Acts 27:29

Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The sailors, acting during a violent Mediterranean storm, take physical measures to secure the ship after measuring the decreasing water depth.

The words — φοβοῦντες (phoboumenoi) literally means "fearing," while ἐκπέσωμεν (ekpēsōmen) conveys "we may fall out" or "run aground."

The thread — The anchor motif appears in Acts 27:17 when the crew undergirds the ship to prevent grounding, and Hebrews 6:19 later uses the anchor as a metaphor for hope entering the heavenly sanctuary.

Why it lands — The text records a desperate physical measure coupled with prayer, requiring the reader to acknowledge human limitation and reliance on divine timing during crisis.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

φοβούμενοίphoboumenoiFearing τεtethen μήmēlest πουpouperhaps κατὰkataon τραχεῖςtracheisrocky τόπουςtopousplaces ἐκπέσωμεν,ekpesōmenwe may fall,ἐκekout of [the]πρύμνηςprumnēsstern ῥίψαντεςrhipsanteshaving cast ἀγκύραςagkurasanchors τέσσαραςtessarasfour ηὔχοντοēuchontothey were praying for ἡμέρανhēmeranday γενέσθαι.genesthaito come.

King James Version

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Cross-references

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 will see.
Psalms 130:6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Acts 27:26 However, we must run aground on some island.”
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 27:40 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.