Acts 27:17
What does Acts 27:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:17 means
After hoisting the boat aboard, they employ “helps,” undergirding the ship—passing cables around the hull to brace it against pounding seas. Fearing the Syrtis, treacherous sandbanks off North Africa, they lower the gear (likely reducing sail) to slow the drift and are driven along. The verse captures the desperate calculus: if they cannot control direction, they can at least reduce speed and strengthen the hull. Mariners fight on two fronts—structural integrity and navigational hazard. It is a portrait of courage and prudence under duress, yet still at the mercy of a storm that dictates terms.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And having got it up, they put cords under and round the ship; but fearing that they might be pushed on to the Syrtis, they let down the sails and so went running before the wind.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862which having taken up, they were using helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they may fall on the quicksand, having let down the mast--so were borne on.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Which being taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship: and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, they let down the sail yard and so were driven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890which having hoisted up, they used helps, frapping the ship; and fearing lest they should run into Syrtis and run aground, and having lowered the gear they were so driven.
Context
The crew’s emergency measures intensify: after securing the lifeboat, they stabilize the hull and try to avoid being carried onto the Syrtis. The narrative emphasizes practical steps that nonetheless cannot end the crisis. The next verses will recount throwing cargo and even ship’s tackle overboard as the tempest continues unabated. This escalating sacrifice shows the crew prioritizing survival over profit and convenience, and it prepares for the low point when all hope of rescue seems gone.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 27:41
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.
- Acts 27:29
And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.
- Acts 27:26
But we must be cast upon a certain island.
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