Acts 27:40
New International Version
Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

New Living Translation
So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.

English Standard Version
So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
And having cut away the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time having loosened the ropes of the rudders. And having hoisted the foresail to the blowing wind, they began making for the shore.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.

New American Standard Bible
And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach.

NASB 1995
And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

NASB 1977
And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

Legacy Standard Bible
And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders. And hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

Amplified Bible
So they cut the cables and severed the anchors and left them in the sea while at the same time unlashing the ropes of the rudders; and after hoisting the foresail to the wind, they headed steadily for the beach.

Christian Standard Bible
After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
They cut the anchors loose and let them sink into the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that were holding the rudders. Next, they raised the sail at the front of the ship and let the wind carry the ship toward the beach.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They cut the anchors free and left them in the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that held the steering oars. Then they raised the top sail to catch the wind and steered the ship to the shore.

Good News Translation
So they cut off the anchors and let them sink in the sea, and at the same time they untied the ropes that held the steering oars. Then they raised the sail at the front of the ship so that the wind would blow the ship forward, and we headed for shore.

International Standard Version
So they cut the anchors free and left them in the sea. At the same time they untied the ropes that held the steering oars, raised the foresail to the wind, and headed for the beach.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
So they slipped the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage that bound the steering oars together. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and steered toward the beach.

New Heart English Bible
Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted the mainsail to the wind, and made towards the shore.

Weymouth New Testament
So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

World English Bible
Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having taken up the anchors, they were committing [it] to the sea, at the same time—having loosed the bands of the rudders, and having hoisted up the foresail to the wind—they were making for the shore,

Berean Literal Bible
And having cut away the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time having loosened the ropes of the rudders. And having hoisted the foresail to the blowing wind, they began making for the shore.

Young's Literal Translation
and the anchors having taken up, they were committing it 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,

Smith's Literal Translation
And having in removed the anchors, they let go into the sea, at the same time having let loose the bonds of the rudders, and having lifted up the mizen mast, they held with the blast to the coast.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, at the same time loosing the restraints of the rudders. And so, raising the mainsail to the gusting wind, they pressed on toward the shore.

New American Bible
So they cast off the anchors and abandoned them to the sea, and at the same time they unfastened the lines of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail into the wind, they made for the beach.

New Revised Standard Version
So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they cut off the anchors from the ship, and threw them into the sea, and loosed the rudder ropes, then they hoisted the topsail to the wind, and sailed toward shore.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they cut the anchors from the ship and left them in the sea and loosed the rudder bands of the rudder, lifted the small top sail to capture the wind, and they were sailing toward dry land.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And, after cutting away the anchors, they committed the ship to the sea, at the same time loosing the lashings of the rudders: and they set up the front sail to the wind, and kept the ship firmly toward the shore.

Godbey New Testament
And having knocked off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders, and raising up the main sail to the blowing wind, they made for the shore.

Haweis New Testament
And weighing the anchors, they committed her to the sea, and loosing at the same time the chains of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail to the breeze, they made for the beach.

Mace New Testament
accordingly, having heaved in their anchors, they drove with the sea, then loos'd the helm, bois'd the mizen-sail to wind, and made to shore:

Weymouth New Testament
So they cut away the anchors and left them in the sea, unloosing at the same time the bands which secured the paddle-rudders. Then, hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

Worrell New Testament
And, casting off the anchors, they let them go into the sea; at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders, and hoisting the fore-sail to the breeze, they were holding their course towards the beach.

Worsley New Testament
And when they had taken up the anchors, they trusted the ship to the sea, at the same time, loosing the rudder-bands; and hoisting up the main-sail to the wind, they made to the shore.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Shipwreck
39When 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. 41But 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.…

Cross References
Jonah 1:5
The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

Psalm 107:23-30
Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters. / They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. / For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea. ...

Ezekiel 27:29
All who handle the oars will abandon their ships. The sailors and all the captains of the sea will stand on the shore.

Isaiah 33:23
Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder.

Matthew 8:24-27
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” / “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. ...

Mark 4:37-39
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. / But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

Luke 8:23-25
As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

John 6:18-21
A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. / When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. / But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” ...

2 Corinthians 11:25
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.

James 3:4
Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

Psalm 48:7
With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.

Psalm 89:9
You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.

Psalm 93:3-4
The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves. / Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.

Isaiah 51:15
For I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:


Treasury of Scripture

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

taken up, etc.

Acts 27:29,30
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day…

the rudder bands.

Isaiah 33:23
Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

Jump to Previous
Anchors Bands Beach Cast Casting Committed Cords Cut Cutting Direction Freeing Heading Held Hoisted Hoisting Hooks Inlet Loosed Loosing Ropes Rudder Sail Sea Secured Shore Themselves Tied Time Towards Untied Untying Wind
Jump to Next
Anchors Bands Beach Cast Casting Committed Cords Cut Cutting Direction Freeing Heading Held Hoisted Hoisting Hooks Inlet Loosed Loosing Ropes Rudder Sail Sea Secured Shore Themselves Tied Time Towards Untied Untying Wind
Acts 27
1. Paul shipping toward Rome,
10. foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11. but is not believed.
14. They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41. and suffer shipwreck;
44. yet all come safe to land.














So they cut away the anchors
The act of cutting away the anchors signifies a decisive moment of action and faith. In the Greek, the word for "anchors" is "ἀγκύρας" (ankyras), which were crucial for stabilizing a ship. By cutting them away, the sailors were committing to the journey ahead, trusting in the guidance of God rather than relying on their own means of security. This can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to release their earthly anchors and trust in God's providence.

and left them in the sea
The sea, often symbolic of chaos and the unknown in biblical literature, represents the challenges and uncertainties of life. By leaving the anchors in the sea, the sailors were surrendering their control over the situation. This act of surrender is a powerful reminder of the Christian call to trust in God's sovereignty, even amidst life's storms.

and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders
The rudders, or "πῆδαλια" (pedalia) in Greek, were essential for steering the ship. Untying the ropes that held them indicates a readiness to navigate and respond to the direction of the wind. Spiritually, this can be seen as a willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit, allowing God to steer the course of one's life.

Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind
Hoisting the foresail, or "ἀρτέμων" (artemon), was an act of preparation and anticipation. The foresail catches the wind, propelling the ship forward. In a Christian context, this action symbolizes readiness to move forward in faith, catching the "wind" of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower one's journey.

and made for the beach
The beach represents a destination, a place of safety and rest. In the narrative, it is the goal towards which the sailors are striving. For believers, this can be seen as the ultimate goal of reaching the eternal shore, the heavenly rest promised by God. It is a reminder of the hope and assurance that, despite the trials and tribulations of life, there is a divine destination awaiting those who trust in the Lord.

(40) And when they had taken up the anchors.--Better, And when they had cleared away (or, cut off) the anchors, they let them go into the sea. It is obvious that nothing would have been gained at such a juncture by encumbering the ship, which they were anxious to lighten as much as possible, with the weight of the four anchors. The meaning given above is accordingly more in harmony with the facts of the case as well as with the Greek, which does not warrant the insertion of the pronoun in "they committed themselves."

Loosed the rudder bands.--This was the necessary sequel to the previous operation. While the ship was anchored the two large paddle-like rudders with which ancient ships were furnished, were lifted up out of the water and lashed with ropes to the ship's side. When the ship was got under way again, and the rudders were wanted, the bands had to be loosed, and the rudders fell into the water.

And hoised up the mainsail to the wind.--The Greek term so rendered (artemon) is still found in Italian (artimone) and French for the largest sail of a ship. In the structure of ancient ships, however, this was the foresail, not, as with us, the mainsail. The word for wind is strictly the participle, the (breeze) that was blowing. The change of word seems to imply that there was a lull in the fury of the gale.

Made toward shore.--More accurately, were making for the beach, that which had been described in Acts 27:39.

Verse 40. - Casting off for when they had taken up, A.V.; they left them in the sea for they committed themselves unto the sea, A.V.; at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders for and loosed the rudder bands, A.V.; hoisting for hoised, A.V.; foresail for mainsail, A.V.; for the beach for toward shore, A.V. This verse, so obscure before, has been made intelligible by the masterly labors of Smith, of Jordan Hill. We will first explain the separate words. Casting off (περιελόντες). The verb περριαιρέω occurs in ver. 20; in 2 Corinthians 3:16; and in Hebrews 10:11; and in all those passages is rendered "taken away." So also in the LXX., where it is of frequent use, it means "take away," "put away," "remove," and the like. In classical Greek it means to "take away," "take off," "strip off." Here, then, applied to the anchors which were firmly embedded in the very strong clay at the bottom of the sea off Koura Point, περιελόντες τὰς ἀγκύρας means "putting away" or "casting off" the anchors by cutting the cables which fastened them to the ship, and, as it follows, leaving them in the sea, or, more literally, giving them up, dismissing them into the sea (εἴων εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν); comp. Acts 5:38. Loosing the bands of the rudders. "The ships of the Greeks and Romans, like those of the early Northmen were not steered by a single rudder, but by two paddle-rudders" (Howson, p. 310. See too an illustration from an ancient painting found at Herculaneum, in which the two paddle-rudders are very distinctly seen, at p. 346; and another illustration in Lewin, vol. it. p. 204, showing the two rudders and the foresail). These paddle-rudders had been hoisted up and lashed, lest they should foul the anchors at the stern. But now, when the free use of them was absolutely necessary to steer the ship toward the beach, they unloosed the lashings, i.e. "the bands of the rudders," and at the same time they hoisted up the foresail. The foresail; τὸν ἀρτέμονα, a word found only here in this sense, but used in Vitruvius for a "pulley," and so explained in Ducange. But artimon was till recently used in Venice and Genoa as the name of the large sail of a vessel. In the Middle Ages artimonium was the "foremast," mat de prone; but it was also used of the foresail," Velum naris breve, quod quia melius levari potest, in summo periculo extenditur" (Ducange). They hoisted the foresail both to give them sufficient way to run on to the beach, and to give precision to their steering. (For a further account of the ἀρτεμών, or foresail, see Smith, of Jordan Hill.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Cutting away
περιελόντες (perielontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4014: From peri and haireomai; to remove all around, i.e. Unveil, cast off; figuratively, to expiate.

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

anchors,
ἀγκύρας (ankyras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 45: An anchor. From the same as agkale; an 'anchor'.

they left [them]
εἴων (eiōn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1439: To allow, permit, let alone, leave. Of uncertain affinity; to let be, i.e. Permit or leave alone.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sea
θάλασσαν (thalassan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2281: Probably prolonged from hals; the sea.

as
ἅμα (hama)
Adverb
Strong's 260: A primary particle; properly, at the 'same' time, but freely used as a preposition or adverb denoting close association.

they loosened
ἀνέντες (anentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 447: From ana and hiemi; to let up, i.e. slacken or desert, desist from.

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ropes
ζευκτηρίας (zeuktērias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2202: A band, fastening. Feminine of a derivative from the same as zugos; a fastening.

[that held] the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

rudders.
πηδαλίων (pēdaliōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4079: The rudder of a ship. Neuter of a derivative of pedon; a 'pedal', i.e. Helm.

Then
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they hoisted
ἐπάραντες (eparantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1869: To raise, lift up. From epi and airo; to raise up.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

foresail
ἀρτέμωνα (artemōna)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 736: From a derivative of arti; properly, something ready (compare artos); something hung up), i.e. the topsail of a vessel.

to the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[wind]
πνεούσῃ (pneousē)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4154: To blow, breathe, as the wind. A primary word; to breathe hard, i.e. Breeze.

[and] made
κατεῖχον (kateichon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2722: From kata and echo; to hold down, in various applications.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

beach.
αἰγιαλόν (aigialon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 123: Sea-coast, (sandy) beach; shore (of sea or lake), land. From aisso and hals (on which the waves dash).


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NT Apostles: Acts 27:40 Casting off the anchors they left them (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 27:39
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