Acts 27 Footnotes

27:27 The Adriatic Sea mentioned here was not the (now called) Adriatic Sea between Italy and the former Yugoslavia. Rather, the sea apparently lay between Crete, Malta, Italy, and Greece; it extended into the Mediterranean.

27:28-29 The soldiers took soundings by letting down lengths of rope with weights on them; they determined they were approaching land at a fast pace, even though they could not see it. In an effort to slow the ship, they took the unusual measure of lowering four anchors from the stern, rather than dropping anchors from the bow, which would have swung the ship around.

27:30-32 The danger prompted some sailors to plan an escape. Paul’s wisdom in not permitting them to abandon ship is seen in the next episode, when all hands were needed. The soldiers probably acted unwisely in cutting the ropes to the skiff in an attempt to thwart any further escape plans, as this eliminated a useful means of escape when it proved necessary.

27:35 Following Jewish custom, Paul gave thanks to God for the food they ate. It is unlikely that Paul’s thanksgiving and breaking of bread is a celebration of the Lord’s Supper, given the pagan context. Paul was simply encouraging all to eat in preparation for the rigors of abandoning ship.

27:38 At this point, the crew threw out the grain, which had served as ballast for the ship. The move allowed the vessel to run aground (v. 39).

27:41 The attempt to beach the ship was thwarted when it hit a sandbar before they had reached shore, rendering the bow immovable. The pounding waves began to break up the stern, requiring them to abandon the ship.

27:42 The soldiers’ intent to kill the prisoners was probably motivated by their personal responsibility for them If any of the prisoners got away during the chaos, the soldiers could be punished in their stead.

27:44 Everyone miraculously got to shore, some by swimming and others by holding on to pieces of debris from the ship.