Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 27:29
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
29. lest we should have fallen upon rocks ] [ R.V. should be cast ashore on rocky ground]. That rocks were near was evident from the dashing of the waves. But the morning, even with the faint light which appeared through the dark clouds, might enable them to make for a part where the coast was not so full of danger.
out of the stern ] Thus trying as best they might to keep the head of the vessel towards the land and yet let her come no nearer to it, until they could make out what it was like.
wished for the day ] Or the verb may be rendered “prayed.” The similarity of the circumstances to those in Jonah’s voyage would thus be made still greater, for then the heathen sailors prayed to their own gods.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Fallen upon rocks; of which there are very many in these seas, especially about the islands.
Cast four anchors; which show how great the tempest was, that they needed so many anchors.
Wished for the day; that they might the better discover whereabouts they were.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. they cast four anchors out ofthe sternThe ordinary way was to cast the anchor, as now, fromthe bow: but ancient ships, built with both ends alike, werefitted with hawseholes in the stern, so that in case of need theycould anchor either way. And when the fear was, as here, that theymight fall on the rocks to leeward, and the intention was torun the ship ashore as soon as daylight enabled them to fix upon asafe spot, the very best thing they could do was to anchor by thestern [SMITH]. In stormyweather two anchors were used, and we have instances of four beingemployed, as here.
and wished“anxiously”or “devoutly wished.”
for daythe remark thisof one present, and with all his shipmates alive to the horrors oftheir condition. “The ship might go down at her anchors, or thecoast to leeward might be iron-bound, affording no beach on whichthey could land with safety. Hence their anxious longing for day, andthe ungenerous but natural attempt, not peculiar to ancient times, ofthe seamen to save their own lives by taking to the boat”[SMITH].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole 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”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground ( ). The usual construction after a verb of fearing ( and the aorist subjunctive ). Literally, “Lest somewhere () we should fall out down against () rocky places.” The change in the soundings made it a very real fear. (rough) is old adjective, but in the N.T. only here and Lu 3:5 (from Isa 40:4).
Four anchors ( ). Old word from . In N.T. only in this chapter, with here, with in verse 30, with in verse 40; and Heb 6:19 (figuratively of hope).
From the stern ( ). Old word, but in N.T. only in Mr 4:38; here and 41 in contrast with (prow). The usual practice was and is to anchor by the bows. “With a view to running the ship ashore anchoring from the stern would, it is said, be best” (Page). Nelson is quoted as saying that he had been reading Ac 27 the morning of the Battle of Copenhagen (April, 1801) where he anchored his ships from the stern.
Wished for the day (). Imperfect middle, kept on praying for “day to come” ( ) before the anchors broke under the strain of the storm or began to drag. If the ship had been anchored from the prow, it would have swung round and snapped the anchors or the stern would have faced the beach.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then fearing,” (phobou me noi te) “Then having fear,” or holding fear because the water was becoming more shallow, endangering the ship’s failing upon a reef or rocks that would dash it to pieces.
2) “Lest we should have fallen upon rocks,” (me pou kata tracheis topous ekpesomen) “Lest we might somewhere nearby ground upon rocky bottom,” that would sink the ship on rocks and reefs, as ships were often wrecked. Fear is often a premonition, a Divine call, to seek security from eternal destruction, Isa 55:6-7; Pro 1:22-30; Heb 4:7; Ecc 12:13-14.
3) “They cast four anchors out of the stern,” (ek prumnes hripsantes agikuras tessaras) “They threw four anchors out of the stern,” to make the vessel more secure and manageable. Ancient vessels carried more anchors. The casting of these anchors was often their only security from being blown off course or upon rocky reefs in times of storms. Let it be noted that believers have many anchors for every storm of life to keep them from fear and death. The word, the Spirit, the church, and the Christian brethren, etc. These are four true anchors today.
4) “And wished for the day (euchonto hemeran genesthai) “Praying that the day would soon be,” soon come. They devoutly wished for the day, so that they might see or pick out a safe spot to run the ship ashore, and at least save their lives.
SHADOWS OF NIGHT AND SUNBEAMS OF DAY
I, The night shadows, that lend uncertainty to the voyage. The clouds of the moral heavens are either – 1. Formed from above; or 2. Exhaled from beneath. These are – 1) Fear, 2) Spiritual despondency, 3) Unbelief, 4) Natural sorrow, 5) Shame. II. The morning sunbeams, which, by dispersing the darkness, reveal to us our prospects. Rays of – – – 1. Truth; 2. Mercy. Ill. Our duty in relation to the night and the day: 1. We should understand that the night has its purposes of mercy; 2. We should also learn to prize the day more highly while we have it.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(29) Fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks.Literally, upon rough placesthe reefs of rock which were indicated by the breakers and by the diminished depth of water.
They cast four anchors out of the stern.It was no unusual thing for a ship to be furnished with this complement of anchors. So Csar describes his ships as being secured with four anchors each (Bell. Civ. i. 25). In ancient navigation, as in modern, the anchors were commonly cast from the bow. In the battles of the Nile and of Copenhagen, however, Nelson had his ships anchored at the stern, and the fact derives a peculiar interest from the statement that he had been reading Acts 27 on the morning of the engagement. The result of this operation was that the ship was no longer in motion, and would be found, when the morning came, with her head to the shore. The tension of hope and fear, the suspense which made men almost cry
And if our fate be death, give light, and let us die,
is vividly brought before us in St. Lukes few words, they were praying for the day.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Four anchors The ancient anchors, being lighter than the modern, were used in large numbers, from four to eight in a ship, both at bow and at stern. These anchors were flung from the stern, because if the bow were fast and the stern loose the waves might whirl the stern upon rocks. The modern Greek caiques are often anchored at stern.
Wished for the day Well they might. In total darkness, beaten by the rain, chilled by the blasts, with the breakers resounding in their ears, and the seas threatening at any moment to dash their shattered craft in pieces! These were hours of horror.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
Ver. 29. Wished for the day ] Wish we as much for the day of redemption, when after much tossing on this glassy sea, we shall safely land at the haven of happiness, at the quay of Canaan, the kingdom of heaven.
” Discupio solvl, tecumque, o Christe, manere;
Portio fac regni sim quotacunque tui.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
29. ] The usual way of anchoring in ancient, as well as in modern navigation, was by the bow: ‘anchora de prora jacitur.’ But under certain circumstances, they anchored by the stern ; and Mr. Smith has shewn from the figure of a ship which he has copied from the “Antichit de Ercolano,” that their ships had hawse-holes aft, to fit them for anchoring by the stern. “That a vessel can anchor by the stern is sufficiently proved (if proof were needed) by the history of some of our own naval engagements. So it was at the battle of the Nile. And when ships are about to attack batteries, it is customary for them to go into action prepared to anchor in this way. This was the case at Algiers. There is still greater interest in quoting the instance of the battle of Copenhagen, not only from the accounts we have of the precision with which each ship let go her anchors astern as she arrived nearly opposite her appointed station, but because it is said that Nelson stated after the battle that he had that morning been reading Act 27 .” C. and H. ii. p. 414. The passage from Csar, Bell. Civ. i. 25, ‘has quaternis ancoris ex quatuor angulis distinebat, ne fluctibus moverentur,’ is not to the purpose, for it was in that case a platform composed of two vessels, and anchored by the four corners. “The anchorage in St. Paul’s Bay is thus described in the Sailing Directions: ‘The harbour of St. Paul is open to E. and N.E. winds. It is, notwithstanding, safe for small ships; the ground, generally, being very good: and while the cables hold, there is no danger, as the anchors will never start .’ ” Smith, p. 92.
] Uncertain, whether their ship might not go down at her anchors: and, even supposing her to ride out the night safely, uncertain whether the coast to leeward might not be iron-bound, affording no beach where they might land in safety. Hence also the ungenerous but natural attempt of the seamen to save their lives by taking to the boat. See Smith, p. 97.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 27:29 . : the diminution of the depth of water increased the danger of running aground, perhaps on some hidden reef of rocks. , cf. Luk 3:5 , in quotation Isa 40:4 ; nowhere else in N.T., cf. Bar 4:26 ( 3Ma 1:23 ), so in Diod. Sic., xii., 72, of rocks, Polyb., i., 54. It was evidently a hydrographic term, and classed with , , etc., Jul. Pollux, i., 101; J. Smith, p. 132. , see Act 27:17 , “to cast ashore,” R.V., or simply “cast on rocky ground,” which is more indefinite than the former rendering, and perhaps correctly so, as there were possible dangers from sunken reefs as well as from a rocky coast. On the subjunctive after verbs of fear and danger cf. Burton, p. 15. : this was unusual, but to anchor was their only chance of safety, and four anchors would make the vessel more secure: ancient vessels carried as a rule several anchors. Athenus speaks of a ship which had eight iron anchors, cf. for the number here, and the security which they gave, Csar, Bell. Civ. , i., 25, “naves quaternis anchoris destinabat, ne fluctibus moverentur”; anchorage from the prow would have caused the ship to swing round from the wind, whereas anchorage from the stern would enable the sailors to manage the ship far more easily, and to bring her under control of the helm when they wished to run her aground (see the description in Ramsay, Rendall, Farrar, and J. Smith). On the interesting parallels of anchoring ships from the stern in our own naval engagements see C. and H., small edition, p. 653, and J. Smith, p. 133, 4th edition. : “prayed,” R.V. margin, the Greek sailors might pray at such a crisis (Rendall). , cf. Act 27:33 ; Act 27:39 , characteristic of Luke, cf. Luk 4:42 ; Luk 6:13 ; Luk 22:26 , Act 12:18 ; Act 16:35 ; Act 23:12 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
lest = lest perchance.
upon. The texts read kata. App-104.
rocks = rough (Greek. trachus. Only here and Luk 3:5) places.
anchors nkura.
Only here, verses: Act 27:30, Act 27:40. Heb 6:19.
out of. Greek. ek. App-104.
stern. Greek. prumna. Only here, Act 27:41, and Mar 4:38.
wished = were praying. Greek. euchomai. App-134.
for the day = that the day would come.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
29. ] The usual way of anchoring in ancient, as well as in modern navigation, was by the bow: anchora de prora jacitur. But under certain circumstances, they anchored by the stern; and Mr. Smith has shewn from the figure of a ship which he has copied from the Antichit de Ercolano, that their ships had hawse-holes aft, to fit them for anchoring by the stern. That a vessel can anchor by the stern is sufficiently proved (if proof were needed) by the history of some of our own naval engagements. So it was at the battle of the Nile. And when ships are about to attack batteries, it is customary for them to go into action prepared to anchor in this way. This was the case at Algiers. There is still greater interest in quoting the instance of the battle of Copenhagen, not only from the accounts we have of the precision with which each ship let go her anchors astern as she arrived nearly opposite her appointed station, but because it is said that Nelson stated after the battle that he had that morning been reading Acts 27. C. and H. ii. p. 414. The passage from Csar, Bell. Civ. i. 25, has quaternis ancoris ex quatuor angulis distinebat, ne fluctibus moverentur, is not to the purpose, for it was in that case a platform composed of two vessels, and anchored by the four corners. The anchorage in St. Pauls Bay is thus described in the Sailing Directions: The harbour of St. Paul is open to E. and N.E. winds. It is, notwithstanding, safe for small ships; the ground, generally, being very good: and while the cables hold, there is no danger, as the anchors will never start. Smith, p. 92.
] Uncertain, whether their ship might not go down at her anchors: and, even supposing her to ride out the night safely, uncertain whether the coast to leeward might not be iron-bound, affording no beach where they might land in safety. Hence also the ungenerous but natural attempt of the seamen to save their lives by taking to the boat. See Smith, p. 97.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
fallen: Act 27:17, Act 27:41
anchors: Act 27:30, Act 27:40, Heb 6:19
and wished: Deu 28:67, Psa 130:6
Reciprocal: Act 27:33 – while
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Act 27:29. At that rate they feared the water would soon be too shallow for the ship to float. They cast four anchors out of the rear of the boat to hold it from moving, while waiting for daylight to come when they could see better about conditions.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 27:29. Fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks. It might seem now that they not only heard breakers at a distance, but now heard them directly ahead. Such is Mr. Smiths view. This is not, however, necessarily the meaning of the words, which may express only a general tear.
They cast four anchors out of the stern. It is customary, for very good reasons, to anchor from the bow: Anchora de pror jacitur. But it is quite possible to anchor from the stern; and on emergency this has often been done. This was done, for instance, under the orders of Lord Nelson at the battle of Copenhagen in 1801, and of Lord Exmouth at the battle of Algiers in 1816. The difficulty in the case before us is, that these seamen were prepared to anchor from the stern. It is probable, however, that they had made ready for an emergency which was likely to happen. The fact that there were four anchors seems to show that they were well provided with ground tackle. Moreover, ancient ships were so built that they frequently anchored at the stern. This may be seen in the Levant now in small vessels of the old build; and Mr. Smith has produced an illustration from a sculpture at Herculaneum strictly contemporary with the Apostle Paul.
Wished for the day. Literally, prayed that the day might come on; and some commentators have supposed that actual prayers to this effect were offered up whether by Christians or by Heathens on board. This supposition is hardly natural.
The day was sure to dawn. The anxiety, however, of all on board is expressed as strongly as possible.
At this point, without anticipating the particulars of the argument, which must be summed up afterwards, we may consider what the probabilities are as to the place where the ship was anchored. Fourteen days had passed since she left Fair Havens. Allowance must be made for about a day before she was laid to on the starboard tack, under the lee of Clauda. The direction of her drift was west by north, and the rate about a mile and a half an hour, or thirty-six miles in the twenty-four hours. Now Malta lies west by north from Clauda, and the distance is 480 miles. The coincidence is so remarkable as to be startling; and yet there is nothing forced in this way of viewing the matter. Admiral Penrose and Mr. Smith, at different times, and quite independently, took this problem in hand with the view of solving it on the principles of practical seamanship, with just that slight difference in their results which gives great additional force to the argument. It seems impossible to believe that St. Paul at this moment could have been anywhere else except on the coast of Malta.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 27
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
29. And fearing lest they may fall on rough places, casting forth four anchors from the stern, they prayed that the day might come.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Four stern anchors kept the ship pointing toward the land so when the sun came up the sailors could beach it prow first. Another rendering of the Greek word for "wished" (euchomai, Act 27:29) is "prayed" (cf. Jon 1:14). Paul’s company had traveled by sea about 475 miles. [Note: Bock, Acts, p. 739.]