Acts 27 9

Acts 27:9 kjv

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

Acts 27:9 nkjv

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Acts 27:9 niv

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them,

Acts 27:9 esv

Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Acts 27:9 nlt

We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship's officers about it.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 9 Meaning

Acts 27:9 describes a pivotal moment during Paul's sea voyage to Rome, where significant time had passed, leading to an inherently dangerous sailing period in the Mediterranean. This danger was specifically tied to the arrival of autumn, marked by the completion of "the Fast," referring to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Recognizing these perils, Paul issued a solemn warning to those in charge of the ship, advising against continuing the perilous journey. The verse highlights Paul's insight, the prevailing maritime risks of the season, and the context of Jewish calendrical events influencing ancient life and travel.

Acts 27 9 Context

Acts 27 recounts Paul's arduous journey to Rome as a prisoner. Having appealed to Caesar, he was put under the charge of a centurion named Julius, travelling on a ship bound for Italy. The immediate context preceding verse 9 is their slow progress due to strong headwinds, having reached Fair Havens in Crete. They were seeking a safer harbour for the winter. This verse sets the stage for a critical decision point where human judgment and maritime experience clash with Paul's divinely-inspired wisdom, initiating a perilous phase of their voyage marked by storms and eventual shipwreck. Historically, sailing the Mediterranean after mid-September, especially into October and November, was exceedingly dangerous due to violent seasonal gales and treacherous conditions, leading to an informal "closed season" for voyages until spring. The "Fast" (Yom Kippur), which typically falls in September or early October, served as a crucial traditional marker for the onset of this dangerous period, aligning religious observance with practical seasonal knowledge for many, though it often goes unheeded in pursuit of personal gain.

Acts 27 9 Word analysis

• When much time had been spent (ἱκανοῦ δὲ χρόνου διαγενομένου – hikanou de chronou diagenomenou):
  • ἱκανοῦ (hikanou) - "sufficient, enough, considerable, long." Implies not merely "some" time, but a duration long enough to significantly alter circumstances or plans. It underscores the patience or delays encountered, contributing to the perilous timing.
  • χρόνου (chronou) - "time." Refers to chronological time, linear progression, contrasting with kairos which means opportune or appointed time. Here, the chronos passing turned a situation into an inopportune kairos for sailing.
  • διαγενομένου (diagenomenou) - "having gone through, having passed, spent." A participial form, denoting elapsed time, emphasizing the completion of a period. The duration was not fleeting but substantial, bringing them past the optimal season for safe passage.
• and the voyage was now dangerous (καὶ ὄντος ἤδη ἐπισφαλοῦς τοῦ πλοός – kai ontos ēdē episphalous tou plo’os):
  • ὄντος ἤδη (ontos ēdē) - "already being." Ēdē signifies that the condition already existed, implying a critical transition point had been crossed. The danger was not prospective but current.
  • ἐπισφαλοῦς (episphalous) - "perilous, dangerous, risky, insecure, treacherous." This is the direct statement of the situation, referring specifically to the physical hazard of sea travel. The root suggests a tendency to stumble or fall, indicative of instability and threat. It highlights the real-world, objective danger due to natural elements.
  • τοῦ πλοός (tou plo'os) - "of the voyage, journey by sea." Emphasizes that the specific act of sailing was the source of danger.
• because the Fast was already over (διὰ τὸ καὶ τὴν νηστείαν ἤδη παρεληλυθέναι – dia to kai tēn nesteian ēdē parelēlythenai):
  • διὰ τὸ (dia to) - "because of, on account of." This prepositional phrase directly links the danger to the Fast's completion, establishing the causal relationship.
  • τὴν νηστείαν (tēn nesteian) - "the Fast, fasting." Without qualification, this clearly refers to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Lev 16, 23). This annual Jewish holy day traditionally occurred in late September or early October, coinciding with the autumnal equinox and the beginning of severe storms in the Mediterranean. Its theological significance for the Jewish people (afflicting the soul) intersects here with its practical, cultural marker for the dangerous season.
  • ἤδη παρεληλυθέναι (ēdē parelēlythenai) - "already passed." The verb signifies not merely "being over" but having "passed by," strongly implying that the favourable season for sailing had gone with it. The combination with ēdē (already) underlines the belatedness of their progress.
• Paul warned them (παρῄνει ὁ Παῦλος – parēnei ho Paulos):
  • παρῄνει (parēnei) - "exhorted, advised, urged, warned, admonished." More than a casual suggestion, this word suggests a strong, earnest plea or instruction. It reflects Paul's moral authority and concern for the lives of all on board, acting as a prophet, even as a prisoner.
  • ὁ Παῦλος (ho Paulos) - "Paul." His name here marks the personal and significant source of the warning, drawing attention to his prophetic role in the narrative, despite his status as a captive.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "When much time had been spent, and the voyage was now dangerous": This phrase establishes the perilous state. It's not a sudden event but a cumulative effect of delays that pushed them into a season of high risk for sea travel. It underlines the intersection of chronos (elapsed time) leading to an ill-chosen kairos (season/opportune time) for travel.
• "because the Fast was already over": This phrase provides the precise cultural and environmental marker for the danger. For ancient sailors, the passing of Yom Kippur was a known signal of deteriorating weather, specifically the notorious "gales of Autumn" (Maltese Mistral, Sirocco). It subtly points to a common ancient understanding that seasonal changes affected maritime activity, often acknowledged through religious observances. The specific reference to "the Fast" shows the writer's, Luke's, awareness of Jewish calendrical practices and their broader implications.
• "Paul warned them": This action immediately positions Paul as a discerning figure, possessing foresight—whether through spiritual intuition, keen observation, or divine revelation. It sets up the impending conflict between Paul's wise counsel and the human reasoning or vested interests of the ship's owner/captain and the centurion. This warning becomes a test of wisdom and obedience, laying the groundwork for the ensuing shipwreck narrative, where Paul's word is ultimately validated.

Acts 27 9 Bonus section

The maritime environment of the ancient world was unforgiving. Ships were primarily sail-driven and susceptible to the unpredictable winds of the Mediterranean. Ancient naval architects designed vessels more for cargo capacity than for speed or agility in heavy seas. Lacking sophisticated navigational instruments (they relied on shorelines, stars, and basic soundings), sailors preferred fair weather and coastal routes. The autumnal gales, specifically the Etesian winds and their variations, often appeared suddenly and could persist for days or weeks, pushing ships off course, damaging rigging, or driving them onto rocks. This natural reality gave great weight to seasonal "closing" of navigation, a common practice for prudent mariners. The narrative here aligns perfectly with historical knowledge of ancient Mediterranean sea travel, giving further authenticity to Luke's account.

Acts 27 9 Commentary

Acts 27:9 is a concise yet profound verse that underscores the intersection of practical navigation, cultural religious markers, and divine foresight. It acts as a pivot, transitioning the narrative from slow but steady progress to impending crisis. The "much time spent" highlights the previous challenges of headwinds and the subsequent strategic disadvantage of their position. This protracted delay, coupled with the seasonal shift, made continuing the voyage exceedingly perilous.

The reference to "the Fast" as "already over" is crucial. This refers unequivocally to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, an annual event typically falling between mid-September and early October. Its passing marked the onset of dangerous sailing conditions in the Mediterranean, a fact well-known to ancient mariners, who generally observed a "closed season" for voyages from October to March. Luke’s inclusion of this specific Jewish marker indicates its widespread understanding as a practical calendar reference, transcending religious adherence for maritime planning. For Jews, it was a day of solemn reflection; for mariners, it was a weather warning.

Paul's warning, "Paul warned them," is significant. It places him not just as a prisoner but as a voice of spiritual discernment and practical wisdom, given that he had endured multiple shipwrecks himself (2 Cor 11:25). His counsel implicitly stands against the potential impatience, overconfidence, or commercial pressure that often motivated voyages in less-than-ideal conditions. The centurion, presumably, had to weigh Paul's word against the experience of the ship's pilot and owner (Acts 27:11). This scenario subtly prefigures later events where Paul's divinely-guided words are repeatedly proven true, culminating in the saving of all lives on board. This moment embodies a recurring biblical theme: the importance of heeding counsel, particularly that which aligns with divine wisdom, even when it seems to contradict human expertise or self-interest. The stage is set for a dramatic demonstration of God's sovereignty and Paul's prophetic role.