Acts 27:39
What does Acts 27:39 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:39 means
At daybreak, they do not recognize the land but see a bay with a beach and consider driving the ship onto it. Sight replaces soundings; they now have a visible target. Not knowing the coastline increases risk, but a sandy beach offers hope of a controlled grounding. The verse captures the decisive turn from drifting to aiming. After nights of darkness, God grants a clear way forward, though it still requires bold action. The crew must move from caution to commitment, choosing the best available path to translate the promise of life into actual rescue.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when it was day, they had no knowledge of the land, but they saw an inlet of the sea with a floor of sand, and they had the idea of driving the ship up on to it if possible.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And when the day came, they were not discerning the land, but a certain creek were perceiving having a beach, into which they took counsel, if possible, to thrust forward the ship,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when it was day, they knew not the land. But they discovered a certain creek that had a shore, into which they minded, if they could, to thrust in the ship.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when it was day they did not recognise the land; but they perceived a certain bay having a strand, on which they were minded, if they should be able, to run the ship ashore;
Context
With morning light, the company spots a feasible landing place—a bay with a beach—though the land is unknown. They deliberate a plan to beach the ship. The next verses will describe the execution: casting off anchors, freeing the rudders, setting the foresail, and steering for the beach. This progression shows coordinated seamanship returning under the guidance of renewed hope, moving toward the inevitable wreck that will, paradoxically, save them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 28:1
And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.
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