Acts 27:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.

NIV: So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

NASB: Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.

CSB: Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.

NLT: So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

KJV: Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

NKJV: Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

Because the ship's owner, pilot, and Julius the centurion ignored Paul's warning (Acts 27:9–10), they have spent the last fourteen days in a furious winter storm in the middle of the Mediterranean. They had no way to determine where they are and no way to control their movement. Finally, it appears they are near land. But what kind of land? An island? Rocks that jut out from the water? Reefs that hide just beneath the surface? The crew has laid anchor so the ship—hopefully—can't go any closer to the shore, but now Paul warns the centurion that the sailors are trying to escape in the lifeboat; if they do, the passengers will not survive.

Julius has ignored Paul's warnings long enough. He orders his soldiers to cut away the lifeboat so the crew can't escape into the dark night. The text doesn't say why they thought it best to cut away the boat instead of hauling it back up, but they've gone without food and likely good sleep for fourteen days; guarding it would take a lot of energy.

Now that the crew and passengers are united again, Paul encourages them to eat. Everyone is exhausted with fear. He knows they still need to get to shore, and it won't be easy. He takes bread, thanks God for it, and passes it around. Everyone feels slightly better and tosses the rest of the cargo overboard in hopes they can get closer to land (Acts 27:33–38).

When morning comes, the sailors see a beach and steer toward it. Unfortunately, the deep draft of the ship hits a reef and holds fast. The crew swims for it. The soldiers are hesitant—it's their heads if they lose a prisoner and it would be easier to kill them now. Julius values Paul too much. He orders his soldiers to stand down, and the passengers make it to shore floating on the bits of the broken-up ship that still float (Acts 27:39–44).

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.