Acts 27:30 kjv
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
Acts 27:30 nkjv
And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
Acts 27:30 niv
In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
Acts 27:30 esv
And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,
Acts 27:30 nlt
Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.
Acts 27 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 27:10 | "...and warned them, 'Men, I perceive that this voyage will be with injury and much loss...' " | Foreshadowing the peril |
| Acts 27:31 | "'...Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.'" | Paul's insight |
| John 15:5 | "...Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides... | Divine dependence for survival |
| Galatians 6:2 | "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | Christian duty to others |
| Romans 12:10 | "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;" | Mutual love and service |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." | God's provision in trial |
| Philippians 2:3-4 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." | Christian humility and altruism |
| Matthew 10:33 | "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." | Loyalty and integrity |
| Psalm 55:12-14 | "For it was not an enemy who reproached me; Then I could have borne it...But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We--------------------- | The pain of betrayal by trusted ones |
| Proverbs 11:1 | "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight." | God's view of dishonesty |
| Ephesians 4:25 | "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Each one speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." | Truthfulness in community |
| Genesis 50:20 | "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good..." | God's sovereign purpose |
| Acts 20:23 | "...but that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me." | Paul's awareness of suffering |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." | Divine providence in adversity |
| Acts 16:25-26 | "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a great earthquake..." | Faith amidst dire circumstances |
| 1 Peter 2:17 | "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." | Respect for all persons |
| Jude 1:3 | "...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." | Steadfastness in faith |
| 1 Corinthians 13:4 | "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;" | The nature of true love |
| 1 Samuel 12:23 | "Moreover, as for me, far be it from my crime against the Lord to cease praying for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way." | Intercession for others |
| 2 Corinthians 11:26 | "Journeys often, in danger from the river, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger on the sea, in danger among false brethren;" | Paul's extensive perils |
Acts 27 verses
Acts 27 30 Meaning
The sailors, seeking to save themselves, pretended to be letting down the ship's anchors from the prow. This act was driven by their fear of breaking up on the rocks and their deceitful intention to escape without the passengers, especially Paul.
Acts 27 30 Context
This verse occurs in Acts chapter 27, detailing the Apostle Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. The ship, carrying Paul as a prisoner, has encountered a violent storm known as a "tempest." The ship's crew and soldiers are in despair, recognizing the direness of their situation. The Jewish sailors and soldiers likely understood the dangers of shipwreck on the rocky shores of Malta. The verse reveals a plot by the sailors to abandon the ship and the passengers, using the pretext of securing the ship with anchors from the front. This action highlights the natural human instinct for self-preservation in extreme circumstances, contrasting with Paul's unwavering trust in God and his concern for the lives of others.
Acts 27 30 Word Analysis
- δεσμώται (desmōtai): "the prisoners." Refers to Paul and any other prisoners on board.
- ἱμᾶς (himas): "ropes." Specifically, ropes used for securing the ship.
- πηδάλια (pēdalia): "rudders" or "steering oars." Implies the intention to manipulate the ship's steering.
- ἐμπηδόν (empēdon): "from the prow," or "into the sea" from the front. Indicates the direction or method of deploying the anchors.
- ἀγκύρας (ankyras): "anchors." These were essential for stabilizing the ship, especially in a storm.
- καταβιβασαντων (katabivasantōn): "having let down," or "having lowered." The participle indicates a completed action by the sailors.
- ὑποκρίσει (hypokrisei): "under a pretense," or "with a hypocrisy." This is a crucial word revealing the deceitful nature of their action. It points to acting a part, a dissimulation.
- δοκοῦντα (dokounta): "what seemed," or "what appeared to be." They made it appear as if they were performing a necessary nautical procedure.
- μεταπέμπεσθαι (metapempesthai): "to send for," or "to summon." This indicates their plan to lower themselves into the sea using the ropes associated with the anchors, to be rescued by another vessel. This is often associated with summoning someone to a different place.
Words group by words-group analysis:
- "the sailors, seeking to save themselves, pretending to let down the ship's anchors from the prow": This phrase encapsulates the sailors' plan to use the act of deploying anchors as a cover for their escape. They were not genuinely concerned with securing the ship but rather with creating an opportunity to abandon it.
Acts 27 30 Bonus Section
The concept of using a ship's essential functions or equipment for escape, disguised as a necessary operation, speaks to human ingenuity in times of crisis, often tinged with self-interest. This event could be seen as a micro-illustration of a larger spiritual principle: relying on God's provision versus human, often deceitful, plans. The specific mention of lowering anchors from the prow (front) rather than the stern (rear) is a significant nautical detail, though the precise method of their escape through this means isn't fully elaborated. The Greek word hypokrisei is a foundational term for "hypocrisy" and finds echoes in Jesus' strong rebukes of the Pharisees. This act also subtly anticipates the disciples' occasional failures in faith when tested, though Paul himself would later counteract this despair.
Acts 27 30 Commentary
The sailors' actions in this verse reveal a fundamental conflict between self-preservation and communal responsibility, exacerbated by fear. Their ploy to lower the anchors was a desperate attempt to escape the impending wreck, using the very equipment meant to stabilize the ship as their means of flight. The word "hypocrisy" highlights their deliberate deception, showing a willingness to endanger everyone else for their own survival. This starkly contrasts with Paul's character and faith, who earlier warned of the voyage's dangers and later assured them of their safety (Acts 27:31). Their plan was not about actual anchoring but about using the process to get into the water and presumably to a lifeboat or another means of escape, thus betraying the trust placed in their seamanship.