Acts 27:44

Some on planks (ou men epi sanisin). Common Greek idiom (ou men--ou de) for "some--some." The only N.T. instance of the old Greek word sani for board or plank. The breaking of the ship gave scraps of timber which some used. They all escaped safe (panta diaswqhnai). First aorist passive infinitive of diaswzw (the very word used for the desire of the centurion about Paul) with accusative of general reference, the clause being subject of egeneto. So Luke in this marvellous narrative, worthy of any historian in any age, shows how Paul's promise was fulfilled (verse Acts 24 ). Paul the prisoner is the hero of the voyage and shipwreck, a wonderful example of God's providential care.