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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Acts 27:29

The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anchor;   Mariners (Sailors);   Paul;   Prophecy;   Ship;   Thompson Chain Reference - Anchors;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ships;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Crete;   Euroclydon;   Julius;   Melita;   Ship;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Anchor;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Centurion;   Ship;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Anchor;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Italy;   Nero;   Rock;   Ships and Boats;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Day;   Rock ;   Ship ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Anchor;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Melita;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Anchor,;   Ship;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fall;   Hap;   Lycia;   Ships and Boats;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.
King James Version (1611)
Then fearing lest we should haue fallen vpon rockes, they cast foure ancres out of the sterne, and wished for the day.
King James Version
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
English Standard Version
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
New American Standard Bible
Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
Amplified Bible
Then fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern [to slow the ship] and kept wishing for daybreak to come.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.
Legacy Standard Bible
And fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and were praying for daybreak.
Berean Standard Bible
Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
Contemporary English Version
The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.
Complete Jewish Bible
Fearing we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.
Darby Translation
and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.
Easy-to-Read Version
The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water. Then they prayed for daylight to come.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then fearing least they should haue fallen into some rough places, they cast foure ancres out of the sterne, and wished that the day were come.
George Lamsa Translation
Then, fearing lest we find ourselves caught between the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern of the ship, and prayed for the dawning of day.
Good News Translation
They were afraid that the ship would go on the rocks, so they lowered four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
Lexham English Bible
And because they were afraid lest somewhere we run aground against rough places, they threw down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
Literal Translation
And fearing lest they should fall on rock places, and casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished day to come.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Then, fearing that by chance we might come on to the rocks, they let down four hooks from the back of the ship, and made prayers for the coming of day.
Hebrew Names Version
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.
International Standard Version
Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and began praying for daylight to come.
Etheridge Translation
And fearing lest we should be found in a place in which were rocks, they cast forth from the hinder part of the ship four anchors, and prayed that it would become day.
Murdock Translation
And as we feared lest we should be caught in places where were rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern of the ship, and prayed for the morning.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then fearyng lest they shoulde haue fallen on some rocke, they caste foure anckers out of the sterne, and wisshed for the day.
English Revised Version
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.
World English Bible
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And fearing lest they should fall upon some rocky ground, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
Weymouth's New Testament
Then for fear of possibly running on rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern and waited impatiently for daylight.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei dredden, lest we schulden haue fallun in to scharp placis; and fro the last parti of the schip thei senten foure ankeris, and desiriden that the dai hadde be come.
Update Bible Version
And fearing lest perhaps we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then fearing lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
New English Translation
Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear.
New King James Version
Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
New Living Translation
At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
New Life Bible
They were afraid we might be thrown against the rocks on the shore. So they put out four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they waited for morning to come.
New Revised Standard
Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, fearing lest haply, on rocky places, we should be wrecked, out of stern, cast they four anchors, - and began praying that day might dawn.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then fearing lest we should fall upon rough places, they cast four anchors out of the stern: and wished for the day.
Revised Standard Version
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then fearinge lest they shuld have fallen on some Rocke they cast .iiii. ancres out of the sterne and wysshed for ye daye.
Young's Literal Translation
and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then fearinge lest they shulde fall on some rocke, they cast foure anckers out of the sterne, and wysshed for the daye.
Mace New Testament (1729)
then for fear of striking upon the rocks, they dropt four anchors astern, and lay impatient for the day.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They dropped all four anchors to keep themselves from being dashed on the rocks below and everyone prayed for the day to come.

Contextual Overview

21 After the men had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up before them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed from Crete. Then you would not have all this trouble and loss. 22 But now I tell you to cheer up because none of you will die. Only the ship will be lost. 23 Last night an angel came to me from the God I belong to and worship. 24 The angel said, ‘Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar. And God has promised you that he will save the lives of everyone sailing with you.' 25 So men, have courage. I trust in God that everything will happen as his angel told me. 26 But we will crash on an island." 27 On the fourteenth night we were still being carried around in the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors thought we were close to land, 28 so they lowered a rope with a weight on the end of it into the water. They found that the water was one hundred twenty feet deep. They went a little farther and lowered the rope again. It was ninety feet deep. 29 The sailors were afraid that we would hit the rocks, so they threw four anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come. 30 Some of the sailors wanted to leave the ship, and they lowered the lifeboat, pretending they were throwing more anchors from the front of the ship.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fallen: Acts 27:17, Acts 27:41

anchors: Acts 27:30, Acts 27:40, Hebrews 6:19

and wished: Deuteronomy 28:67, Psalms 130:6

Reciprocal: Acts 27:33 - while

Cross-References

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 25:33
But Jacob said, "First, promise me that you will give it to me." So Esau made a promise to Jacob and sold his part of their father's wealth to Jacob.
Genesis 27:1
When Isaac was old, his eyesight was poor, so he could not see clearly. One day he called his older son Esau to him and said, "Son." Esau answered, "Here I am."
Genesis 27:2
Isaac said, "I am old and don't know when I might die.
Genesis 27:5
So Esau went out in the field to hunt. Rebekah was listening as Isaac said this to his son Esau.
Genesis 27:6
She said to her son Jacob, "Listen, I heard your father saying to your brother Esau,
Genesis 27:8
So obey me, my son, and do what I tell you.
Genesis 27:9
Go out to our goats and bring me two of the best young ones. I will prepare them just the way your father likes them.
Genesis 27:10
Then you will take the food to your father, and he will bless you before he dies."
Genesis 27:11
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks,.... Or rough places, as shelves, rocks, or sands, as they might well fear, when the water shallowed so fast, from 20 to 15 fathoms:

they cast four anchors out of the stern; or hinder part of the ship; the Ethiopic version calls it, "the head of the ship": and adds, "where the governor sat"; that is, at the helm, to steer it. Perhaps the reason of this version is, because it is not usual in modern navigation, and so, when this version was made, to cast out anchors from the stern, but from the prow or head of the ship; but it seems this was done by the ancients. According to Pliny, the Tyrrhenians first invented the anchor; though Pausanias ascribes the invention of it to Midas, the son of Gordius: the most ancient ones were made of stone, as was the anchor of the Argonautes; afterwards they were made of wood; and it is said, that the Japanese use wooden anchors now; and these were not pointed, but had great weights of lead, or baskets filled with stones at the head of them, to stop the ship with; last of all they were made of iron, but with a barb or tooth on one side only, not on both: the anchor with two teeth or barbs was found out by Eupalamius; or, as others say, by Anacharsis, the Scythian philosopher: it was usual to have more anchors than one in every ship, of which there was one which exceeded the rest, both in size and strength, and was called the "sacred" anchor; and which was only used in case of necessity t; and is what is now called "the sheet anchor". The modern anchor is a large strong piece of iron, crooked at one end, and formed into two barbs, resembling a hook, fastened at the other end by a cable. The parts of an anchor are,

1) the ring into which the cable is fastened;

2) the beam, or shank, which is the longest part of the anchor;

3) the arm, which is that which runs down into the ground; at the end of which is,

4) the flouke or fluke, by some called the palm, being that broad and picked part with its barbs like an arrowhead, which fastens into the ground;

5) the stock, a piece of wood, fastened to the beam near the ring, serving to guide the fluke, so that it may fall right, and fix in the ground.

There are three kinds of anchors commonly used, the kedger, the grapnel, and the stream anchor u; yea, I find that there are four kinds of anchors, the sheet anchor, best bower, small bower, and stream anchor: it seems the grapnel is chiefly for the long boat: here were four anchors, but very likely all of a sort, or, however, not diversified in the manner the modern ones are. These they cast out to stop the ship, and keep it steady, and that it might proceed no further, till they could learn whereabout they were:

and wished for the day; that by the light of it they might see whether they were near land, or in danger of rocks and shelves, as they imagined.

t Scheffer. de Militia Navali Veterum, l. 2. c. 5. p. 147, 148, 149. u Chambers's Cyclopaedia in the word "Anchor".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They cast four anchors - On account of the violence of the storm and waves, to make, if possible, the ship secure.

And wished for the day - To discern more accurately their situation and danger.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. Cast four anchors out of the stern — By this time the storm must have been considerably abated; though the agitation of the sea could not have subsided much. The anchors were cast out of the stern to prevent the vessel from drifting ashore, as they found that, the farther they stood in, the shallower the water grew; therefore they dropped the anchor astern, as even one ship's length might be of much consequence.


 
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