Acts 27:17

Acts 27:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
• New International Version (NIV)so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.

Context of Acts 27:17

15The storm hit the ship very powerfully. It was not possible for the sailors to sail the ship straight into the wind. So they did not try to do that any more. Instead, they let the wind blow the ship along. 16After that, we passed the south end of a small island called Cauda. Here we found a place where the wind did not blow so strongly. The sailors lifted the ship's small boat out of the water to make it safe. They tied it on the ship with ropes. Then they tied some more ropes under the ship so that it would not break in pieces. The men were afraid of what might happen. There were some places along the coast of Libya where the water was not very deep. The ship might hit one of these places and then it might break. So they took the ship's largest sail down. Then they let the wind blow the ship along. 18The strong storm continued to blow against the ship. The ship was carrying many things. So the next day, the sailors threw some of these things into the sea. 19The day after that, they took hold of the sails and ropes and they threw them into the sea.

Acts 27:17 word by word

ἣν ἄραντες βοηθείαις ἐχρῶντο ὑποζωννύντες τὸ πλοῖον· φοβούμενοί τε μὴ εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσιν χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, οὕτως ἐφέροντο.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• when they had taken upαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• they usedχράωchraomai · to useG5530
• helpsβοήθειαboētheia · helpG996
• undergirdingὑποζώννυμιhupozōnnumi · to undergirdG5269
• the shipὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the shipπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• fearingφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• they should fallἐκπίπτωekpiptō · to fall outG1601
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the quicksandsσύρτιςsurtis · SyrtisG4950
• strakeχαλάωchalaō · to lowerG5465
• sailσκεῦοςskeuos · vesselG4632
• and soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• were drivenφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342

Cross-references for Acts 27:17

• Acts 27:29The sailors were afraid that the ship would hit some rocks. So they dropped four anchors on ropes from the back of the ship into the sea. After that, they prayed that dawn would come soon.

Commentaries on Acts 27:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Undergirding the ship - This method has been used even in modern times. It is called frapping the ship. A stout cable is slipped under the vessel at the prow, which they can conduct to any part of the ship's keel; and then fasten the two ends on the deck, to keep the planks from starting: as many rounds as they please may be thus taken about the vessel. An instance of this kind is mentioned in Lord Anson's Voyage round the World. Speaking of a Spanish…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Which when they had taken up - When they had raised up the boat into the ship, so as to secure it. They used helps - They used ropes, cables, stays, or chains, for the purpose of securing the ship. The danger was that the ship would be destroyed, and they therefore made use of such aids as would prevent its loss. Undergirding the ship - The ancients were accustomed to pass cables or strong ropes around a vessel to keep the planks from springing or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale, know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easily take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, and have no light. See…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The purpose of wrapping ropes around the ship's framework (hull) was to strengthen it against the storm's pressure. This process is called frapping. Syrtis refers to the shallow bays with sandbars off the North African coast, west of Cyrene.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. under--the lee of. a certain--"small" island ... Clauda--southwest of Crete, now called Gonzo; about twenty-three miles to leeward. we had much work to come by--that is, to hoist up and secure. the boat--now become necessary. But why was this difficult? Independently of the gale, raging at the time, the boat had been towed between twenty and thirty miles after the gale sprang up, and could scarcely fail to be filled with water [Smith].Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 27:17

• Mariners (Sailors)
• Paul
• Ship

In the dictionaries

• Cheer
• Close
• Creek
• Crete
• Euroclydon
• Exhort
• Fast
• Gain
• Hinder
• James

Commentaries on Acts 27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings