Acts 27:29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

◄ Acts 27:29 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

English Standard Version
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

New American Standard Bible
Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.

King James Bible
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

International Standard Version
Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and began praying for daylight to come.

American Standard Version
And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Darby Bible Translation
and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.

Young's Literal Translation
and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.

Cross References

Acts 27:17
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, under girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, struck sail, and so were driven.

Acts 27:26
However, we must be cast on a certain island.

Acts 27:28
And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

Acts 27:40
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

27:21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can hinder God's favour to his people, for he is a Help always at hand. It is a comfort to the faithful servants of God when in difficulties, that as long as the Lord has any work for them to do, their lives shall be prolonged. If Paul had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them; but God calling him into it, they are preserved with him. They are given thee; there is no greater satisfaction to a good man than to know he is a public blessing. He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself was comforted. God is ever faithful, therefore let all who have an interest in his promises be ever cheerful. As, with God, saying and doing are not two things, believing and enjoying should not be so with us. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil. Let those who are in spiritual darkness hold fast by that, and think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break, and the shadows flee away.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

29. they cast four anchors out of the stern—The ordinary way was to cast the anchor, as now, from the bow: but ancient ships, built with both ends alike, were fitted with hawseholes in the stern, so that in case of need they could anchor either way. And when the fear was, as here, that they might fall on the rocks to leeward, and the intention was to run the ship ashore as soon as daylight enabled them to fix upon a safe spot, the very best thing they could do was to anchor by the stern [Smith]. In stormy weather two anchors were used, and we have instances of four being employed, as here.

and wished—"anxiously" or "devoutly wished."

for day—the remark this of one present, and with all his shipmates alive to the horrors of their condition. "The ship might go down at her anchors, or the coast to leeward might be iron-bound, affording no beach on which they could land with safety. Hence their anxious longing for day, and the ungenerous but natural attempt, not peculiar to ancient times, of the seamen to save their own lives by taking to the boat" [Smith].