Focused Passage

Acts 27:27-38

The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God

Paul sails toward Rome as a prisoner, warns against dangerous travel, is ignored, endures a violent storm, receives angelic assurance that he must stand trial before Caesar, encourages everyone aboard, prevents sailor desertion, urges them to eat, and survives shipwreck with all 276 people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.

28 They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.

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

30 Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.

31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

33 Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.

34 So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

35 After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

36 They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.

37 In all, there were 276 of us on board.

38 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 27

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction [On] Ὡς G5613 Adverb the fourteenth τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτη G5065 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular night νὺξ G3571 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular we ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural were still being driven διαφερομένων G1308 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural across ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Adriatic Sea Ἀδρίᾳ G99 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular About κατὰ G2596 Preposition midnight μέσον G3319 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular . . . νυκτὸς G3571 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural sailors ναῦται G3492 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural sensed ὑπενόουν G5282 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural they αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural were approaching προσάγειν G4317 Verb - Present Infinitive Active vvv τινὰ G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular land χώραν G5561 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • The Adriatic Sea referred to an area extending well south of Italy to include the central portion of the Mediterranean Sea.
Verse 28

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction They took soundings βολίσαντες G1001 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] found that [the water] εὗρον G2147 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [was] twenty εἴκοσι G1501 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural fathoms [deep] ὀργυιὰς G3712 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction Going διαστήσαντες G1339 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural a little farther βραχὺ G1024 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction they took another set of soundings βολίσαντες G1001 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . πάλιν G3825 Adverb that read εὗρον G2147 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural fifteen δεκαπέντε G1178 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural fathoms ὀργυιὰς G3712 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural

BSB notes

  • 20 fathoms is approximately 120 feet or 36.6 meters.
  • 15 fathoms is approximately 90 feet or 27.4 meters.
Verse 29

Original words

- τε G5037 Conjunction Fearing that φοβούμενοί G5399 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . μή G3361 Adverb we would run aground ἐκπέσωμεν G1601 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural . . . που G4225 Adverb on κατὰ G2596 Preposition [the] rocks τραχεῖς G5138 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . τόπους G5117 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural they dropped ῥίψαντες G4496 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural four τέσσαρας G5064 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural anchors ἀγκύρας G45 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] stern πρύμνης G4403 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [and] prayed for ηὔχοντο G2172 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural daybreak ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular . . . γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Verse 30

Original words

Meanwhile δὲ G1161 Conjunction the Τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural sailors ναυτῶν G3492 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural attempted ζητούντων G2212 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural to escape φυγεῖν G5343 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active from ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular ship πλοίου G4143 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Pretending προφάσει G4392 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular . . . ὡς G5613 Adverb . . . μελλόντων G3195 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural to lower ἐκτείνειν G1614 Verb - Present Infinitive Active anchors ἀγκύρας G45 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] bow πρῴρης G4408 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction they let χαλασάντων G5465 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular lifeboat σκάφην G4627 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular {down} into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσαν G2281 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 31

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [But] Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular centurion ἑκατοντάρχῃ G1543 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural soldiers στρατιώταις G4757 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Unless Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb these [men] οὗτοι G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural remain μείνωσιν G3306 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural with ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular ship πλοίῳ G4143 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb cannot δύνασθε G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural be saved σωθῆναι G4982 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Verse 32

Original words

[So] τότε G5119 Adverb the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural soldiers στρατιῶται G4757 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural cut ἀπέκοψαν G609 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural ropes σχοινία G4979 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular lifeboat σκάφης G4627 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction set εἴασαν G1439 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural it αὐτὴν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular adrift ἐκπεσεῖν G1601 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 33

Original words

Right δὲ G1161 Conjunction up to Ἄχρι G891 Preposition - οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular daybreak ἡμέρα G2250 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular . . . ἤμελλεν G3195 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . γίνεσθαι G1096 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular kept urging παρεκάλει G3870 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them all ἅπαντας G537 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural to eat μεταλαβεῖν G3335 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . τροφῆς G5160 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Today σήμερον G4594 Adverb [is your] fourteenth Τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην G5065 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular in constant suspense προσδοκῶντες G4328 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv διατελεῖτε G1300 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural without taking any food προσλαβόμενοι G4355 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . μηθὲν G3367 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . ἄσιτοι G777 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 34

Original words

So διὸ G1352 Conjunction - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular - ὑπάρχει G5225 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular for πρὸς G4314 Preposition your ὑμετέρας G5212 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 2nd Person Plural [own] τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular preservation σωτηρίας G4991 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular I urge παρακαλῶ G3870 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to eat something μεταλαβεῖν G3335 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . τροφῆς G5160 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction not a single οὐδενὸς G3762 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular hair θρὶξ G2359 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of ἀπὸ G575 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular head κεφαλῆς G2776 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular will be lost ἀπολεῖται G622 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 35

Original words

[After] δὲ G1161 Conjunction he had said Εἴπας G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Paul] took λαβὼν G2983 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular bread ἄρτον G740 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [and] gave thanks εὐχαρίστησεν G2168 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular in front of ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition them all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural Then καὶ G2532 Conjunction he broke [it] κλάσας G2806 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] began ἤρξατο G756 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to eat ἐσθίειν G2068 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 36

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They were γενόμενοι G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural encouraged εὔθυμοι G2115 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction took προσελάβοντο G4355 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural [some] food τροφῆς G5160 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular themselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 37

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction In all πᾶσαι G3956 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural there were ἤμεθα G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural 276 {} διακόσιαι G1250 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural . . . ἑβδομήκοντα G1440 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural . . . ἕξ G1803 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural of us ψυχαὶ G5590 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural on ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular [board] πλοίῳ G4143 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • WH 76
Verse 38

Original words

[After] δὲ G1161 Conjunction [the men] had eaten their fill κορεσθέντες G2880 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . τροφῆς G5160 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular they lightened ἐκούφιζον G2893 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular ship πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular by throwing ἐκβαλλόμενοι G1544 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular grain σῖτον G4621 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσαν G2281 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.