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.

And {G1161} falling {G4045} into {G1519} a place {G5117} where two seas met {G1337}, they ran {G2027} the ship {G3491} aground {G2027}; and {G2532} the forepart {G4408}{G3303} stuck fast {G2043}, and remained {G3306} unmoveable {G761}, but {G1161} the hinder part {G4403} was broken {G3089} with {G5259} the violence {G970} of the waves {G2949}.

But they encountered a place where two currents meet, and ran the vessel aground on the sandbar there. The bow stuck and would not move, while the pounding of the surf began to break up the stern.

But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

Commentary

Acts 27:41 vividly describes the dramatic shipwreck of the vessel carrying the Apostle Paul and his companions to Rome. After weeks of being tossed by a violent storm in the Mediterranean, their ship finally meets its end, but in a way that aligns with God's earlier promise of no loss of life.

Context

This verse is the climax of a harrowing sea voyage detailed in Acts chapter 27. Paul had initially warned the centurion and shipmaster against sailing at that time of year, predicting "much hurt and damage" (Acts 27:10). Despite his counsel, they set sail and were soon caught in a fierce northeasterly gale, the Euroclydon. After fourteen days of drifting, losing all hope (Acts 27:20), Paul received a divine assurance from an angel that while the ship would be lost, all 276 souls on board would be saved for his sake (Acts 27:24). This verse details the final moments of the ship as it approaches land, fulfilling that prophecy, generally identified as St. Paul's Bay in Malta.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence Amidst Disaster: The shipwreck, though destructive, was precisely the means by which God brought everyone safely to shore, fulfilling His word to Paul. It demonstrates God's sovereignty even over natural forces and human folly.
  • Human Helplessness and God's Deliverance: The crew and soldiers were powerless against the storm and the sea. Their ship, a marvel of ancient engineering, was utterly broken. Yet, in their complete helplessness, God's plan for their survival unfolded.
  • Perseverance Through Adversity: The journey was fraught with danger and despair, but Paul's unwavering faith and the eventual deliverance serve as a powerful testament to enduring trials with hope.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a place where two seas met" translates the Greek term topon dithalasson. This likely refers to a narrow strait, a sandbar, or a confluence of strong currents where two bodies of water or distinct currents meet, creating turbulent and treacherous conditions. This geographical feature would have caused the ship to run aground suddenly and violently. The "forepart stuck fast" (Greek: enereisasa) implies it was deeply embedded, while "unmoveable" (Greek: asaleutos) emphasizes its firm, immovable lodging, allowing the waves to relentlessly batter and break apart the "hinder part" (stern) of the ship.

Practical Application

Acts 27:41 offers profound lessons for believers today. Life's journey, like Paul's voyage, often includes unexpected storms and shipwrecks. This verse reminds us that:

  • Even when our plans are shattered and circumstances seem to break apart around us, God's ultimate purpose for our lives can still prevail.
  • God's promises are steadfast, even when the path to their fulfillment involves destruction or hardship. We are called to trust His word, even when the immediate situation looks dire, much like Paul trusted the angelic message (Acts 27:25).
  • Sometimes, God delivers us not by preventing the storm, but by preserving us through it, using the very "shipwreck" to bring us to the next stage of our journey, as it did for Paul on Malta (Acts 28:1).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 11:25

    Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:26

    [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

  • Ezekiel 27:26

    ¶ Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.

  • Acts 27:17

    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.

  • 1 Kings 22:48

    Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

  • Ezekiel 27:34

    In the time [when] thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:37

    Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
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