Acts 27:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,

NIV: In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.

NASB: But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow,

CSB: Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.

NLT: Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.

KJV: And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

NKJV: And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,

Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus are nearing the end of their terrible sea voyage. Two weeks prior, Paul warned the ship's owner and pilot not to leave Fair Havens on the southern coast of Crete. Should they leave, they would lose their ship, their cargo, and the lives of their crew and passengers. The crew and the centurion ignored Paul's warning, and nearly as soon as they set sail for a safer harbor, a great winter storm caught them. The horrific winds (Acts 27:14) pushed them around the Mediterranean like a child with a toy boat in a puddle (Acts 27:9–15). Since that time, God has answered Paul's prayers and promised no one will die (Acts 27:21–26). God's promise requires the action of the people involved, however.

The ship has finally neared land, but at night; the crew doesn't know how close they are, what rocks are jutting up, or what reefs hide beneath the waves. The crew dropped the stern anchors to ensure the waves don't push the ship into a hazard, and now they go to drop bow anchors, so the waves don't spin the ship around. At least, that's what they should be doing (Acts 27:27–29).

Shortly after the storm caught the ship, the waves and wind threatened to swamp and sink the lifeboat. The crew managed to pull it in and secure it to the bow (Acts 27:16–17). Now, they're quietly lowering it to the black waters beneath them. If they can climb in before the passengers notice, they have a chance to make it to shore.

Paul notices. He warns the centurion, and the soldiers cut the boat away. The sailors are forced to remain onboard and wait out the night. Come daylight, they manage to get the ship a little closer to the beach before it hits a reef and breaks apart. Even so, everyone manages to get to shore (Acts 27:31–32, 39–44).

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.