Acts 27:30
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,
Acts 27:30 in other translations
| BSB | Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. |
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| WEB | As the sailors were trying to flee out of the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, pretending that they would lay out anchors from the bow, |
| ASV | 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, |
| YLT | And the sailors seeking to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat to the sea, in pretence as if out of the foreship they are about to cast anchors, |
| DARBY | But the sailors wishing to flee out of the ship, and having let down the boat into the sea under pretext of being about to carry out anchors from the prow, |
| BBE | Then the sailors made attempts secretly to get away from the ship, letting down a boat as if they were about to put down hooks from the front of the ship; |
| Webster | And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would cast anchors out of the foreship, |
What does Acts 27:30 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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, and communicated by him to St. Paul" [Smith].
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Verse 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 as all on board could not be saved in one small boat, they resolved to escaped to a place of safety as soon as possible.
(%) "shipmen" "sailors" (**) "flee" "escape" (++) "under colour" "pretence"
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 as all on board could not be saved in one small boat, they resolved to escaped to a place of safety as soon as possible.
(%) "shipmen" "sailors" (**) "flee" "escape" (++) "under colour" "pretence"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 30 The shipmen - The sailors - let down the boat. Having lowered the boat from the deck into the sea, they pretended that it was necessary to carry some anchors ahead, to keep her from being carried in a dangerous direction by the tide, but with the real design to make for shore, and so leave the prisoners and the passengers to their fate. This was timely noticed by the pious and prudent apostle; who, while simply depending on the promise of God, was watching for the safety and comfort of all.
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 27:30-38
God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God's; we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general, often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. The comfort of God's promises can only be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith, prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves.
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Acts 27:30 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 27:30
- Acts 27:16
And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
- Acts 27:32
Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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.
- Acts 27:30
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,
- Acts 27:31
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 27:30 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Entonces procurando los marineros huir de la nave, echado que hubieron el esquife á la mar, aparentando como que querían largar las anclas de proa, |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et comme les matelots cherchaient à s’enfuir du navire, ayant descendu la chaloupe en mer sous prétexte d’aller jeter au loin les ancres de la proue, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Als aber die Matrosen aus dem Schiffe zu fliehen suchten und das Boot unter dem Vorwande, als wollten sie vom Vorderteil Anker auswerfen, in das Meer hinabließen, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Nautis vero quærentibus fugere de navi, cum misissent scapham in mare, sub obtentu quasi inciperent a prora anchoras extendere, |