Acts 27:28
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.
They took soundings
The practice of taking soundings involves measuring the depth of water, a critical task for ancient mariners to avoid running aground. The Greek word used here is "βοθέω" (bótheó), which means to help or assist, indicating the careful and deliberate action taken by the sailors. This reflects the human tendency to seek guidance and assurance in times of uncertainty, much like how believers seek divine guidance through prayer and scripture.

found that the water was twenty fathoms deep
A fathom is approximately six feet, so twenty fathoms would be about 120 feet. The use of precise measurements underscores the importance of accuracy and vigilance in navigating life's challenges. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the depth of understanding and wisdom that believers are encouraged to seek in their walk with God.

Going a little farther
This phrase suggests progression and movement, both physically and spiritually. In the Christian journey, believers are called to move forward in faith, trusting in God's plan even when the path is uncertain. The Greek word "προβαίνω" (probainó) implies advancing or making progress, which can inspire believers to continue growing in their faith and understanding.

they took another sounding
Repetition of the action indicates diligence and caution. In the Christian life, this can be likened to the continual seeking of God's will and confirmation through prayer and study of the Word. The sailors' repeated actions serve as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and attentiveness in spiritual matters.

found it was fifteen fathoms deep
The decreasing depth from twenty to fifteen fathoms signifies approaching danger, as the ship nears land. This can be seen as a warning to believers to remain vigilant and aware of spiritual dangers that may arise as they draw closer to their goals or divine purposes. The Greek word "εὑρίσκω" (heuriskó) means to find or discover, emphasizing the importance of discernment and awareness in the Christian life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
- The Apostle Paul is on a journey to Rome as a prisoner. He is under Roman guard and is being transported by ship.

2. Sailors
- The crew of the ship, responsible for navigating and ensuring the safety of the vessel and its passengers.

3. Soundings
- A nautical term referring to the measurement of water depth. In this context, it indicates the sailors' efforts to determine their proximity to land.

4. Fathoms
- A unit of measurement used in nautical contexts, equivalent to six feet. The soundings reveal decreasing depth, indicating the ship is approaching land.

5. The Mediterranean Sea
- The body of water where this event takes place, specifically near the island of Malta, as the ship is caught in a storm.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Crisis
Even in the midst of a storm, God is in control. The decreasing depth of the water signifies approaching land, a sign of hope and divine guidance.

Human Responsibility and Divine Guidance
The sailors' actions in taking soundings show the balance between human responsibility and reliance on God's providence. We are called to act wisely while trusting in God's plan.

Faith in Uncertain Times
Like Paul and the sailors, we often face uncertain and dangerous situations. Our faith should anchor us, trusting that God will guide us through the storms of life.

The Importance of Discernment
Just as the sailors discerned their proximity to land, Christians are called to discern God's will and direction in their lives through prayer and Scripture.

Community in Crisis
The collective effort of the sailors and passengers highlights the importance of community support and cooperation during challenging times.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the act of taking soundings reflect the balance between human effort and divine intervention in our lives?

2. In what ways can we discern God's guidance when we face "storms" or challenges in our own lives?

3. How does the account of Paul in Acts 27 encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty during times of crisis?

4. What lessons can we learn from the sailors' actions that can be applied to our spiritual journey and decision-making processes?

5. How can we, as a community of believers, support one another during difficult times, similar to the cooperation seen on the ship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jonah 1
The account of Jonah also involves a storm at sea, where the sailors take action to determine their course and safety, similar to the soundings in Acts 27.

Psalm 107:23-30
This passage describes God's sovereignty over the sea and His ability to calm storms, paralleling the divine protection over Paul and his companions.

Mark 4:35-41
Jesus calming the storm demonstrates His authority over nature, providing a backdrop for understanding God's control in Acts 27.
The Voyage of LifeW. Clarkson Acts 27:1-44
The Voyage to Italy: an Allegory of the Christian's CourseE. Johnson Acts 27:1-44
The Example of Paul in the StormE. Johnson Acts 27:21-30
The Divine and the Human WillW. Clarkson Acts 27:24, 31
A Sermon to SailorsArchibald G. Brown.Acts 27:27-29
Fitted for SeaW. H. Burton.Acts 27:27-29
Land AheadW. H. Burton.Acts 27:27-29
Wished for DayF. Jacox, B. A.Acts 27:27-29
People
Aristarchus, Augustus, Julius, Paul
Places
Adramyttium, Adriatic Sea, Alexandria, Asia, Cauda, Cilicia, Cnidus, Crete, Cyprus, Fair Havens, Italy, Lasea, Lycia, Malta, Myra, Pamphylia, Phoenix, Salmone, Sidon, Syrtis, Thessalonica
Topics
Deep, Farther, Fathoms, Fifteen, Further, Hove, Hundred, Later, Lead, Ninety, Short, Sounded, Sounding, Soundings, Space, Twenty
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 27:28

     4813   depth

Acts 27:1-44

     5517   seafaring

Acts 27:14-44

     5590   travel

Acts 27:27-44

     5569   suffering, hardship

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 Acts

A 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

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