Acts 27:28

Acts 27:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
• New Living Translation (NLT)They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

Context of Acts 27:28

26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” 27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In 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.

Acts 27:28 word by word

καὶ βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσι, βραχὺ δὲ διαστήσαντες καὶ πάλιν βολίσαντες εὗρον ὀργυιὰς δεκαπέντε·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• soundedβολίζωbolizō · to soundG1001
• and foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• twentyεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
• fathomsὀργυιάorguia · a fathomG3712
• andδέde · thenG1161
• when they had goneδιΐστημιdiistēme · to passG1339
• a little furtherβραχύςbrachus · littleG1024
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• fifteenδεκαπέντεdekapente · fifteenG1178

Commentaries on Acts 27:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28And sounded - , Heaving the lead. Twenty fathoms - , About forty yards in depth. The is thus defined by the Etymologicon: , ͅ Ϛ· It signifies the extent of the arms, together with the breadth of the breast. This is exactly the quantum of our fathom.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28And sounded - To sound is to make use of a line and lead to ascertain the depth of water. Twenty fathoms - A fathom is six feet, or the distance from the extremity of the middle finger on one hand to the extremity of the other, when the arms are extended. The depth, therefore, was about 120 feet. Fifteen fathoms - They knew, therefore, that they were drawing near to shore.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-44The graphic language describing sailing in the story of Paul's journey to Rome provides one of the best accounts of an ancient sea journey. This is the last "we" section in Acts (see also 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18). During Paul's two years of imprisonment, Luke probably researched his gospel throughout Judea and Galilee. Here, as part of Paul's sailing group, he had a personal witness of the dangers at sea.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 27-2927-29. when the fourteenth night was come--from the time they left Fair Havens. as we were driven--drifting up and down in Adria--the Adriatic, that sea which lies between Greece and Italy. about midnight the shipmen deemed--no doubt from the peculiar sound of the breakers. that they drew near some country--"that some land was approaching them." This nautical language gives a graphic character to the narrative.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 27:28

• Fathom
• Mariners (Sailors)
• Measure
• Navigation
• Paul
• Prophecy
• Sounding

In the dictionaries

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

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