ACTS 27:28 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.”
They took soundings and found the water was one hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. - The sailors take repeated 'soundings' (bolizō, bolizō-'sound, take a sounding with a weighted line'). The depth drops from 120 feet to 90 feet, confirming approach to land. Luke's specific measurements reflect actual Mediterranean soundings and validate his nautical knowledge. The decreasing depth creates urgency: the ship is nearing rocks and shallows.
Church Fathers on Acts 27:28
But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!