Acts 27 41

Acts 27:41 kjv

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

Acts 27:41 nkjv

But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

Acts 27:41 niv

But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

Acts 27:41 esv

But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.

Acts 27:41 nlt

But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 41 Meaning

Acts 27:41 vividly describes the dramatic shipwreck of Paul's vessel near Malta. The ship, driven by the storm, struck a hazardous geographical feature where colliding currents created treacherous conditions, likely a sandbar or reef. The front part of the ship became immovably lodged in this obstruction, while the relentless force of the pounding waves progressively broke apart and shattered the ship's stern. This verse marks the physical end of the ship, setting the stage for the fulfillment of Paul's prophecy that, though the ship would be lost, every life on board would be saved through God's miraculous providence.

Acts 27 41 Context

Acts chapter 27 details the perilous voyage of Paul and other prisoners being transported to Rome under Roman guard. The chapter is a gripping narrative of a prolonged, violent storm (a "Euroclydon," or northeaster) that battered their ship for fourteen days. Despite Paul's earlier warning to winter at Fair Havens, the centurion chose to press on, resulting in the harrowing ordeal. During the storm, Paul, strengthened by a divine vision, assured all 276 people on board that though the ship would be lost, no lives would perish. The crew's desperate attempts to lighten the ship, even discarding cargo and tackle, proved insufficient against the storm's fury. Finally, the ship, uncontrollably driven, neared land, and the sailors attempted to steer it towards a sheltered bay. Verse 41 describes the ship's final fate upon encountering the unforgiving topography of the sea near shore. This immediate physical destruction is crucial to highlighting the miraculous nature of the eventual rescue and the trustworthiness of God's prophetic word given through Paul.

Acts 27 41 Word analysis

• But lighting upon (προσπίπτοντες, prospiptontes): Literally "falling upon" or "striking against." This word emphasizes the sudden, violent, and uncontrolled impact. The ship wasn't gently guided but driven by immense force into its fatal position. It conveys a sense of passive, inevitable collision rather than active navigation.

• a place where two seas met (τόπον δίθαλασσον, topon dithalasson): This refers to a specific type of geographical feature. "Dithalassos" (from dis "twice" and thalassa "sea") describes a location where two currents meet, creating turbulent water, or a narrow land feature like a sandbar or an isthmus with sea on both sides. Such places are notoriously dangerous for ancient navigation due to strong, conflicting currents, hidden reefs, or shoals. This detail enhances the realism and perilous nature of the situation.

• they ran the ship aground (ἐπώκειλαν τὴν ναῦν, epokeilan ten naun): This means "to run aground," "to beach," or "to stick in the sand/mud." The strong currents and perhaps shallow water forced the ship onto the seabed, immobilizing it. It wasn't merely caught; it was driven ashore and embedded.

• and the forepart (ἡ πρῷρα, hē prōira): Refers to the bow, the front section of the ship.

• stuck fast (ἐρείσασα, ereisasa): Meaning "to fix," "to stick firm," "to become embedded." The bow became deeply and immovably lodged in the "place where two seas met." It describes a complete halt of forward motion and a secure entrapment.

• and remained unmoveable (ἀμετακίνητος ἔμεινεν, ametakinētos emeinon): This strongly reinforces the previous phrase. "Ametakinētos" means "unshakeable," "unmoved," "fixed." The bow was not just stuck for a moment but was permanently anchored, emphasizing the terminal state of the vessel.

• but the hinder part (ἡ πρύμνα, hē prymna): Refers to the stern, the rear section of the ship.

• was broken (ἐθραύετο, ethraueto): An imperfect tense verb, indicating a continuous or progressive action of "being broken," "shattering," or "being dashed to pieces." It wasn't a single catastrophic break but a relentless, ongoing splintering.

• with the violence of the waves (ὑπὸ τῆς βίας τῶν κυμάτων, hupo tēs bias tōn kymatōn): This highlights the direct cause of the stern's destruction. "Bias" means "force," "violence," "compulsion," conveying the immense and destructive power of the storm's waves battering the ship's vulnerable rear section.

• "lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground": This phrase encapsulates the ship's desperate, uncontrolled plunge into its fate. The combination of geographic peril and powerful currents determined its ultimate resting place, defying human attempts at control.

• "the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable": This segment emphasizes the ship's irreversible demise. The bow becoming fixed signifies the ship's structural failure and its transformation into a wreck.

• "but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves": This powerfully contrasts the immobility of the bow with the violent destruction of the stern. It illustrates the relentless destructive force of nature even after the ship has grounded, creating an immediate and active threat to the people on board as the ship progressively disintegrated.

Acts 27 41 Bonus section

• The meticulous description of the shipwreck's details, particularly "where two seas met" and the specific manner of the ship's breaking, is a strong indicator of Luke's reliability as an historian and possibly an eyewitness. Naval historians and archaeologists have praised Luke's account for its precise nautical terminology and the accurate depiction of ancient seamanship and storm behavior.
• The incident at Acts 27:41 confirms the truth of Paul's prior prophecy from an angel (Acts 27:22, 24). It serves as a powerful demonstration of God's sovereign control over natural elements and the certain fulfillment of His Word, even when circumstances seem utterly bleak and desperate.
• The splitting of the ship (bow fixed, stern breaking) is strategically important for the escape plan detailed in the following verses (Acts 27:42-44), allowing some to reach land on planks and pieces of the ship. The "destruction" became the means of "deliverance."
• This shipwreck, while a moment of profound crisis, became a crucial step in Paul's divinely appointed journey to Rome, underscoring that even setbacks and disasters can serve a greater purpose within God's unfolding plan. It also positioned Paul as a significant figure in the eyes of the Roman soldiers and the Maltese islanders (Acts 28:1-10).

Acts 27 41 Commentary

Acts 27:41 marks the dramatic climax of the shipwreck narrative, where the vessel finally succumbs to the Euroclydon storm. This detailed description not only highlights the precise mechanics of the disaster – the bow wedged, the stern shattered – but also serves as a testament to the accuracy of Luke's account, potentially a first-hand observation or well-researched report. The specific phrase "place where two seas met" (dithalassos) suggests a recognizable geographical feature like a sandbar or reef at a point of converging currents, matching historical descriptions of St. Paul's Bay in Malta. While the destruction of the ship was complete, this verse immediately precedes the miraculous fulfillment of Paul's prophecy: all 276 lives are saved, some by swimming, others clinging to debris. The ship's breaking points—immobile bow, shattering stern—create natural platforms and debris that become instruments of salvation. Thus, even in complete destruction, God's promise holds true, showcasing divine providence overriding natural calamity, providing an object lesson in trusting God amidst seemingly insurmountable perils.