Devine Scripture

Acts 27:40

What does Acts 27:40 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 27:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 27:40 means

They cast off the anchors, leave them in the sea, loosen the rudder bands to regain steering, hoist the foresail to the wind, and make for the beach. This is an all-in maneuver; anchors are lost, options narrowed. The rudders, previously secured against storm damage, are freed for the final dash. The foresail provides forward drive and control. The verse showcases a ship and crew reanimated by purpose. Having accepted the loss of cargo and equipment, they now commit fully to the course that promises life. Faith-inspired courage translates into technical precision at a critical moment.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So cutting away the hooks, and letting them go into the sea, and freeing the cords of the guiding-blades, and lifting up the sail to the wind, they went in the direction of the inlet.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the anchors having taken up, they were committing <FI>it<Fi> to the sea, at the same time--having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the mainsail to the wind--they were making for the shore,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosing withal the rudder bands. And hoisting up the mainsail to the wind, they made towards shore.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and, having cast off the anchors, they left [them] in the sea, at the same time loosening the lashings of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the strand.

Context

After spotting a beach, the crew executes a plan to run the ship aground deliberately. They abandon anchors, ready the rudders, and set sail for the shore. The next verse will report an unforeseen hazard—where two seas meet—that grounds the bow firmly while the stern breaks under wave action. This twist shows that even well-laid plans meet fresh dangers, yet God’s promise of life still stands through the worsening break-up.

v.39And 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.

v.40This passage

v.41But 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 33:23

    Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not strengthen the foot of their mast, they could not spread the sail: then was the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame took the prey.

  • 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.

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