Acts 27:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.

NIV: On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

NASB: But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land.

CSB: When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and about midnight the sailors thought they were approaching land.

NLT: About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.

KJV: But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

NKJV: Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.

Paul and Aristarchus are on a ship headed for Rome. There, they will be charged before Caesar's court. Luke is traveling with them. A centurion and his soldiers have been tasked with bringing them from Caesarea Maritima (Acts 27:1). It has been two weeks since they left the safety of Crete and sailed into a fierce storm (Acts 27:13–15). The good news is that the storm is no longer driving the ship toward the hidden sandbars off the coast of Libya (Acts 27:17). The bad news is that the 276 passengers and crew members haven't eaten in two weeks and still can't see anything (Acts 27:21, 37).

The Adriatic Sea is currently the sea between Italy on the west and Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania on the east. In Paul's time, the Adriatic extended into our Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece down to the center of the Mediterranean. Considering their position and location, they would most likely land on Sicily; this is the island often referred to as "the toe" off Italy's boot-like shape. Instead, they land on the tiny island of Malta, south of Sicily. With no sail, which the sailors lowered (Acts 27:17), modern sailors say the ship would have drifted from Crete west to Malta in fourteen days, as described (Acts 27:33).

"Suspected" possibly means the sailors heard breakers above the wind and waves of the storm.

Acts 27:27–32 continues the story of a fierce storm, which has battered Paul's ship for a full two weeks. Paul has announced that the ship and cargo will be destroyed, but the people will live. When the sailors realize they're getting close to shore, they plan their escape in the lifeboat. Paul warns the centurion who orders his soldiers to cut the boat loose. Paul then encourages the crew and passengers to eat for the first time in fourteen days before the ship hits the reef and everyone swims for their lives.

Acts 27 is an account of a famous sea voyage. Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus travel from Caesarea Maritima on their way to Rome. False charges and two years of imprisonment in Caesarea led Paul to appeal his case to a higher Roman court, and he is now on his way to that court. The chapter can be divided into seven paragraphs, alternating between descriptions of the sea voyage and Paul trying to keep everyone alive during a horrific storm. Eventually, they shipwreck on Malta. The ship and cargo are a complete loss, but no one dies.

Twice the Sanhedrin brought unfounded charges against Paul. In both cases, the ruling governor knew Paul was innocent but refused to let him go. Finally, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 24:22–27; 25:1–12). He, Luke, Aristarchus, and 273 others sail for Rome. But they shipwreck on a reef off the island of Malta. When they finally reach Rome, Paul will meet with Jewish leaders and tell them how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. Some will believe and some won't. This leads Paul to resolve, once again, to focus his efforts on the Gentiles (Acts 28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.