Acts Chapter 27 verse 29 Holy Bible
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.
read chapter 27 in ASV
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.
read chapter 27 in BBE
and fearing lest we should be cast on rocky places, casting four anchors out of the stern, they wished that day were come.
read chapter 27 in DARBY
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
read chapter 27 in KJV
read chapter 27 in WBT
Fearing that we would run aground on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for daylight.
read chapter 27 in WEB
and fearing lest on rough places we may fall, out of the stern having cast four anchors, they were wishing day to come.
read chapter 27 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 29. - And for then, A.V.; lest haply for lest, A.V.; be cast ashore on rocky ground for have fallen upon rocks, A.V.; let go for east, A.V.; from for out of, A.V. Cast ashore (see ver. 17, note). Rocky ground (τραχεῖς τόπους); Luke 3:5. The region of Trachonitis was so called from the rocky nature of the country - ἄκτη τραχεῖα, a rocky shore, Four anchors, "Naves quaternis anchoris destinabat no fluctibus moveretur" (Caesar, 'De Bell. Cir.,' 1:25). From the stern. Anchors are usually dropped from the bow, but under certain circumstances ships anchor from the stern. The British navy so anchored at the battles of the Nile, Algiers, and Copenhagen, and it is a earn-men practice of the Levantine caiques at the present day; and an ancient picture of a ship (at Herculaneum) distinctly represents "hawse-holes aft to fit them for anchoring by the stern." They did so in the present case, to obviate the danger of the ship swinging round and getting into breakers, and also that she might be in the best position for running on to the beach as soon as daylight came.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(29) Fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks.--Literally, upon rough places--the reefs of rock which were indicated by the breakers and by the diminished depth of water.They cast four anchors out of the stern.--It was no unusual thing for a ship to be furnished with this complement of anchors. So Caesar describes his ships as being secured with four anchors each (Bell. Civ. i. 25). In ancient navigation, as in modern, the anchors were commonly cast from the bow. In the battles of the Nile and of Copenhagen, however, Nelson had his ships anchored at the stern, and the fact derives a peculiar interest from the statement that he had been reading Acts 27 on the morning of the engagement. The result of this operation was that the ship was no longer in motion, and would be found, when the morning came, with her head to the shore. The tension of hope and fear, the suspense which made men almost cry--"And if our fate be death, give light, and let us die,"is vividly brought before us in St. Luke's few words, "they were praying for the day."
