Acts 27:9-38
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
9 And a considerable time having passed, and the voyage being already dangerous[a] because even the Fast[b] had passed-by already, Paul was advising, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive[c] that the voyage will-certainly be with damage[d] and great loss— not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives”. 11 But the centurion was being persuaded more by the helmsman and the captain than by the things being said by Paul. 12 And the harbor being unsuitable for wintering, the majority made a plan[e] to put-to-sea from there— if somehow they might be able to spend-the-winter having attained to Phoenix[f], a harbor of Crete looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest.
A Severe Storm Catches The Ship
13 Now a south-wind [g] having blown-moderately— having supposed that they had taken-hold-of their purpose, having lifted anchor, they were sailing-along very-near Crete. 14 But after not much time a violent[h] wind rushed down from it[i], the one being called the “Northeaster[j]”. 15 And the ship having been seized and not being able to face-into the wind, we were being carried-along, having given ourselves up to it. 16 And having run-under-the-shelter-of a certain small-island being called Cauda[k], we were able with-difficulty to come-to-be in-control of the [ship’s] boat[l]— 17 having lifted which, they were using supports[m], undergirding the ship. And fearing that they might run-aground at Syrtis[n], having lowered[o] the gear, in this manner they were being carried-along. 18 And we being violently storm-tossed, on the next day they were doing a jettison. 19 And on the third day they threw-off the equipment of the ship with-their-own-hands. 20 And neither sun nor stars appearing[p] for many days, and no small storm lying-upon[q] us, finally all hope that we might be saved was being taken-away[r]. 21 And much[s] abstinence-from-food[t] being present, at that time Paul, having stood in their midst, said, “O men, having obeyed me, you indeed should-have not put-to-sea from Crete and gained[u] this damage and loss. 22 And as to the things now, I advise that you cheer-up. For there will be no loss of life from-among you, only of the ship. 23 For an angel stood-before me on this night from the God Whose I am, Whom also I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand-before Caesar. And behold— God has granted you all the ones sailing with you’. 25 Therefore, cheer up, men. For I believe God that it shall happen in this manner— in accordance with the way it has been spoken to me. 26 But we must run-aground on a certain island”.
On The Fourteenth Night, The Sailors Fear Running Aground
27 Now when the fourteenth night came, while we were being driven-about in the Adriatic-sea, during the middle of the night the sailors were suspecting that some land was approaching them. 28 And having taken-soundings[v], they found it to be twenty fathoms[w]. And having set a short interval[x], and again having taken-soundings, they found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run-aground somewhere against rocky places, having thrown-off four anchors from the stern[y], they were praying that day might come. 30 And while the sailors were seeking to flee from the ship, and had lowered the [ship’s] boat to the sea on a pretense as-though intending to stretch-out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these ones remain in the ship, you cannot be saved”. 32 Then the soldiers cut-off the ropes of the [ship’s] boat, and let it fall-away. 33 And until which time day was about to come, Paul was urging everyone to receive food, saying, “While waiting-in-expectation for a fourteenth day today, you are continuing without-food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to receive food. For this is for your preservation. For a hair from the head of none of you will be lost[z]”. 35 And having said these things, and having taken bread, he gave-thanks to God in the presence of everyone. And having broken it, he began to eat. 36 And everyone having become cheerful, they also were taking food. 37 Now we, all the souls in the ship, were two-hundred seventy six. 38 And having been satisfied with food, they were lightening[aa] the ship— throwing-out the wheat into the sea.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 27:9 Or, prone-to-fail.
- Acts 27:9 That is, the fast on the Day of Atonement at the end of September or early October, the only fast commanded by the Law. The Mediterranean was considered unsafe for sailing between mid-September and mid-November, when sailing ceased for the winter. The Day of Atonement in view here may have been the one on October 5, 59.
- Acts 27:10 That is, based on his own experience. He had been shipwrecked at least three times prior to this, 2 Cor 11:25.
- Acts 27:10 Or, disaster, hardship.
- Acts 27:12 Or, gave counsel.
- Acts 27:12 This more favorable port was 38 miles or 61 kilometers further west.
- Acts 27:13 That is, a wind blowing from the south, which would have taken them to Phoenix in a few hours.
- Acts 27:14 Or, typhonic, tempestuous.
- Acts 27:14 That is, down off the island, blowing them away from the coast.
- Acts 27:14 Or, Euraquilo, blowing from the northeast. Some manuscripts spell it Euroclydon.
- Acts 27:16 This island is about 30 miles or 50 kilometers south of Crete.
- Acts 27:16 Or, skiff. That is, the small boat towed behind the ship used to go to and from shore.
- Acts 27:17 Ships carried ropes or cables for such an emergency. They were run under the hull and secured on deck to help hold the ship together. The straining caused by the heavy mast as the ship was tossed in the sea would spread the planks of the hull, causing the ship to founder and sink.
- Acts 27:17 That is, the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of modern Libya, a place of shallow and shifting sands. The sailors feared the winds would blow them to certain destruction off the coast of Africa.
- Acts 27:17 That is, the gear that would turn the ship as much northward as the winds would allow, and away from Africa. Perhaps it was a floating sea anchor.
- Acts 27:20 This would make it impossible for the sailors to determine their position.
- Acts 27:20 Or, pressing-upon.
- Acts 27:20 Or, removed.
- Acts 27:21 That is, a long; or, a serious.
- Acts 27:21 Or, lack-of-appetite.
- Acts 27:21 Or, incurred. Or, spared-yourselves.
- Acts 27:28 Or, heaved-the-lead. That is, having dropped a weighted line to the bottom.
- Acts 27:28 A fathom is the length of a man’s outstretched arms, about 6 feet or 1.8 meters. The sailor thus counted the fathoms as he pulled up the line.
- Acts 27:28 That is, interval of time, and thus distance. Based on the geography, this may have been about 30 minutes. Or, separated a short distance.
- Acts 27:29 That is, the sailors threw four anchors from the rear of the ship to hold it in place pointing in to shore until daylight when they could see to navigate.
- Acts 27:34 Or, will perish.
- Acts 27:38 The sailors wanted to get the ship as close to shore as possible before it ran aground.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
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