Acts 27:41

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

40 Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.

43 But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.
KJV
And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
WEB
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
ASV
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].
DARBY
And falling into a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground, and the prow having stuck itself fast remained unmoved, but the stern was broken by the force of the waves.
BLB
But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
ÅB
Men de drev inn på en grunn som hadde dypt hav på begge sider; her støtte de på med skipet, og forskipet løp seg fast og sto urørlig, men akterskipet ble sønderslått av brenningene.
OTB
Men skipet traff en sandbanke og gikk på grunn. Baugen satte seg fast og ville ikke rikke seg, og akterenden ble knust av bølgenes slag.
B1930
Men de drev inn på en grunn som hadde dypt hav på begge sider; her støtte de på med skibet, og forskibet løp sig fast og stod urørlig, men akterskibet blev sønderslått av brenningene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Corinthians 11:25–26

    Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 27:26

    Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 22:48

    Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 27:34

    Now you are shattered by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the people among you have gone down with you.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37

    Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.

    Read in context
  • Acts 27:17

    After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.

    Read in context
  • Acts 27:26–29

    However, we must run aground on some island.”

    Read in context