as a "perfect storm." This verse also highlights a universal truth: sometimes, divine rescue only becomes apparent when all other avenues have been exhausted. The relinquishment of all hope can, counter-intuitively, be the very point where genuine faith in God's provision can take root.

Acts 27 20 Commentary

Acts 27:20 dramatically portrays the absolute limits of human endurance and capability in the face of an overwhelming natural force. Luke's meticulous details, such as the prolonged absence of celestial guidance and the unrelenting severity of the tempest, are not merely descriptive but serve a profound theological purpose. This verse marks the nadir of human hope, illustrating that when all human strength, skill, and expectation fail, it is precisely then that God's sovereign power and faithfulness are poised to be revealed. The utter despair described here sets the perfect stage for Paul, a mere prisoner, to become God's vessel of hope and miraculous deliverance in the subsequent narrative, proving that God's plans for His servants will not be thwarted by the greatest of earthly perils. This complete human abandonment of hope foreshadows divine intervention.