Acts 27:28
What does Acts 27:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:28 means
They take soundings—finding twenty fathoms, then fifteen—proving they are moving into shallower water. This objective data confirms the sailors’ intuition and corroborates Paul’s assurance of landfall. Yet it also heightens danger: shallows can mean reefs or rocks, especially at night. The crew must act to prevent the ship from being smashed before daylight. The verse balances hope with prudence. Faith does not negate careful measurement; it embraces it. The combination of promise and practice prepares them to take the next step—anchoring from the stern to hold the ship off lethal shoals until they can see a safe approach.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they let down the lead, and saw that the sea was a hundred and twenty feet deep; and after a little time they did it again and it was ninety feet.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having sounded they found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther, and again having sounded, they found fifteen fathoms,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who also sounding, found twenty fathoms: and going on a little further, they found fifteen fathoms.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and having sounded found twenty fathoms, and having gone a little farther and having again sounded they found fifteen fathoms;
Context
Having sensed land, the crew verifies it by soundings that show decreasing depth. This signals imminent risk and opportunity. The next verse records their response: casting four anchors from the stern and longing for day. The narrative keeps the tension high—land is near, but danger is greatest in darkness. The measures they take will stabilize the ship temporarily, buying time for a daylight attempt to beach the vessel safely.
v.27But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:
v.28This passage
v.29And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.
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