Acts 27 27

Acts 27:27 kjv

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;

Acts 27:27 nkjv

Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.

Acts 27:27 niv

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

Acts 27:27 esv

When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.

Acts 27:27 nlt

About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 27 Meaning

Acts 27:27 describes a pivotal moment during Paul's shipwreck journey to Rome. After fourteen nights of being relentlessly tossed by a severe storm, the sailors aboard the ship began to suspect that they were approaching land. This marks the beginning of the end of the dire period of being lost at sea and hints at the impending arrival at a coast, initiating the next phase of God's sovereign plan.

Acts 27 27 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's incredibly perilous voyage as a prisoner being transported to Rome. Earlier, Paul, guided by divine insight, had warned against sailing, but his advice was ignored. The ship then encountered a fierce Northeasterly gale, "Euroclydon," which drove it helplessly for many days. The situation became so desperate that all hope of being saved was lost (v. 20). It was in this utter despair that Paul stood among the shipmates, recounting a divine vision wherein an angel assured him that not a single life would be lost, though the ship itself would be wrecked (vv. 22-26). Verse 27 takes place 14 days after the storm began, after this divine assurance from Paul, but before its physical fulfillment. The verse marks a subtle, humanly perceived shift from utter lostness to the first glimmer of nearing a coast, thereby setting the immediate stage for the ship's eventual shipwreck on Malta. Historically, ancient mariners had very little ability to navigate without sun or stars, making a 14-day uncontrolled drift an extreme and terrifying ordeal. The "Adriatic Sea" in Luke's usage here likely referred to a larger area, encompassing the waters between Sicily, Italy, Crete, and Malta, not just the modern Adriatic Sea.

Acts 27 27 Word analysis

• When the fourteenth night: (Gk. Tetartēkaidekatē nukti - τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατῇ νυκτί).
  • Fourteenth night: Emphasizes the extended duration of their harrowing ordeal, 13 full days of being driven without control. It highlights the endurance and desperation of all aboard, pushing human limits. This precise detail is characteristic of Luke, who likely compiled eye-witness accounts or was himself present. It suggests a cumulative sense of exhaustion and anxiety.
• had come: (Gk. genomenēs - γενομένης).
  • Indicates the arrival of this specific night, marking a point in time where the preceding thirteen days of relentless storm culminate in a significant event.
• as we were driven up and down: (Gk. diapheromenōn hēmōn - διαφερομένων ἡμῶν).
  • Driven up and down: Suggests being completely at the mercy of the wind and waves, unable to steer or control the ship's direction. The ship was 'tossed to and fro,' vividly conveying the violent, uncontrollable nature of their movement. This underscores human helplessness against nature's fury and the deep sense of lostness. The verb form implies continuous action.
  • we: Refers to Luke, Paul, and the entire ship's company, indicating shared experience and danger.
• in the Adriatic Sea: (Gk. en tē Adriᾳ - ἐν τῇ Ἀδρίᾳ).
  • Adriatic Sea: Identifies the geographical region. In ancient usage, this term had a wider meaning than today, encompassing the seas west of Greece and between Italy and the island of Malta, showing the extent of their drift.
• about midnight: (Gk. peri mesonuktion - περὶ μεσονύκτιον).
  • Midnight: A specific time, often associated with a moment of turning or significant events in biblical narratives. It marks the deepest darkness before the new day, possibly symbolizing the spiritual hope beginning to dawn after their despair.
• the sailors perceived: (Gk. hypenooūn hoi nautai - ὑπενοοῦν οἱ ναῦται).
  • Perceived: Implies sensing something instinctively, intuitively, or through subtle changes, rather than seeing definitively. This suggests they suspected or conjectured based on sound (breakers), current, or perhaps even smell of land, a common method for ancient mariners. It's a human observation, contrasting with Paul's earlier divine revelation.
• that they were drawing near to some land: (Gk. prosagein heautois tina gen - προσαγεῖν ἑαυτοῖς τινά γῆν).
  • Drawing near: The impending approach to a coast.
  • some land: Implies uncertainty about which land or island, only that any land was becoming near. This immediate possibility offers a glimmer of hope after prolonged despair, initiating a new set of dangers and actions.

Acts 27 27 Bonus section

• Luke's meticulous historical and geographical details, including the precise number of days ("fourteenth night") and the specific sea ("Adriatic"), underscore the authenticity and reliability of his account as a witness or through careful research.
• This verse showcases the tension between human professional experience (the sailors' perception) and divine foresight given through Paul. The sailors could only surmise, whereas Paul knew with certainty because of direct revelation from God.
• The transition from hopelessness (Acts 27:20, where all hope was lost) to the first faint stirrings of potential salvation (in this verse) illustrates a common biblical theme: God often allows situations to become utterly desperate before His deliverance becomes apparent, highlighting His sovereignty and teaching dependence on Him.
• The "midnight" timing, in many biblical contexts, marks a critical turning point—whether for judgment, revelation, or deliverance—and here, it serves as the precise moment the tides of despair begin to turn toward hope and resolution.

Acts 27 27 Commentary

Acts 27:27 serves as a crucial turning point in the dramatic account of Paul's shipwreck. For fourteen agonizing days and nights, the ship had been hopelessly at the mercy of the powerful Euroclydon, reflecting a profound human experience of utter loss and desperation. The specific mention of "the fourteenth night" emphasizes the length and severity of their ordeal, pushing everyone to their limits. "About midnight" heightens the drama, as the deepest point of natural darkness coincides with the first intuitive sense of relief. It's a remarkable moment where the seasoned sailors, whose expert knowledge had failed them against the storm's ferocity, now perceive a subtle change in their circumstances. This perception is not yet a clear sight of land, but an intimation, a gut feeling—perhaps from the change in the sound of the waves, or subtle shifts in currents. This verse is the first concrete sign that Paul's earlier prophecy of salvation for all on board, though with the loss of the ship, is beginning its physical fulfillment. It introduces the transition from the overwhelming, uncontrollable chaos of the storm to the immediate, equally dangerous, prospect of a shipwreck.