Thursday, April 1, 2021

Acts 27:39–44

 39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 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. 42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. 

Commentary 

Vs. 39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 

Now as the day dawned, they did not recognize the land (as to where they now were); however, they observed a bay with a beach which they planned to run the ship aground on if possible. 

Vs. 40And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.” 

Therefore, knowing that this was their opportunity to finally reach land they dropped the anchors into the sea, and having now loosened the rudder ropes, so as to lower them down into the sea, they hoisted the main sail to the wind and made a direct course for shore. 

Vs. 41But 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.” 

However, before they could reach it, they struck a place where two seas met, where the water was shallow, and thus the prow stuck fast and remained immoveable while the stern (the rear of the ship) was being broken up by the violence of the waves. 

Vs. 42-44 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. 

Now the soldiers fearing that some of the prisoners might escape thought to kill them all before abandoning ship, however the centurion wanting to spare Paul overrode their decision and commanded everyone who could swim to jump overboard and make for land, while the rest took parts of the ship and used these to float themselves to safety. And so, it was that they all safely made it to shore, just as God’s angel told Paul they all would! 

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.

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