Page 67 - acts_study_book4

Act 27:28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had
gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms (120 feet): and when they had gone a little further,
they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms (90 feet).

A weight on the end of the rope is dropped to determine the depth of the water. By knowing
the water is becoming shallower, they know they are moving toward shore.

Act 27:29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors
from the stern, and prayed for day to come.

Being near a shore is no indicator of safety. The coastline is unknown and the crew waits for
daylight to see what conditions await them. They throw out the anchors located at the rear of
the ship to keep it from being torn apart.

Act 27:30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the
skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,

And as the shipmen (seamen) were about to flee out of (desert) the ship, when they had let
down the boat into the sea, under colour (pretense, look like) as though they would have cast
anchors (anchored) out of the foreship (front),

The lifeboat looks like a good means of escape, and the crew decides to make a run for their
lives under the pretense of anchoring the front of the ship. However, they are caught because
Paul is observing the entire scene.
Act 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you
cannot be saved."

Paul says, “All must remain on board the ship for God’s promise of their safety being spared to
come to pass.”

Act 27:32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

THE SHIPWRECK AT MILETAS (33-44)

Paul encourages everyone to take a little meat and bread. They then throw the wheat
overboard. They see a shoreline and decide to head the ship toward the shore. The ship
becomes grounded in a sandbar. Two currents come together ripping the ship apart. The
soldiers decide to kill all the prisoners, including Paul, but the centurion stops them. Some
swim to shore and others float on the wreckage from the ship.
Act 27:33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is
the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.