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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Acts 27:12–20. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
In these verses we have,
I.The ship putting to sea again, and pursuing her voyage at first with a promising gale. Observe,
1.What induced them to leave the fair havens: it was because they thought the harbour not commodious to winter in; it was pleasant enough in summer but in the winter they lay bleak. Or perhaps it was upon some other account incommodious; provisions perhaps were scarce and dear there; and they ran upon a mischief to avoid an inconvenience, as we often do. Some of the ship's crew, or of the council that was called to advise in this matter, were for staying there, rather than venturing to sea now that the weather was so uncertain: it is better to be safe in an incommodious harbour than to be lost in a tempestuous sea. But they were outvoted when it was put to the question, and the greater part advised to depart thence also; yet they aimed not to go far, but only to another port of the same island, here called Phenice, and some think it was so called because the Phenicians frequented it much, the merchants of Tyre and Sidon. It is here described to lie towards the south-west and north-west. Probably the haven was between the two promontories or juttings-out of land into the sea, one of which pointed to the north-west and the other to the south-west, by which it was guarded against the east winds. Thus hath the wisdom of the Creator provided for the relief and safety of those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters. In vain had nature provided for us the waters to sail on, if it had not likewise provided for us natural harbours to take shelter in.
2.What encouragement they had at first to pursue their voyage. They set out with a fair wind (Act 27:13), the south wind blew softly, upon which they should gain their point, and so they sailed close by the coast of Crete and were not afraid of running upon the rocks or quicksands, because the wind blew so gently. Those who put to sea with ever so fair a gale know not what storms they may yet meet with, and therefore must not be secure, nor take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose, when so many accidents may happen to cross their purpose. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off.
II.The ship in a storm presently, a dreadful storm.
They looked at second causes, and took their measures from the favourable hints they gave, and imagined that because the south wind now blew softly it would always blow so; in confidence of this, they ventured to sea, but were soon made sensible of their folly in giving more credit to a smiling wind than to the word of God in Paul's mouth, by which they had fair warning given them of a storm. Observe,
1.What their danger and distress was, (1.). There arose against them a tempestuous wind, which was not only contrary to them, and directly in their teeth, so that they could not get forward, but a violent wind, which raised the waves, like that which was sent forth in pursuit of Jonah, though Paul was following God, and going on in his duty, and not as Jonah running away from God and his duty. This wind the sailors called Euroclydon, a north-east wind, which upon those seas perhaps was observed to be in a particular manner troublesome and dangerous. It was a sort of whirlwind, for the ship is said to be caught by it, Act 27:15. It was God that commanded this wind to rise, designing to bring glory to himself, and reputation to Paul, out of it; stormy winds being brought out of his treasuries (Psa 135:7), they fulfil his word, Psa 148:8. (2.) The ship was exceedingly tossed (Act 27:18); it was kicked like a football from wave to wave; its passengers (as it is elegantly described, Psa 107:26, Psa 107:27) mount up to the heavens, go down again to the depths, reel to and fro, stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. The ship could not possibly bear up into the wind, could not make her way in opposition to the wind; and therefore they folded up their sails, which in such a storm would endanger them rather than to them any service, and so let the ship drive, Not whither it would, but whither it was impelled by the impetuous waves - non quo voluit, sed quo rapit impetus undae. Ovid. Trist. It is probable that they were very near the heaven of Phenice when this tempest arose, and thought they should presently be in a quiet haven, and were pleasing themselves with the thought of it, and wintering there, and lo, of a sudden, they are in this distress. Let us therefore always rejoice with trembling, and never expect a perfect security, nor a perpetual security, till we come to heaven. (3.) They saw neither sun nor stars for many days. This made the tempest the more terrible, that they were all in the dark; and the use of the loadstone for the direction of sailors not being then found out (so that they had no guide at all, when they could see neither sun nor stars) made the case the more hazardous. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God upon a spiritual account. They walk in darkness and have no light. Neither sun nor stars appear; they cannot dwell, nay, they cannot fasten, upon any thing comfortable or encouraging; thus it may be with them, and yet light is sown for them. (4.) They had abundance of winter-weather: No small tempest - cheimōn ouk oligos, cold rain, and snow, and all the rigours of that season of the year, so that they were ready to perish for cold; and all this continued many days. See what hardships those often undergo who are much at sea, besides the hazards of life they run; and yet to get gain there are still those who make nothing of all this; and it is an instance of divine Providence that it disposes some to this employment, notwithstanding the difficulties that attend it, for the keeping up of commerce among the nations, and the isles of the Gentiles particularly; and Zebulun can as heartily rejoice in his going out as Issachar in his tents. Perhaps Christ therefore chose ministers from among seafaring men, because they had been used to endure hardness.
2.What means they used for their own relief: they betook themselves to all the poor shifts (for I can call them no better) that sailors in distress have recourse to.
(1.)When they could not make head against the wind, they let the ship run adrift, finding it was to no purpose to ply either the oar or the sail. When it is fruitless to struggle, it is wisdom to yield.
(2.)They nevertheless did what they could to avoid the present danger; there was a little island called Clauda, and when they were near that, though they could not pursue their voyage, they took care to prevent their shipwreck, and therefore so ordered their matters that they did not run against the island, but quietly ran under it, Act 27:16.
(3.)When they were afraid they should scarcely save the ship, they were busy to save the boat, which they did with much ado. They had much work to come by the boat (Act 27:16), but at last they took it up, Act 27:17. This might be of use in any exigence, and therefore they made hard shift to get it into the ship to them.
(4.)They used means which were proper enough in those times, when the art of navigation was far short of the perfection it is now come to; they undergirded the ship, Act 27:17. They bound the ship under the bottom of it with strong cables, to keep it from bulging in the extremity of the tempest.
(5.)For fear of falling into the quicksands they struck sail, and then let the ship go as it would. It is strange how a ship will live at sea (so they express it), even in very stormy weather, if it have but sea-room; and, when the sailors cannot make the shore, it is their interest to keep as far off it as they can.
(6.)The next day they lightened the ship of its cargo, threw the goods and the merchandises overboard (as Jonah's mariners did, Jon 1:5), being willing rather to be poor without them than to perish with them. Skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life. See what the wealth of this world is; how much soever it is courted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden, not only too heavy to be carried safe of itself, but heavy enough to sink him that has it. Riches are often kept by the owners thereof to their hurt (Ecc 5:13); and parted with to their good. But see the folly of the children of this world, they can be thus prodigal of their goods when it is for the saving of their lives, and yet how sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering for Christ, though they are told by eternal Truth itself that those shall be recompensed more than a thousand fold in the resurrection of the just. Those went upon a principle of faith who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance, Heb 10:34. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many will rather make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience than of their goods.
(7.)The third day they cast out the tacklings of the ship - the utensils of it, Armamenta (so some render it), as if it were a ship of force. With us it is common to heave the guns over-board in the extremity of a storm; but what heavy artillery they had then which it was necessary to lighten the ship of I do not know; and I question whether it was not then a vulgar error among seamen thus to throw every thing into the sea, even that which would be of great use in a storm, and no great weight.
3.The despair which at last they were brought to (Act 27:20): All hope that we should be saved was then taken away. The storm continued, and they saw no symptoms of its abatement; we have known very blustering weather to continue for some weeks. The means they had used were ineffectual, so that they were at their wits' end; and such was the consternation that this melancholy prospect put them into that they had no heart either to eat or drink. They had provision enough on board (Act 27:38), but such bondage were they under, through fear of death, that they could not admit the supports of life. Why did not Paul, by the power of Christ, and in his name, lay this storm? Why did he not say to the winds and waves, Peace, be still, as his Master had done? Surely it was because the apostles wrought miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine, not for the serving of a turn for themselves or their friends.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
We could scarcely obtain the lifeboat. After it was taken, they used auxiliary ropes. The lifeboat or Catascopos is a light boat, made of wicker and covered with rawhide. It is called in Greek from the act of viewing, because sailors or pirates on such a vessel used to observe lands and shores. Thus, when they had launched this lifeboat into the sea to help the larger ship, they could scarcely hold onto it, lest it slip, due to the seething wave.
They were being carried under control with a newly lowered sail. Another translation places it thus: "Fearing that they might fall into the Syrtic, they loosened the ropes and thus were being carried."
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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. The narrative has been building a sense of escalating danger since the onset of the violent northeasterly tempest, the Euroclydon, mentioned in Acts 27:14. 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 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: 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. 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.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
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.
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.
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. 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 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.
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
FAQ
What exactly was "undergirding the ship" and why was it necessary?
"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) 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?
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), so Christ is the ultimate "Anchor of the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). He is the one who truly "calms the storm" of our lives (Matthew 8:26) 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). He is our ultimate hope and the only true Captain who can navigate us through life's most treacherous storms to eternal safety.