Acts 27:26
in Acts 27However, we must run aground on some island.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But we must be cast upon a certain island.
KJV
Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
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This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
7 notes on this verseHowbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island. This circumstance is foretold, that when the whole affair should come to pass, it might be manifest that it was not a casual thing, a fortuitous event, a business of chance, but was predetermined by God, made known to the apostle, and predicted by him. This island was Melita; and the fulfilment of this part of the prediction is related in Act 28:1.
This site's exposition
Paul stood forth in the midst
on Acts 27:21-26
After long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst, and his I-told-you-so is one sentence long and instrumental, spoken to earn a hearing for the exhortation that matters: be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. His ground is a visitation in the night, there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, the double clause of belonging and service that the bench holds up as Paul's whole identity in seven words. Fear not, thou must be brought before Caesar, and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee: the promise of 23:11 holds the storm's outcome, and two hundred and seventy-five lives ride on one man's intercession. I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me, Paul concludes, faith stated as the middle term between promise and outcome, and the howbeit of the island keeps the word honest, salvation promised, shipwreck included.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
And he foretells two things; both that they must be cast upon an island, and that though the ship would be lost, those who were in it should be saved - which thing he spoke not of conjecture, but of prophecy - and that he "must be brought before Caesar." But this that he says, "God hath given thee all," is not spoken boastfully, but in the wish to win those who were sailing in the ship: for he spoke thus, not that they might feel themselves bound to him, but that they might believe what he was saying. "God hath given thee;" as much as to say, They are worthy indeed of death, since they would not listen to thee: however, this is done out of favor to thee.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
When the church of God, like this ship, is tossed with tempests, and not comforted, when there is none to guide her of all her sons, yet God can bring her safely to shore, and will do it.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
We must be cast upon a certain island - The angel which gave him this information did not tell him the name of the island. It turned out to be Melita, on which, by the violence of the storm, they were wrecked some days after.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"The hardships which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from laboring at the pumps and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described" [SMITH]. Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, &c.--not meaning to reflect on them for the past, but to claim their confidence for what he was now to say:
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Howbeit - Nevertheless. Upon a certain island - Malta. See Act 28:1.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | Upon | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| νῆσον | neson | an island | G3520 → | 9 times |
| δέ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τινα | tina | certain | G5100 → | 528 times |
| δεῖ | dei | it behooves | G1163 → | 101 times |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐκπεσεῖν.¶ | ekpesein | to fall. | G1601 → | 10 times |
εἰςUpon
eisG1519 →1755 times
νῆσονan island
nesonG3520 →9 times
δέhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τιναcertain
tinaG5100 →528 times
δεῖit behooves
deiG1163 →101 times
ἡμᾶςus
hemasG3165 →1936 times
ἐκπεσεῖν.¶to fall.
ekpeseinG1601 →10 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 27:29Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
it leads to
- 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.
- Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
- Deuteronomy 28:67
In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you…
- Acts 27:30
Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.
- Acts 27:17
Through
Acts 28:1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
it leads to
- Acts 27:44
The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
- Acts 27:39
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.
- Acts 27:44
Through
Acts 27:17After 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.
it leads to
- Acts 27:29
Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
- Acts 27:41
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.
- Acts 27:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.