Acts 27:30

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 27:30

Sailors for shipmen, A.V.; seeking for about, A.V. ; and had lowered for when they had let down, A.V. ; lay out for have east, A.V.; from for out of, A.V. Had lowered ( χαλάσαντες , see Acts 27:17 , note). The sailors thought the only chance of safety was to get into the boat and run ashore on the beach. They pretended, therefore, that they wished to let down more anchors from the bow; and let down the boat, as if with that intention, being prepared to jump in and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 27:30-32

A glimpse at human nature and its behavior in three varieties at one and the same conjuncture. The episode comprised in these few verses is full of startling effect. It displays human nature—that which is alike so one and so manifold—in this its latter aspect, rather than in the former. It invites us to look, to wonder, and, if wise, to be warned and learn in time. Let us notice the manifestation of human nature as made now by three varieties of people— I. BY THE SHIPMEN . That... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 27:30

The shipmen - The sailors, leaving the prisoners.Under colour - Under pretence. They pretended that it was necessary to get into the boat, and carry the anchors ahead of the ship so as to make it secure, but with a real intention to make for the shore.Out of the foreship - From the prow, so as to make the fore-part of the ship secure. The reason why they did this was probably that they expected the ship would go to pieces; and, since all on board could not be saved in one small boat, they... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 27:27-32

Acts 27:27-32. But when the fourteenth night Since they left Crete; was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria That is, in the Adriatic sea: as the ancients called all that part of the Mediterranean sea which lay south of Italy. About midnight, the shipmen deemed (apprehended) that they drew near to some country Or shore; which confirmed what Paul had told them, that they must be driven upon some island: and, to try whether it was so or not, they sounded In order to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 27:1-44

From Caesarea to Rome (27:1-28:15)Festus arranged for a centurion and a unit of Roman soldiers to take Paul, along with a number of other prisoners, to Rome. Two Christians also went with Paul, his loyal friend Luke and a church leader from Thessalonica named Aristarchus (27:1-2; cf. 19:29; 20:4). They began the journey on a ship that took them as far as Myra in Asia Minor. There they changed to one of the huge grain ships that sailed between Alexandria and Italy. After several days they came... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 27:30

about = seeking. when, &c = and had let down. Greek. chalao, as in Acts 27:17 . under colour = by pretence. Greek. prophasis. Else-where, Matthew 23:14 .Mark 12:40 . Luke 20:47 . John 15:22 .Philippians 1:1 , Php 1:18 . 1 Thessalonians 2:5 . though they would have = being about to. cast. Greek. ekteino. Elsewhere (fifteen times) translated "stretch" or "put forth". foreship = bows or prow. Greek. prora. Only here and Acts 27:41 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 27:30

And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship.Flee the ship ... This the sailors would have done, leaving all on board to perish; for without them, the passengers could not have beached the ship. In this sad moment of fear and apprehension, they forgot the high and unselfish code of the seas, cravenly thinking to save their own lives, no matter what happened to others.They seemed... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 27:30

30. as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship—under cover of night. when they had let down the boat . . . as though they would . . . cast anchors out of the foreship—"bow"—rather, "carry out" anchors, to hold the ship fore as well as aft. "This could have been of no advantage in the circumstances, and as the pretext could not deceive a seaman, we must infer that the officers of the ship were parties to the unworthy attempt, which was perhaps detected by the nautical skill of St. Luke,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 27:27-44

The shipwreck 27:27-44 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 27:30-32

The ship’s crew was about to abandon ship and make for land in the lifeboat leaving the passengers to fend for themselves. Paul probably realized that anchors in front of the ship were unnecessary and sensed their plan. The sailors would have been valuable on board to help beach the ship safely. They were the experts at maneuvering it. Perhaps the soldiers let the dinghy drift free so the sailors would not try another escape. This small boat would have been useful later when the passengers had... read more

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