Acts 27:39
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
Acts 27:39 in other translations
| BSB | When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. |
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| WEB | When it was day, they didn’t recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it. |
| ASV | And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it. |
| YLT | And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship, |
| DARBY | And when it was day they did not recognise the land; but they perceived a certain bay having a strand, on which they were minded, if they should be able, to run the ship ashore; |
| BBE | And when it was day, they had no knowledge of the land, but they saw an inlet of the sea with a floor of sand, and they had the idea of driving the ship up on to it if possible. |
| Webster | And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into which they purposed, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. |
What does Acts 27:39 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 27:38-40
38-40. when they had eaten enough, &c.--With fresh strength after the meal, they make a third and last effort to lighten the ship, not only by pumping, as before, but by throwing the whole cargo of wheat into the sea (see on Ac 27:6).
Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. They knew not the land. They had been driven with a tempest, without being able to make any observation; and it is probable that they were entire strangers to the coast, and to the whole island.
A certain creek with a shore. Greek, A certain bosom--κολπον--or bay. By its having a shore is probably meant that it had a level shore, or one that was convenient for landing. It was not a high bluff of rocks, but was accessible. Kuin�el thinks that the passage should be construed, "they found a certain shore, having a bay," etc.
Were minded. Were resolved.
(|) "minded" "determined"
A certain creek with a shore. Greek, A certain bosom--κολπον--or bay. By its having a shore is probably meant that it had a level shore, or one that was convenient for landing. It was not a high bluff of rocks, but was accessible. Kuin�el thinks that the passage should be construed, "they found a certain shore, having a bay," etc.
Were minded. Were resolved.
(|) "minded" "determined"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 They knew not the land - And therefore knew neither the nature of the coast, nor where the proper port lay. A - creek with a shore - Κολπον, Sinum, a bay, with a shore; a neck of land perhaps on either side, running out into the sea, and this little bay or gulf between them; though some think it was a tongue of land, running out into the sea, having the sea on both sides, at the point of which these two seas met, Act 27:41. There is such a place as this in the island of Malta, where, tradition says, Paul was shipwrecked; and which is called la Cale de St. Paul. See Calmet.
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 27:39-44
The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never to be secure. Though there is great difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, it shall, without fail, be brought to pass. It will come to pass that whatever the trials and dangers may be, in due time all believers will get safely to heaven. Lord Jesus, thou hast assured us that none of thine shall perish. Thou wilt bring them all safe to the heavenly shore. And what a pleasing landing will that be! Thou wilt present them to thy Father, and give thy Holy Spirit full possession of them for ever.
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Acts 27:39 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 27:39
- Acts 28:1
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Context
- Acts 27:38
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
- Acts 27:39
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
- Acts 27:40
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
Acts 27:39 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y como se hizo de día, no conocían la tierra: mas veían un golfo que tenía orilla, al cual acordaron echar, si pudiesen, la nave. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et le jour étant venu, ils ne reconnaissaient pas le pays; mais ils apercevaient une baie ayant une plage, sur laquelle ils résolurent, s’ils le pouvaient, de faire échouer le navire. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Als es aber Tag wurde, erkannten sie das Land nicht; sie bemerkten aber einen gewissen Meerbusen, der einen Strand hatte, auf welchen sie, wenn möglich, das Schiff zu treiben gedachten. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Cum autem dies factus esset, terram non agnoscebant: sinum vero quemdam considerabant habentem littus, in quem cogitabant si possent ejicere navem. |