Acts 27 28

Acts 27:28 kjv

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

Acts 27:28 nkjv

And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

Acts 27:28 niv

They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep.

Acts 27:28 esv

So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.

Acts 27:28 nlt

They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 28 Meaning

Acts 27:28 describes the critical stage of Paul's shipwreck voyage where the sailors, in a desperate attempt to ascertain their proximity to danger amidst a violent storm, repeatedly measured the depth of the sea. Their initial measurement revealed a depth of twenty fathoms, but after a short distance, a subsequent measurement showed the water had become significantly shallower, registering fifteen fathoms. This decreasing depth signals imminent peril, indicating they were rapidly approaching treacherous shallow waters or a coastline in the dark and storm, which would lead to grounding and the ship's destruction.

Acts 27 28 Context

Acts 27 details Paul's perilous journey as a prisoner sailing towards Rome. The chapter is a gripping maritime narrative, characterized by a massive, fourteen-day tempest (the "Euroclydon") that completely disorients the ship and drains all hope from its passengers and crew. Despite Paul's earlier warnings against sailing, the ship's master and owner disregarded them. After days of relentless storm, where neither sun nor stars were visible, rendering all navigation impossible, the crew had jettisoned cargo and ship's tackle in a desperate bid to save the vessel. Amidst this despair, Paul received a divine promise that though the ship would be lost, all 276 lives on board would be saved. Verse 28 is set in the very late hours of the fourteenth night, where the professional sailors are trying to avoid an unseen shipwreck. The act of "sounding" reveals they are fast approaching land or rocks, creating extreme tension as the divine promise of safety hangs over the stark reality of immediate danger. This specific context highlights the clash between human fear and God's sovereign assurance.

Acts 27 28 Word analysis

• And they sounded (Καὶ βολίσαντες - Kai bolisantes):
  • βολίσαντες (bolisantes): From the verb βολίζω (bolizo), meaning "to heave the lead" or "to take soundings." This refers to a common ancient nautical practice. A weighted line (sounding-lead) would be thrown from the ship, and the length of the line that unspooled until the weight touched the seabed indicated the depth. Sailors felt the lead hit the bottom, then measured the wet portion of the line. This was a critical navigation technique to avoid shallow waters, especially at night or in poor visibility. It highlights the crew's experienced but desperate attempts to preserve the ship.
• and found it twenty fathoms:
  • fathoms (ὀργυιὰς - orguias): A Greek measure, ὀργυιά (orguia), equivalent to the length of a man's outstretched arms, roughly 6 feet or 1.8 meters. Thus, twenty fathoms is about 120 feet (approx. 36.6 meters). This depth indicates a significant amount of water beneath the ship, not immediately perilous for an ocean-going vessel in open water, but concerning if approaching land in a storm. It signifies initial caution.
• and when they had gone a little further:
  • This phrase emphasizes continuous, forward motion despite the danger, probably driven by the gale. The "little further" implies a short, perhaps anxious, interval as the ship was pushed by the storm. This progression leads directly to increased peril.
• they sounded again:
  • The repetition of "sounded" signifies heightened alert and professional diligence. The first sounding indicated they were approaching shallower water; the second was an urgent re-check to determine the rate of depth decrease and imminent danger. It reflects mounting anxiety and a worsening situation.
• and found it fifteen fathoms:
  • A drop of five fathoms (30 feet or 9 meters) in a short distance is alarming. Fifteen fathoms (about 90 feet or 27.4 meters) is considerably shallower and signals immediate, severe danger for a large ship tossed by a storm. It means they were rapidly nearing underwater hazards like reefs or the shoreline, facing an unavoidable grounding if no action was taken. This abrupt decrease in depth serves as a critical indicator of the imminent shipwreck predicted by Paul.

Words-group analysis:

• "sounded, and found it": This phrase details the practical, investigative actions of the seasoned mariners. They are not merely guessing but performing a measured observation to gain critical information for survival. This underlines the realism and empirical nature of the account, showing the crew's last professional resort.
• "twenty fathoms... fifteen fathoms": The numerical precision, from a deeper measure to a notably shallower one, builds dramatic tension and highlights the escalating danger. This numerical decrease is central to the verse's meaning, indicating a rapid and perilous approach to unseen land. It transforms a generalized storm narrative into one with specific, immediate threat.

Acts 27 28 Bonus section

The mention of specific fathom depths not only authenticates Luke's account as being derived from an eyewitness (or highly detailed source, potentially even Paul himself) but also reflects Luke's attention to precise details as a skilled chronicler. Many ancient Greek and Roman historical writings, especially concerning sea travel, lacked such precise nautical specifics, which adds a layer of verisimilitude to the narrative of Acts. This detail provides a concrete, measurable sense of the dire predicament and reinforces the expertise of the crew, who would instantly understand the profound danger posed by the rapidly decreasing depths. Their immediate response in the subsequent verses (Acts 27:29, dropping four anchors) is directly based on these crucial soundings.

Acts 27 28 Commentary

Acts 27:28 marks a turning point in the harrowing narrative of Paul's voyage, signaling the definitive and immediate proximity of the promised shipwreck. The act of "sounding" was the primary method of ancient mariners to gauge depth, a vital procedure particularly critical in a tempest-blasted night without visibility. The specific, decreasing measurements—from twenty to fifteen fathoms—are not mere descriptive details; they are chilling harbingers of imminent disaster. This rapid shallowing of the water meant the ship was being driven towards land or a reef, with catastrophic grounding almost inevitable.

Yet, embedded within this scene of human panic and natural fury, divine providence is at play. Paul had already delivered God's assurance of safety for all on board, even as the vessel itself was doomed. The professional sailors, unaware of God's overarching plan, diligently performed their duties to try and save the ship, despite it being a futile endeavor against God's decree. The very danger they detected served to confirm the divine prophecy given through Paul (Acts 27:26), reinforcing the sovereignty of God over all circumstances, even a raging storm. This verse beautifully illustrates how God’s plan unfolds not always by miraculous intervention that negates natural processes, but often by guiding and encompassing them.