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

The verse describes the imminent shipwreck experienced by Paul and his companions. It signifies a critical moment of extreme danger where the ship is completely overwhelmed by the violent storm. The hope of survival for those on board seems extinguished by the relentless forces of nature, highlighting the perilous circumstances.

Acts 27 27 Context

Paul is on his final voyage to Rome to face trial. He had warned the centurion that the journey would be perilous, especially after the season for safe sailing had passed. Despite Paul's prophecy and the evident danger, the centurion heeded the pilot and owner's advice to sail on from Fair Havens. Now, they are caught in a severe tempest, a violent Mediterranean storm. This chapter details the desperate struggle for survival, marked by jettisoning cargo and abandoning equipment. The ship, a grain freighter from Alexandria, is tossed about uncontrollably by the storm.

Acts 27 27 Word analysis

• When (ὅτε - hote): Indicates a specific point in time.
• neither (μηδέ - mēde): A strong negation, introducing an additional negative element.
• sun (ἥλιος - hēlios): The celestial body providing light.
• nor (οὔτε - oute): Continues the negation.
• stars (ἄστρα - astra): Celestial bodies visible at night.
• appeared (ἐπιφαίνω - epiphainō): To come into view, to shine forth.
• for (ἐπὶ - epi): Preposition indicating over, upon, or for a period.
• many (ἱκανός - hikanos): Sufficient, enough.
• days (ἡμέραι - hēmerai): Units of time.
• neither (οὔτε - oute): Reinforces the negation, suggesting a prolonged absence.
• any (τις - tis): Any at all.
• long (προστρίβω - proStribō): Literally to rub against, here implying pressure or distress, suggesting the intensity and duration of their ordeal. This usage suggests the prolonged period of affliction.
• was (ἦν - ēn): Past tense of "to be."
• perilous (Επιφανὴς - Epiphanēs): Notable, conspicuous; used here to describe the extreme danger. Some interpret this to imply that the peril itself was now manifest and undeniable. The danger was not hidden, but openly revealed by the storm.
• the more (πλέον - pleon): More.
• we were (ἡμεῖς - hēmeis): Pronoun "we."
• perishing (ἀπολλύμεθα - apollymetha): Being destroyed, perishing.
• no small (οὐκ ὀλίγος - ouk oligos): Not a few; emphasizing a considerable or great amount.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "When neither sun nor stars for many days appeared": This phrase highlights the total disorientation and prolonged suffering. The absence of celestial navigation aids signifies complete loss of direction and the crushing duration of the storm, making the sailors feel utterly abandoned by the heavens.
• "no small peril": This signifies extreme and prolonged danger, exceeding normal levels of risk, indicating their lives were truly at stake and hope was waning. The combined effect of these elements intensifies the sense of impending doom.

Acts 27 27 Bonus section

The mention of "no small peril" emphasizes that the danger was substantial and overwhelming, not a minor inconvenience. This language often carries a significant weight in the Bible to describe severe or profound situations. The continuous absence of celestial bodies for "many days" signifies a sustained period of crisis, where natural order seemed to be disrupted or irrelevant to their plight. This emphasizes the extreme duration and intensity of their ordeal, moving beyond a single dramatic event to a prolonged state of desperate survival. This aligns with prophetic descriptions of difficult times that are prolonged.

Acts 27 27 Commentary

The verse underscores the utter desperation of Paul and his shipmates. The persistent lack of sunlight and the invisibility of stars for an extended period plunged them into a state of extreme peril. This prolonged darkness meant they could not navigate, could not gauge their position, and perhaps most significantly, lost all sense of hope. The storm had reached a severity where the natural guiding lights were obscured, and their continued survival seemed increasingly unlikely. This moment is a stark illustration of human vulnerability against the overwhelming power of nature, stripped of all external aids and reduced to the immediate experience of the destructive tempest.