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ACTS 27:40 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Acts 27:39Acts 27:41
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.
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 toward the beach. - The crew's final maneuver: (1) cut loose the 'anchors' (akyra, akyra) earlier dropped to prevent drifting, (2) untie 'the ropes that held the rudders' (schonia tōn pēdaliōn, schonia tōn pēdaliōn-releasing steering oars), and (3) hoist 'the foresail' (artemon, artemon-the small forward sail used for steering). Each action aims at one goal: direct the ship toward the beach. The crew's seamanship now serves the prophecy; human skill aligns with divine purpose.

Church Fathers on Acts 27:40

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Homily 53 on Acts
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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