Acts 27:41
New International Version
But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

New Living Translation
But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

English Standard Version
But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.

Berean Standard Bible
But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

Berean Literal Bible
But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

King James Bible
And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

New King James Version
But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

New American Standard Bible
But 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.

NASB 1995
But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.

NASB 1977
But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.

Legacy Standard Bible
But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the bow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.

Amplified Bible
But striking a reef with waves breaking in on either side, they ran the ship aground. The prow (forward point) stuck fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up under the [violent] force of the waves.

Christian Standard Bible
But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.

American Standard Version
But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

Contemporary English Version
But it ran aground on a sandbank. The front of the ship stuck firmly in the sand, and the rear was being smashed by the force of the waves.

English Revised Version
But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They struck a sandbar in the water and ran the ship aground. The front of the ship stuck and couldn't be moved, while the back of the ship was broken to pieces by the force of the waves.

Good News Translation
But the ship hit a sandbank and went aground; the front part of the ship got stuck and could not move, while the back part was being broken to pieces by the violence of the waves.

International Standard Version
But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and couldn't be moved, while the stern was broken to pieces by the force of the waves.

Majority Standard Bible
But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

NET Bible
But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.

New Heart English Bible
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

Webster's Bible Translation
And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained immovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

Weymouth New Testament
But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.

World English Bible
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the prow, indeed, having stuck fast, remained immoveable, but the stern was broken by the violence of the waves.

Berean Literal Bible
But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.

Young's Literal Translation
and having fallen into a place of two seas, they ran the ship aground, and the fore-part, indeed, having stuck fast, did remain immoveable, but the hinder-part was broken by the violence of the waves.

Smith's Literal Translation
And having fallen into a place between two seas, they caused the ship to strike; and truly the prow, fixed firmly, remained undisturbed, but the stern was loosed by force of the waves.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when we were fallen into a place where two seas met, they run the ship aground; and the forepart indeed, sticking fast, remained unmoveable: but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the sea.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when we happened upon a place open to two seas, they ran the ship aground. And indeed, the bow, being immobilized, remained fixed, but truly the stern was broken by the violence of the sea.

New American Bible
But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow was wedged in and could not be moved, but the stern began to break up under the pounding [of the waves].

New Revised Standard Version
But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the ship struck on a shoal between two deep places in the sea, and went aground; and the forward part rested upon the bottom and could not be moved, but the stern broke by the violence of the waves.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And the ship touched a prominence between two deep channels of the sea, and it was stuck in it and stopped upon its front end, and the end of it did not move, but the stern was destroyed by the force of the waves.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And falling into a place where two currents met, they ran the ship aground, and the prow stuck fast, and remained immovable; but the stern was broken by the violence of the waves.

Godbey New Testament
And having fallen into a place where two seas met, they broke the ship, and indeed the prow, sticking fast, remained motionless, but the stern was torn off by the violence (of the wind).

Haweis New Testament
But falling on a shoal where two currents met, they ran the ship aground; and the forecastle stuck fast, and remained immoveable, but the stern was stove in by the violence of the waves.

Mace New Testament
when falling into the confluence of two currents, they ran the ship a-ground: where the fore-castle stuck fast and would not give, but her stern was shatter'd by the violence of the waves.

Weymouth New Testament
But coming to a place where two seas met, they stranded the ship, and her bow sticking fast remained immovable, while the stern began to go to pieces under the heavy hammering of the sea.

Worrell New Testament
But, falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow, sticking fast, remained immovable, but the stern was being broken to pieces by the violence of the waves.

Worsley New Testament
But falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship a-ground; and the fore-part stuck fast, and remained immoveable, but the hinder part was dashed in pieces by the violence of the waves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Shipwreck
40Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves. 42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.…

Cross References
Jonah 1:4
Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

Psalm 107:25-30
For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea. / They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; their courage melted in their anguish. / They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless. ...

Matthew 8:24-27
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” / “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. ...

Mark 4:37-41
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. / But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. ...

Luke 8:23-25
As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

2 Corinthians 11:25
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

Ezekiel 27:26-27
Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea. / Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.

Isaiah 33:23
Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder.

Psalm 46:2-3
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, / though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah

Psalm 69:1-2
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

Job 38:8-11
Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, / when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, / when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, ...

Nahum 1:4
He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Jeremiah 51:42
The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.

Psalm 18:16
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.


Treasury of Scripture

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

they ran.

Acts 27:17,26-29
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven…

2 Corinthians 11:25
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

broken.

1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

2 Chronicles 20:37
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Ezekiel 27:26,34
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas…

Jump to Previous
Aground Bow Break Falling Fast Forepart Foreship Hammering Heavy Hinder Immovable Lighting Met Part Pieces Point Pounding Ran Sea Seas Ship Stern Sticking Stranded Striking Struck Stuck Unmoveable Vessel Violence Waves
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Aground Bow Break Falling Fast Forepart Foreship Hammering Heavy Hinder Immovable Lighting Met Part Pieces Point Pounding Ran Sea Seas Ship Stern Sticking Stranded Striking Struck Stuck Unmoveable Vessel Violence Waves
Acts 27
1. Paul shipping toward Rome,
10. foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11. but is not believed.
14. They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41. and suffer shipwreck;
44. yet all come safe to land.














But the vessel
The term "vessel" here refers to the ship carrying Paul and other passengers. In the Greek, the word used is "σκάφος" (skaphos), which denotes a ship or boat. Historically, this was a Roman grain ship, likely large and robust, designed to carry heavy cargo across the Mediterranean. The ship symbolizes the journey of faith, often subject to the storms of life, yet under divine providence.

struck a sandbar
The Greek word for "sandbar" is "τόπος" (topos), meaning a place or location. In this context, it refers to a hidden underwater obstacle. This incident illustrates the unforeseen challenges believers face, reminding us of the need for spiritual discernment and reliance on God’s guidance.

and ran aground
The phrase "ran aground" comes from the Greek "ἐπέκειλαν" (epekeilan), meaning to drive upon or to beach. This action signifies a sudden halt in progress, often seen in spiritual journeys when God allows circumstances to redirect our paths for His purposes.

The bow stuck fast
The "bow" is the front part of the ship, and "stuck fast" indicates it was immovable. The Greek "ἐρείδω" (ereido) means to fix firmly. This imagery reflects moments in life where we feel trapped or unable to move forward, yet these are times to trust in God’s sovereignty and timing.

and would not move
This phrase emphasizes the ship's immobility, highlighting the Greek "κινέω" (kineo), meaning to move or stir. Spiritually, it suggests times when God calls us to be still and know that He is God, trusting in His deliverance.

and the stern was being broken up
The "stern" is the rear part of the ship, and "broken up" comes from the Greek "λύω" (luo), meaning to loosen or destroy. This destruction signifies the trials that test our faith, breaking away our reliance on worldly security and drawing us closer to God.

by the pounding of the waves
The "pounding" refers to the relentless force of the waves, with the Greek "κλύδων" (kludon) meaning a surge or billow. This represents the trials and tribulations believers face, which, though challenging, are used by God to refine and strengthen our faith, much like waves shaping the shoreline.

(41) And falling into a place where two seas met.--Better, But falling, as in contrast with the attempt described in the previous verse. At the west end of St. Paul's Bay lies the island of Salmonetta. From their place of anchorage the crew could not have seen that it was an island, and in trying to run the ship on the beach they grounded on a mud-bank between the small island and the coast. The waves swept round the island and met on the bank, and the position of the ship was accordingly one of extreme danger, the prow imbedded in the mud, the stern exposed to the billows.

The hinder part was broken.--Better, was being broken up, the tense expressing continuous action.

Verse 41. - But lighting upon for and falling taro, A.V.; vessel for ship, A.V.; fore-ship for forepart, A.V.; struck for stuck fast, A.V.; stern for hinder part, A.V.; began to break up for was broken with, A.V. Where two seas met; τόπον διθάλασσον, only here, and in Dion Chrysostomus. The explanation of this "place where two seas met" is as follows: - As the ship stood at anchor in the bay on the north-east side of the island, it would have the Koura Point (Ras el-Kaura) on its left, and on entering deeper into the bay westward, the little island of Salmonetta, or Selmoon, otherwise called Gzeier, would lie on its right, and would appear to be part of the island of Malta, from which it is separated by a narrow channel about a hundred yards in width. When, however, she was just coming upon the beach for which she was making, she would come opposite to this open channel, and the sea from the north would break upon her and meet the sea on the south side of the island, where the ship was. Here, then, they ran the vessel aground. Ἐπώκειλαν, or, according to the R.T., ἐπέκειλαν, is only found here in the Bible; but it is the regular word for running a ship aground, or ashore, in classical writers. Ἐπικέλλω has exactly the same meaning. The simple verbs κἑλλω and ὀκέλλω are also both in use for running a ship to land. The foreship struck; ἐρείσασα, here only in the Bible, but very common in classical Greek. Its meaning here is not very different from its frequent medical meaning of a disease "fixing itself" and "settling" in some particular part of the body. Remained unmovable. "A ship impelled by the force of a gale into a creek with a bottom such as that laid down in Admiral Smyth's chart of St. Paul's Bay, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the forepart would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the force of the waves" (Smith, p. 144). Unmovable; ἀσάλεῦτος, only here and Hebrews 12:28, in the Bible; but common in Greek writers in the sense of "firm," "unmovable." Began to break up (ἐλύετο, like solvo and dissolvo in Latin). The planks were loosened and disjoined. By the violence. The R.T. omits the words τῶν κυμάτων, and so has βία alone, somewhat like ὕβρις in ver. 21.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

vessel
ναῦν (naun)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3491: A ship, vessel. From nao or neo; a boat.

struck
περιπεσόντες (peripesontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4045: From peri and pipto; to fall into something that is all around, i.e. Light among or upon, be surrounded with.

a sandbar
τόπον (topon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard.

[and] ran aground.
ἐπέκειλαν (epekeilan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2027: To force forward, run (a ship) aground. From epi and okello; to drive upon the shore, i.e. To beach a vessel.

The
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

bow
πρῷρα (prōra)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4408: The prow of a ship. Feminine of a presumed derivative of pro as noun; the prow, i.e. Forward part of a vessel.

stuck fast
ἐρείσασα (ereisasa)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2043: To stick fast, prop, fix firmly. Of obscure affinity; to prop, i.e. get fast.

[and] would not move,
ἀσάλευτος (asaleutos)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 761: Unshaken, immovable. Unshaken, i.e. immovable.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

stern
πρύμνα (prymna)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4403: The stern of a ship. Feminine of prumnus; the stern of a ship.

was being tattered
ἐλύετο (elyeto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'.

by
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

pounding
βίας (bias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 970: Force, violence, strength. Probably akin to bia; force.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

waves.
κυμάτων (kymatōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 2949: A wave, surge, billow. From kuo (with young), i.e. Bend, curve); a billow.


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NT Apostles: Acts 27:41 But coming to a place where two (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 27:40
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