Acts 27:17

KJV

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

KJV (with Strong's)

Which {G3739} when they had taken up {G142}, they used {G5530} helps {G996}, undergirding {G5269} the ship {G4143}; and {G5037}, fearing {G5399} lest {G3361} they should fall {G1601} into {G1519} the quicksands {G4950}, strake {G5465} sail {G4632}, and so {G3779} were driven {G5342}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They hoisted it aboard, then fastened cables tightly around the ship itself to reinforce it. Fearing they might run aground on the Syrtis sandbars, they lowered the topsails and thus continued drifting.

Berean Standard Bible

After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.

American Standard Version

and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 27:17 vividly portrays the desperate measures taken by the mariners aboard the ship carrying the Apostle Paul as they fought to survive a ferocious Mediterranean storm. Having just secured the ship's small boat, the crew now resorted to "undergirding" the main vessel with ropes to prevent it from breaking apart, and in fear of being driven onto the notorious quicksands, they lowered their main sail, allowing the ship to drift at the mercy of the wind and waves. This verse underscores the extreme peril and the ancient maritime ingenuity employed in a desperate struggle for survival.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the crew's arduous task of securing the ship's skiff in [Acts 27:16](/acts/27-16 "Acts 27:16 - Securing the Skiff"). The narrative has been building a sense of escalating danger since the onset of the violent northeasterly tempest, the [Euroclydon](/acts/27-14 "Acts 27:14 - The Euroclydon Storm"), mentioned in [Acts 27:14](/acts/27-14 "Acts 27:14 - The Euroclydon Storm"). Paul, though a prisoner, is a central figure in this account, and his presence on board sets the stage for divine intervention amidst human desperation. The actions described in [Acts 27:17](/acts/27-17 "Acts 27:17 - Undergirding and Striking Sail") are a direct response to the overwhelming force of the storm, representing a series of increasingly drastic attempts by the experienced sailors to save their vessel and their lives, leading up to the divine assurance Paul receives later in the chapter.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient sea travel, particularly in the Mediterranean during the stormy seasons, was fraught with immense danger. Ships were wooden, relying on caulking and sturdy construction, but extreme weather could easily tear them apart. "Undergirding" (also known as frapping or hogging) was a common and critical technique for reinforcing a ship's hull. It involved passing heavy cables or ropes underneath the ship's keel and tightening them on deck to prevent the timbers from separating under stress. The "quicksands" refer specifically to the infamous Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor, vast and treacherous sandbars or shoals off the coast of North Africa (modern-day Libya). These areas were notorious for trapping ships, leading to certain shipwreck and loss of life, and were a deep-seated fear for mariners. "Straking sail" meant lowering or taking down the main sail (or all sails) to reduce the ship's exposure to the wind's force, thereby minimizing the risk of capsizing or being driven too quickly onto hazards, though it also meant losing directional control.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several prominent themes within the broader narrative of [Acts 27](/acts/27 "Acts 27 - Paul's Perilous Voyage"): **Human Desperation and Ingenuity** in the face of overwhelming natural forces, showcasing the sailors' advanced (for their time) maritime knowledge and their frantic efforts to preserve life and vessel. It highlights the **Perils of Ancient Sea Travel**, emphasizing the very real and often fatal dangers posed by storms and geographical hazards like the Syrtis. Crucially, it sets the stage for the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Providence** over human effort. Despite all the sailors' desperate measures, their fate ultimately rests on God's intervention, foreshadowed by Paul's earlier warning in [Acts 27:10](/acts/27-10 "Acts 27:10 - Paul's Warning"). The narrative implicitly contrasts the limits of human control with the certainty of God's plan, as later revealed to Paul in [Acts 27:24](/acts/27-24 "Acts 27:24 - God's Promise to Paul").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **helps (Greek, _boētheia'_):** This term specifically refers to "aid," but in a maritime context, it denotes the ropes, cables, or chains used for "frapping" or "undergirding" a ship. It signifies a critical piece of equipment designed to provide structural support and prevent a vessel from breaking apart under extreme strain, indicating a desperate, last-resort effort.
* **undergirding (Greek, _hypozṓnnymi'_):** Derived from "under" and "to gird," this verb describes the specific action of passing cables or ropes under the hull of the ship and tightening them on deck. This technique was a vital ancient maritime practice, essentially creating a "belt" around the ship's vulnerable wooden frame to reinforce it against the immense pressure of waves and prevent its timbers from separating.
* **quicksands (Greek, _sýrtis'_):** This word, from a root meaning "to draw" or "drag," refers to a shoal or sandbar formed by currents drawing sand. In the context of the Mediterranean, it specifically designates the notorious Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor off the coast of North Africa. These were vast, shifting, and extremely dangerous areas of shallow water and sand, feared by ancient mariners as places where ships would inevitably run aground and be destroyed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which when they had taken up":** This clause refers back to the ship's skiff (small boat) mentioned in the previous verse, [Acts 27:16](/acts/27-16 "Acts 27:16 - Securing the Skiff"). The crew had just managed, with great difficulty, to haul this smaller boat aboard the main ship, preventing it from being lost or smashed by the waves. This action itself was a testament to the severity of the storm and the crew's desperate efforts.
* **"they used helps, undergirding the ship":** Immediately after securing the skiff, the sailors employed a crucial and desperate maritime technique. "Helps" refers to strong cables or ropes, which they passed under the ship's hull and tightened on deck. This "undergirding" (or frapping) was a last-ditch effort to reinforce the ship's wooden structure, preventing its timbers from splitting or its hull from breaking apart under the relentless pounding of the storm waves. It indicates the ship was under immense stress and at risk of structural failure.
* **"and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands":** This phrase reveals the specific and terrifying threat that motivated their next action. The "quicksands" were the infamous Syrtis shoals off the coast of North Africa, a region notorious for shipwrecks. The crew, likely experienced Mediterranean sailors, knew the immense danger of being driven onto these submerged sandbars, which would mean certain destruction for the ship and likely death for all aboard. Their fear was well-founded and dictated their next maneuver.
* **"strake sail, and so were driven":** To avoid being driven onto the quicksands by the powerful storm, the crew "strake sail," meaning they lowered or took down their main sail (and perhaps other sails). This action reduced the ship's exposure to the wind, slowing its forward momentum and reducing the risk of capsizing. However, it also meant relinquishing all directional control. The ship was then "driven," becoming a passive object at the mercy of the wind and waves, highlighting their complete loss of control over their destiny and their reliance on the elements, or ultimately, on divine providence.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of [Acts 27:17](/acts/27-17 "Acts 27:17 - Undergirding and Striking Sail") employs several literary devices to heighten the drama and convey the extreme peril. **Vivid Imagery** is present in the description of the "undergirding" and the "quicksands," painting a clear picture of the sailors' desperate actions and the specific dangers they faced. The mention of "fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands" is a powerful use of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the ongoing struggle against geographical perils and the ultimate shipwreck that will occur later in the chapter, even if not on the Syrtis itself. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the sailors' frantic efforts to save the ship, while rational and skillful, ultimately lead them to a state of being "driven," completely subject to forces beyond their control, setting the stage for Paul's later divine assurance that only lives, not the ship, would be saved. The phrase "strake sail" can also be seen as a form of **Metonymy**, where the action of lowering the sail represents the broader act of surrendering control and allowing the ship to drift.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 27:17 profoundly illustrates the limits of human ingenuity and control in the face of overwhelming circumstances, a recurring theme throughout biblical narratives. The sailors, highly skilled and resourceful, deploy every available technique—undergirding, striking sail—yet their efforts lead them only to a state of being "driven," utterly at the mercy of the storm and the dreaded quicksands. This human helplessness sets the stage for the divine intervention that will follow through Paul. It underscores that while human responsibility and effort are important, ultimate deliverance and safety rest in God's sovereign hand, especially when human strength and wisdom are exhausted. This passage reminds us that even in our most frantic attempts to control our circumstances, there are moments when we must surrender to a higher power, trusting that God's plan will prevail, even if it means passing through the very trials we fear.

* [Psalm 107:23-30](/psalms/107-23-30 "Psalm 107:23-30 - God Delivers from Storms at Sea")
* [Matthew 8:23-27](/matthew/8-23-27 "Matthew 8:23-27 - Jesus Calms the Storm")
* [2 Corinthians 1:8-10](/2_corinthians/1-8-10 "2 Corinthians 1:8-10 - Trusting God in Affliction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 27:17 resonates deeply with the human experience of facing overwhelming "storms" in life—be they financial crises, health battles, relational breakdowns, or spiritual struggles. Like the ancient mariners, we often employ every "help" and "undergirding" we can devise: careful planning, hard work, seeking expert advice, or self-reliance. Yet, there come moments when our best efforts prove insufficient, and we find ourselves "driven," feeling utterly out of control and fearing the "quicksands" of an unknown future. This verse challenges us to consider where our ultimate trust lies when human ingenuity reaches its limits. Do we continue to fight frantically, or do we learn to surrender control, acknowledging that even in our most vulnerable state, God's providence is at work? It invites us to recognize that true security is not found in our ability to control every variable, but in the unwavering faithfulness of God, who can navigate us through the most perilous seas, even when we are simply "driven."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "storms" in your life currently make you feel "driven" and out of control?**
* **What "helps" or "undergirding" strategies do you typically rely on when facing a crisis, and when do you realize their limitations?**
* **How does the fear of the "quicksands" (unknown future dangers) influence your decisions and actions today?**
* **What does it mean practically to "strake sail" in your spiritual life, surrendering control to God when you can no longer steer your own course?**

### FAQ

**What exactly was "undergirding the ship" and why was it necessary?**

Answer: "Undergirding the ship" (Greek: _hypozṓnnymi_) was an ancient maritime technique also known as "frapping" or "hogging." It involved passing strong, thick ropes or cables underneath the ship's hull, from one side to the other, and then tightening them on deck. This acted like a giant belt, reinforcing the wooden timbers of the vessel. It was necessary because the immense force of the storm (the [Euroclydon](/acts/27-14 "Acts 27:14 - The Euroclydon Storm")) was threatening to break the ship apart. The constant pounding of the waves could cause the wooden planks and beams to separate, leading to leaks and structural failure. Undergirding was a desperate, last-ditch effort to hold the ship together and prevent it from disintegrating in the violent seas.

**What were the "quicksands" mentioned, and why were they so feared?**

Answer: The "quicksands" (Greek: _sýrtis_) refer to the notorious Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor, vast and dangerous areas of shifting sandbars and shoals off the coast of modern-day Libya in North Africa. These regions were infamous among ancient mariners for their shallow, unpredictable depths and strong currents, which could easily trap and wreck ships. For a vessel to be "driven" into the Syrtis meant almost certain destruction, as it would run aground and be broken apart by the waves, leaving no hope for survival. The fear of these quicksands was profound and rational, driving the sailors to take the drastic measure of striking their sails to reduce their speed and avoid being swept onto them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 27:17, with its vivid depiction of human desperation and the limits of self-preservation, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate need for a divine Deliverer, a role perfectly fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The storm-tossed ship, undergirded by human effort yet still "driven" and facing the dreaded "quicksands," becomes a metaphor for humanity's fallen state—struggling against the overwhelming forces of sin and death, unable to steer itself to safety. Just as Paul, though a prisoner, becomes the vessel through whom God's promise of salvation is revealed to those on board ([Acts 27:24](/acts/27-24 "Acts 27:24 - God's Promise of Safety")), so Christ is the ultimate "Anchor of the soul, firm and secure" ([Hebrews 6:19](/hebrews/6-19 "Hebrews 6:19 - Hope as an Anchor")). He is the one who truly "calms the storm" of our lives ([Matthew 8:26](/matthew/8-26 "Matthew 8:26 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and delivers us from the "quicksands" of eternal peril. Our human "helps" and "undergirding" are ultimately insufficient to save us from the shipwreck of sin; only through faith in Christ, the one who bore our sins and conquered death, can we find true and lasting salvation, being carried safely to the "heavenly harbor" ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9-11 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - Entering God's Rest")). He is our ultimate hope and the only true Captain who can navigate us through life's most treacherous storms to eternal safety.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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 27:26

Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

Acts 27:41

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.