After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along. After hoisting it upThe phrase "hoisting it up" refers to the sailors' action of lifting something significant, likely the ship's boat or lifeboat, back onto the ship. The Greek word used here is "ἄραντες" (arantes), which implies a deliberate and strenuous effort. This action reflects the urgency and seriousness of the situation, as the crew prepares for the impending storm. In a spiritual sense, this can symbolize the need for believers to lift up their faith and trust in God during life's storms, relying on His strength to carry them through. they used ropes to undergird the ship
The practice of undergirding, or "frapping," involved passing ropes or chains under the hull of the ship to hold it together during rough seas. The Greek term "χρησάμενοι" (chresamenoi) indicates a practical and necessary measure taken to preserve the vessel. Historically, this was a common technique used by ancient mariners to prevent ships from breaking apart. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the support and reinforcement that faith and community provide to believers, helping them withstand the pressures and challenges of life. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis
The "sandbars of Syrtis" were notorious shallow areas off the coast of North Africa, known for shipwrecks. The Greek word "φοβούμενοι" (phoboumenoi) translates to "fearing," indicating the crew's anxiety and concern for their safety. This fear is a natural human response to danger, yet it also serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking God's guidance and protection. The mention of Syrtis highlights the real and present dangers faced by Paul and his companions, emphasizing the need for divine intervention. they lowered the sea anchor
Lowering the sea anchor, or "ἄγκυραν" (ankuran), was a tactic used to stabilize the ship and slow its drift. This action demonstrates the sailors' attempt to maintain control amidst chaos. In a spiritual context, the sea anchor can symbolize hope and faith, which keep believers grounded and steady during turbulent times. It serves as a reminder that, even when circumstances seem overwhelming, anchoring oneself in God's promises provides stability and peace. and were driven along
The phrase "were driven along" captures the sense of being carried by forces beyond one's control. The Greek word "ἐφέροντο" (epheronto) suggests a passive movement, highlighting the power of the storm. This can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations that believers face, where they must trust in God's sovereignty and plan. Despite the lack of control, there is an underlying assurance that God is guiding the journey, even through the storms of life. Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulThe apostle who is being transported as a prisoner to Rome. His journey is marked by divine intervention and leadership. 2. Sailors/CrewThe individuals responsible for navigating the ship. They take practical measures to secure the ship during the storm. 3. SyrtisA dangerous area in the Mediterranean known for its sandbars, which posed a significant threat to ships. 4. The ShipThe vessel carrying Paul and others, which faces a severe storm, leading to the events described in this passage. 5. The StormA natural event that tests the faith and resolve of those on board, serving as a backdrop for God's providence. Teaching Points Divine Providence in CrisisGod's hand is evident even in the midst of chaos. Just as the sailors took practical steps to secure the ship, we must also take action while trusting in God's ultimate control. The Importance of PreparednessThe sailors' use of ropes to undergird the ship teaches us the value of preparation and taking wise precautions in times of trouble. Faith Amidst FearDespite the fear of running aground, the crew's actions demonstrate a balance between human effort and reliance on divine guidance. We are called to act in faith, even when circumstances are daunting. Community and LeadershipPaul's presence and leadership during the storm remind us of the importance of godly leadership and community support in navigating life's challenges. Trust in God's DeliveranceThe lowering of the sea anchor symbolizes a surrender to God's will, trusting that He will guide us through life's storms. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the crew's response to the storm in Acts 27:17 reflect a balance between human effort and divine trust? Can you think of a situation in your life where you had to find this balance? 2. In what ways does Paul's journey to Rome, including the storm, demonstrate God's providence and purpose? How can this encourage us in our own journeys? 3. How do the actions of the sailors in Acts 27:17 compare to the actions of the sailors in Jonah 1? What lessons can we learn about responding to crises? 4. Reflect on a time when you faced a "storm" in your life. How did your faith influence your response, and what practical steps did you take to navigate through it? 5. How can we apply the principle of "undergirding" in our spiritual lives to prepare for future challenges? What are some spiritual disciplines that can help us stay anchored in faith? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 107:23-30This passage describes sailors who witness God's power over the sea, similar to the sailors in Acts 27 who experience God's sovereignty during the storm. 2 Corinthians 11:25Paul recounts his experiences of being shipwrecked, providing context to his familiarity with maritime dangers and God's deliverance. Jonah 1:4-16The account of Jonah parallels Acts 27 in that both involve storms at sea and highlight themes of divine intervention and human response. People Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, PaulPlaces Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, ThessalonicaTopics Aboard, Afraid, Aground, Along, Anchor, Bars, Board, Borne, Cables, Cast, Cords, Driven, Fall, Fearing, Frapping, Frapping-cables, Gear, Got, Helps, Hoisted, Hoisting, Hold, Itself, Lay, Lest, Lowered, Mast, Measures, Passed, Pushed, Quicksand, Quicksands, Reinforce, Ropes, Round, Run, Running, Sail, Sails, Sand, Sandbars, Shallows, Ship, Strake, Struck, Supporting, Syrtis, Syr'tis, Themselves, Undergird, Undergirding, Under-girding, Using, WindDictionary of Bible Themes Acts 27:17 4360 sand
5507 rope and cord Acts 27:1-44 5517 seafaring Acts 27:7-26 4248 islands Acts 27:13-20 5828 danger Acts 27:14-44 5590 travel Library A Short Confession of Faith
'...There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.'--ACTS xxvii. 23. I turn especially to those last words, 'Whose I am and whom I serve.' A great calamity, borne by a crowd of men in common, has a wonderful power of dethroning officials and bringing the strong man to the front. So it is extremely natural, though it has been thought to be very unhistorical, that in this story of Paul's shipwreck he should become guide, counsellor, inspirer, and a tower of strength; and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The ActsA Total Wreck, all Hands Saved
'And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Tempest and Trust
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Seasons of Covenanting.
The duty is never unsuitable. Men have frequently, improperly esteemed the exercise as one that should be had recourse to, only on some great emergency. But as it is sinful to defer religious exercises till affliction, presenting the prospect of death, constrain to attempt them, so it is wrong to imagine, that the pressure of calamity principally should constrain to make solemn vows. The exercise of personal Covenanting should be practised habitually. The patriot is a patriot still; and the covenanter …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation
1801-1832 The Bible Carey's missionary weapon--Other vernacular translators--Carey's modest but just description of his labours--His philological key--Type-cutting and type-casting by a Hindoo blacksmith--The first manufacture of paper and steam-engines in the East--Carey takes stock of the translation work at the opening of 1808--In his workshop--A seminary of Bible translators--William Yates, shoemaker, the Coverdale of the Bengali Bible--Wenger--A Bengali Luther wanted--Carey's Bengali Bible--How …
George Smith—The Life of William Carey Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Spiritual Culture.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11. There is eternal life in Jesus, but for man to come into possession of this life he must comply with the requirements made by the Bible. After getting into possession of this life there are certain duties which man must faithfully perform to retain and develop it. After entering the wide fields of grace development is necessary. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria.
1. The Location of Sychar. Although modern writers are now mostly agreed on this subject, it may be well briefly to put before our readers the facts of the case. Till comparitively lately, the Sychar of St. John iv. was generally as representing the ancient Shechem. The first difficulty here was the name, since Shechem, or even Sichem, could scarcely be identified with Sychar, which is undoubtedly the correct reading. Accordingly, the latter term was represented as one of oppobrium, and derived from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Conversion.
THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVERSION. CONVERSION to God is not so easy and so smooth a thing, as some would have men believe it is. Why is man's heart compared to fallow ground, God's word to a plough, and his ministers to ploughmen, if the heart indeed has no need of breaking in order to the receiving of the seed of God unto eternal life? Why is the conversion of the the soul compared to the grafting of a tree, if that be done without cutting? CONVERSION THE POWER OF GOD. A broken heart is the handy-work …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Perseverance
'Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' I Pet 1:1. The fifth and last fruit of sanctification, is perseverance in grace. The heavenly inheritance is kept for the saints, and they are kept to the inheritance. I Pet 1:1. The apostle asserts a saint's stability and permanence in grace. The saint's perseverance is much opposed by Papists and Arminians; but it is not the less true because it is opposed. A Christian's main comfort depends upon this doctrine of perseverance. Take …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity First Missionary Journey Scripture
STUDY III FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY Scripture, Acts 13:1-14:26 INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS Before taking up the study of the first missionary journey, attention is called to certain points which should be considered in regard to all three of them (Acts 13:1-21:17). We have now arrived at what we might call the watershed of the Acts of the Apostles. Hitherto we have had various scenes, characters, personages to consider. Henceforth Paul, his labors, his disputes, his speeches, occupy …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Pastoral and Personal
FOURTH GROUP OF EPISTLES FIRST TIMOTHY. TITUS. SECOND TIMOTHY. THE PLACE OF THE EPISTLES +When Written.+--It is generally agreed among scholars that no place can be found for the writing of First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy in the period covered by Luke in his narrative in Acts. Agreeing with the tradition of the church, however, the opinion of many eminent scholars is that Paul was released from the first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30), that he again took up his missionary work, and …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Second Sunday Before Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Scriptural Christianity
"Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head." Ezek. 33:4. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 4:31. 1. The same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read, "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all" (the Apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren) "with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions That the Christian Miracles are not Recited, or Appealed To, by Early Christian Writers Themselves So Fully or Frequently as Might have Been Expected.
I shall consider this objection, first, as it applies to the letters of the apostles preserved in the New Testament; and secondly, as it applies to the remaining writings of other early Christians. The epistles of the apostles are either hortatory or argumentative. So far as they were occupied in delivering lessons of duty, rules of public order, admonitions against certain prevailing corruptions, against vice, or any particular species of it, or in fortifying and encouraging the constancy of the …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Links Acts 27:17 NIVActs 27:17 NLTActs 27:17 ESVActs 27:17 NASBActs 27:17 KJV
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