Acts 27:40

Acts 27:40 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
• New International Version (NIV)Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Acts 27:40

38When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by throwing the wheat out into the sea. 39Now when day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did notice a bay with a beach, and they resolved to run the ship onto it if they could. And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach. 41But they struck a reef where two seas met and ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck firmly and remained immovable, while the stern started to break up due to the force of the waves. 42The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape;

Acts 27:40 word by word

καὶ τὰς ἀγκύρας περιελόντες εἴων εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἅμα ἀνέντες τὰς ζευκτηρίας τῶν πηδαλίων καὶ ἐπάραντες τὸν ἀρτέμωνα τῇ πνεούσῃ κατεῖχον εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν.Read the interlinear

• And castingπεριαιρέωperiaireō · to take awayG4014
• the anchorsἄγκυραagkura · anchorG45
• they leftἐάωeaō · to allowG1439
• them in the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• while at the sameἅμαhama · togetherG260
• they were looseningἀνίημιaniēmi · to loosen/leaveG447
• the ropesζευκτηρίαzeuktēria · ropeG2202
• of the ruddersπηδάλιονpēdalion · rudderG4079
• and they hoistedἐπαίρωepairō · to lift upG1869
• the foresailἀρτέμωνartemōn · foresailG736
• to the windπνέωpneō · to blowG4154
• and were headingκατέχωkatechō · to hold back/fastG2722
• for the beachαἰγιαλόςaigialos · shoreG123

Cross-references for Acts 27:40

• Acts 27:29Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
• Isaiah 33:23Your ship’s tackle hangs slack; It cannot hold the base of its mast firmly, Nor spread out the sail. Then the prey of an abundant spoil will be divided; Those who limp will take the plunder.

Commentaries on Acts 27:40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40Taken up the anchors - Weighed all the anchors that they had cast out of the stern. Some think the meaning of the word is, they slipped their cables; and so left the anchors in the sea. Loosed the rudder bands - Or, the bands of the rudders; for large vessels in ancient times had two or more rudders, one at the side, and another at the stern, and sometimes one at the prow. The bands, , were some kind of fastenings, by which the rudders were hoisted some…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40Had taken up the anchors - The four anchors with which they had moored the ship, Acts 27:29. See the margin. The expression may mean that they slipped or cut their cables, and that thus they left the anchors in the sea. This is the most probable interpretation. And loosed the rudder bands - The rudder, in navigation, is that by which a ship is steered. It is that part of the helm which consists of a piece of timber, broad at the bottom, which enters the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-44Verses 39-44 The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 39-41They guided the ship onto a sandbar (a shallow area of sand in the water).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 38-4038-40. when they had eaten enough, &c.--With fresh strength after the meal, they make a third and last effort to lighten the ship, not only by pumping, as before, but by throwing the whole cargo of wheat into the sea (see on Ac 27:6).Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 27:40

• Helm
• Mariners (Sailors)
• Paul
• Prophecy
• Ship

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Rudder bands
• Anchor
• Cheer
• Close
• Creek
• Crete
• Euroclydon
• Exhort
• Fast

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