Acts 27:30 Meaning and Explanation
“And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The sailors secretly try to abandon ship, lowering the lifeboat under the pretense of setting anchors from the bow.
What Does Acts 27:30 Mean?
Some of the sailors attempt to save themselves alone. Pretending to lay out anchors from the bow, they lower the small boat into the sea, intending to slip away and leave the others to their fate. Their plan is deceitful and self-serving.
Under pressure, the temptation is strong to look only to one's own safety and abandon the rest. But God's promise was that all would be saved together (v. 24), and that promise was now endangered by the crew's selfishness. Deliverance is meant to be shared; those who would flee alone forsake the company God has bound together. The Lord sees through every 'colour' and pretense the fearful heart devises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 27:30
What does Acts 27:30 mean?
The sailors secretly try to abandon ship, lowering the lifeboat under the pretense of setting anchors from the bow.