Acts 27:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They brace the hull with cables and lower gear, fearing the shoals, and are driven on.
What Does Acts 27:17 Mean?
With the boat secured, the crew takes emergency measures: they pass cables under and around the hull to hold the straining timbers together ('undergirding'), and, dreading the deadly sandbars of the Syrtis off the African coast, they lower the gear and let the ship be driven. Every precaution is taken against breakup and grounding.
Wisdom and effort are not the enemies of faith but its companions. The sailors do all they can to preserve the ship, even while its fate hangs in doubt. So the believer labors faithfully in the storm, using every God-given means, while resting the final outcome in hands stronger than the sea. Diligence below, trust above.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 27:17
What does Acts 27:17 mean?
They brace the hull with cables and lower gear, fearing the shoals, and are driven on.