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.

And ^{G2532} sounded ^{G1001}, and found ^{G2147} it twenty ^{G1501} fathoms ^{G3712}: and ^{G1161} when they had gone ^{G1339} a little further ^{G1024}, they sounded ^{G1001} again ^{G3825}, and ^{G2532} found ^{G2147} it fifteen ^{G1178} fathoms ^{G3712}.

So they dropped a plumbline and found the water one hundred and twenty feet deep. A little farther on, they took another sounding and found it ninety feet.

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.

and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.

Context of Acts 27:28

The Apostle Paul was on a perilous voyage to Rome as a prisoner, accompanied by other prisoners and soldiers. Their ship had been caught in a violent tempest, referred to as Euroclydon, for many days. Having drifted without sight of sun or stars, and after jettisoning cargo and tackling, the crew was in a desperate state, fearing they would run aground on rocks in the darkness. This verse describes a critical moment as the sailors attempted to ascertain their position and the depth of the water, highlighting their increasing alarm as the ship approached land or shoals.

Key Themes and Messages

Imminent Danger: The decreasing depth readings from twenty fathoms to fifteen fathoms in a short distance signaled immediate and grave danger. It indicated that the ship was rapidly approaching shallow water, likely a coastline or submerged rocks, putting them at high risk of being wrecked.
Human Diligence and Prudence: Despite the overwhelming storm and the dire circumstances, the sailors demonstrated practical wisdom and diligence by "sounding" the depth. This action was a crucial navigational practice in ancient seafaring, a testament to human effort to avert disaster even when facing overwhelming forces.
Foreshadowing of Divine Providence: Although the immediate picture is one of escalating peril, this careful measurement foreshadows the ship's inevitable shipwreck. However, it also sets the stage for Paul's subsequent divine assurance that no lives would be lost, demonstrating God's sovereign hand even in the midst of human efforts and natural calamities.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sounded" refers to the ancient method of measuring the depth of water using a lead line, a rope with a lead weight attached to its end, marked at regular intervals. This line would be dropped into the water until the weight hit the bottom, and the depth could then be read from the markings. A "fathom" is a unit of depth equal to six feet. Therefore, twenty fathoms is 120 feet, and fifteen fathoms is 90 feet. The rapid decrease in depth was a clear warning sign to the experienced sailors.

Practical Application

Acts 27:28 offers several lessons for contemporary life. Just as the sailors diligently measured the depth to assess their immediate danger, we are called to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing warning signs in our own lives or circumstances. Whether in spiritual, relational, or practical matters, paying attention to decreasing "depths" can prevent us from running aground. Furthermore, this passage reminds us that even when human efforts are at their peak and danger seems overwhelming, God's providence is still at work. We are to exercise our prudence and responsibility while simultaneously placing our ultimate trust in God's guiding hand, much like Paul who, despite the storm, had received divine assurance.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

No cross-references found for this verse.