Acts 27:29

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

King James Version (1611)
Then fearing lest we should haue fallen vpon rockes, they cast foure ancres out of the sterne, and wished for the day.

King James Version
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

English Standard Version
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

New American Standard Bible
Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

New Century Version
The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come.

Amplified Bible
Then fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern [to slow the ship] and kept wishing for daybreak to come.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.

Legacy Standard Bible
And fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and were praying for daybreak.

Berean Standard Bible
Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

Contemporary English Version
The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.

Complete Jewish Bible
Fearing we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

Darby Translation
and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.

Easy-to-Read Version
The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water. Then they prayed for daylight to come.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then fearing least they should haue fallen into some rough places, they cast foure ancres out of the sterne, and wished that the day were come.

George Lamsa Translation
Then, fearing lest we find ourselves caught between the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern of the ship, and prayed for the dawning of day.

Good News Translation
They were afraid that the ship would go on the rocks, so they lowered four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

Lexham English Bible
And because they were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

Literal Translation
And fearing lest they should fall on rock places, and casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished day to come.

American Standard Version
And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

Bible in Basic English
Then, fearing that by chance we might come on to the rocks, they let down four hooks from the back of the ship, and made prayers for the coming of day.

Hebrew Names Version
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

International Standard Version
Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and began praying for daylight to come.

Etheridge Translation
And fearing lest we should be found in a place in which were rocks, they cast forth from the hinder part of the ship four anchors, and prayed that it would become day.

Murdock Translation
And as we feared lest we should be caught in places where were rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern of the ship, and prayed for the morning.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then fearyng lest they shoulde haue fallen on some rocke, they caste foure anckers out of the sterne, and wisshed for the day.

English Revised Version
And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

World English Bible
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And fearing lest they should fall upon some rocky ground, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Weymouth's New Testament
Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei dredden, lest we schulden haue fallun in to scharp placis; and fro the last parti of the schip thei senten foure ankeris, and desiriden that the dai hadde be come.

Update Bible Version
And fearing lest perhaps we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then fearing lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

New English Translation
Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear.

New King James Version
Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.

New Living Translation
At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

New Life Bible
They were afraid we might be thrown against the rocks on the shore. So they put out four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they waited for morning to come.

New Revised Standard
Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, fearing lest haply, on rocky places, we should be wrecked, out of stern, cast they four anchors, - and began praying that day might dawn.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern: and wished for the day.

Revised Standard Version
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then fearinge lest they shuld have fallen on some Rocke they cast .iiii. ancres out of the sterne and wysshed for ye daye.

Young's Literal Translation
and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then fearinge lest they shulde fall on some rocke, they cast foure anckers out of the sterne, and wysshed for the daye.

Mace New Testament (1729)
then for fear of striking upon the rocks, they dropt four anchors astern, and lay impatient for the day.

Simplified Cowboy Version
They dropped all four anchors to keep themselves from being dashed on the rocks below and everyone prayed for the day to come.

Contextual Overview

²¹With our appetite for both food and life long gone, Paul took his place in our midst and said, "Friends, you really should have listened to me back in Crete. We could have avoided all this trouble and trial. But there's no need to dwell on that now. From now on, things are looking up! I can assure you that there'll not be a single drowning among us, although I can't say as much for the ship—the ship itself is doomed. ²³"Last night God's angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, ‘Don't give up, Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.' So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we're going to shipwreck on some island or other." ²⁷On the fourteenth night, adrift somewhere on the Adriatic Sea, at about midnight the sailors sensed that we were approaching land. Sounding, they measured a depth of 120 feet, and shortly after that ninety feet. Afraid that we were about to run aground, they threw out four anchors and prayed for daylight. ³⁰Some of the sailors tried to jump ship. They let down the lifeboat, pretending they were going to set out more anchors from the bow. Paul saw through their guise and told the centurion and his soldiers, "If these sailors don't stay with the ship, we're all going down." So the soldiers cut the lines to the lifeboat and let it drift off. ³³With dawn about to break, Paul called everyone together and proposed breakfast: "This is the fourteenth day we've gone without food. None of us has felt like eating! But I urge you to eat something now. You'll need strength for the rescue ahead. You're going to come out of this without even a scratch!" ³⁵He broke the bread, gave thanks to God, passed it around, and they all ate heartily—276 of us, all told! With the meal finished and everyone full, the ship was further lightened by dumping the grain overboard. ³⁹At daybreak, no one recognized the land—but then they did notice a bay with a nice beach. They decided to try to run the ship up on the beach. They cut the anchors, loosed the tiller, raised the sail, and ran before the wind toward the beach. But we didn't make it. Still far from shore, we hit a reef and the ship began to break up. ⁴²The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners so none could escape by swimming, but the centurion, determined to save Paul, stopped them. He gave orders for anyone who could swim to dive in and go for it, and for the rest to grab a plank. Everyone made it to shore safely.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fallen: Acts 27:17, Acts 27:41

anchors: Acts 27:30, Acts 27:40, Hebrews 6:19

and wished: Deuteronomy 28:67, Psalms 130:6

Reciprocal: Acts 27:33 - while

Cross-References

Genesis 25:33
Jacob said, "First, swear to me." And he did it. On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That's how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn.

Genesis 27:1
When Isaac had become an old man and was nearly blind, he called his eldest son, Esau, and said, "My son." "Yes, Father?"

Genesis 27:2
"I'm an old man," he said; "I might die any day now. Do me a favor: Get your quiver of arrows and your bow and go out in the country and hunt me some game. Then fix me a hearty meal, the kind that you know I like, and bring it to me to eat so that I can give you my personal blessing before I die."

Genesis 27:5
Rebekah was eavesdropping as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. As soon as Esau had gone off to the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob. "I just overheard your father talking with your brother, Esau. He said, ‘Bring me some game and fix me a hearty meal so that I can eat and bless you with God 's blessing before I die.'

Genesis 27:8
"Now, my son, listen to me. Do what I tell you. Go to the flock and get me two young goats. Pick the best; I'll prepare them into a hearty meal, the kind that your father loves. Then you'll take it to your father, he'll eat and bless you before he dies."

Genesis 27:11
"But Mother," Jacob said, "my brother Esau is a hairy man and I have smooth skin. What happens if my father touches me? He'll think I'm playing games with him. I'll bring down a curse on myself instead of a blessing."

Genesis 27:14
So he went and got them and brought them to his mother and she cooked a hearty meal, the kind his father loved so much.

Genesis 27:15
Rebekah took the dress-up clothes of her older son Esau and put them on her younger son Jacob. She took the goatskins and covered his hands and the smooth nape of his neck. Then she placed the hearty meal she had fixed and fresh bread she'd baked into the hands of her son Jacob.

Genesis 27:18
He went to his father and said, "My father!" "Yes?" he said. "Which son are you?"

Genesis 27:19
Jacob answered his father, "I'm your firstborn son Esau. I did what you told me. Come now; sit up and eat of my game so you can give me your personal blessing."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks,.... Or rough places, as shelves, rocks, or sands, as they might well fear, when the water shallowed so fast, from 20 to 15 fathoms:

they cast four anchors out of the stern; or hinder part of the ship; the Ethiopic version calls it, "the head of the ship": and adds, "where the governor sat"; that is, at the helm, to steer it. Perhaps the reason of this version is, because it is not usual in modern navigation, and so, when this version was made, to cast out anchors from the stern, but from the prow or head of the ship; but it seems this was done by the ancients. According to Pliny, the Tyrrhenians first invented the anchor; though Pausanias ascribes the invention of it to Midas, the son of Gordius: the most ancient ones were made of stone, as was the anchor of the Argonautes; afterwards they were made of wood; and it is said, that the Japanese use wooden anchors now; and these were not pointed, but had great weights of lead, or baskets filled with stones at the head of them, to stop the ship with; last of all they were made of iron, but with a barb or tooth on one side only, not on both: the anchor with two teeth or barbs was found out by Eupalamius; or, as others say, by Anacharsis, the Scythian philosopher: it was usual to have more anchors than one in every ship, of which there was one which exceeded the rest, both in size and strength, and was called the "sacred" anchor; and which was only used in case of necessity t; and is what is now called "the sheet anchor". The modern anchor is a large strong piece of iron, crooked at one end, and formed into two barbs, resembling a hook, fastened at the other end by a cable. The parts of an anchor are,

1) the ring into which the cable is fastened;

2) the beam, or shank, which is the longest part of the anchor;

3) the arm, which is that which runs down into the ground; at the end of which is,

4) the flouke or fluke, by some called the palm, being that broad and picked part with its barbs like an arrowhead, which fastens into the ground;

5) the stock, a piece of wood, fastened to the beam near the ring, serving to guide the fluke, so that it may fall right, and fix in the ground.

There are three kinds of anchors commonly used, the kedger, the grapnel, and the stream anchor u; yea, I find that there are four kinds of anchors, the sheet anchor, best bower, small bower, and stream anchor: it seems the grapnel is chiefly for the long boat: here were four anchors, but very likely all of a sort, or, however, not diversified in the manner the modern ones are. These they cast out to stop the ship, and keep it steady, and that it might proceed no further, till they could learn whereabout they were:

and wished for the day; that by the light of it they might see whether they were near land, or in danger of rocks and shelves, as they imagined.

t Scheffer. de Militia Navali Veterum, l. 2. c. 5. p. 147, 148, 149. u Chambers's Cyclopaedia in the word "Anchor".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They cast four anchors - On account of the violence of the storm and waves, to make, if possible, the ship secure.

And wished for the day - To discern more accurately their situation and danger.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. Cast four anchors out of the stern — By this time the storm must have been considerably abated; though the agitation of the sea could not have subsided much. The anchors were cast out of the stern to prevent the vessel from drifting ashore, as they found that, the farther they stood in, the shallower the water grew; therefore they dropped the anchor astern, as even one ship's length might be of much consequence.