SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:20
Y no apareciendo sol ni estrellas por muchos días, y viniendo una tempestad no pequea, ya era perdida toda la esperanza de nuestra salud.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 27:20
Verse 20. Neither sun nor stars in many days appeared] And consequently they could make no observation; and, having no magnetical needle, could not tell in what direction they were going.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared , etc.] The Syriac version adds, nor moon; which is an usual description of dark, cloudy, and tempestuous seasons; and which was not only uncomfortable to them, because they could not see these luminaries, and enjoy their beneficial light and influence; but because they had them not to guide and direct them; for the sun, moon, and stars, are useful to sailors, to steer their course by; especially they were to the ancients, before the invention and use of the loadstone; besides, by these they conjectured what weather it would be, as mariners still do; they observed the rising and setting of the sun, whether it shone with equal rays or not, and whether it was red and fiery, or pale; and the like observations they made upon the moon, both as to its colour and size; and especially the constellations and stars were of singular use unto them; and above all, the two Bears, the greater and the lesser; the Greeks observed the former, and the Phoenicians the latter; and who are said by Pliny to have first found out the use of the constellations in navigation; particularly this is ascribed to the famous philosopher Thales, who is said to be a Phoenician; and from other constellations, as Arcturus, Orion, Hyades, etc. they foresaw rains, storms, and tempests: and now what made the case of the apostle and the ships company the more distressing was, that it was not only dark and cloudy, but very tempestuous, as follows; and no small tempest lay on us ; and all this continued many days: so Virgil represents Aeneas and his company in a like condition at sea, as not able by the heavens to distinguish day from night, nor to direct their course, neither sun nor stars appearing, and so wandered about in the sea three days without the sun, and as many nights without a star; and Homer describes Ulysses in a violent storm at sea, and for the space of nine days tossed about, when on the tenth day he got to land; and Sosia, in Terence f1303 , is brought in saying, that he had been thirty days in a ship, expecting death every moment, so boisterous was the storm he was in; and so it was in this case, the winds blew hard upon them, and the rains fell with great violence, and everything was discouraging and distressing; insomuch that all hope that we should be saved was then taken away ; neither the master and owner of the ship, nor the mariners, nor the soldiers, nor prisoners, nor the apostles companions, had any hope of being saved, but all expected to be lost. The apostle himself knew indeed, that though the ship would be lost, every mans life would be saved; and yet he could have no hope of this, as to the outward appearance of things, but on account of the revelation which the Lord had made to him, and he believed; otherwise, as to all human helps and means, there was no probability of an escape.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-20 - Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a fair gale know not what storms they may meet with; and therefore must not easil take it for granted that they have obtained their purpose. Let us neve expect to be quite safe till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun no stars for many days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, an have no light. See what the wealth of this world is: though coveted a a blessing, the time may come when it will be a burden; not only to heavy to be carried safely, but heavy enough to sink him that has it The children of this world can be prodigal of their goods for the saving their lives, yet are sparing of them in works of piety an charity, and in suffering for Christ. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than of his life; but many rather make shipwrec of faith and a good conscience, than of their goods. The means the sailors used did not succeed; but when sinners give up all hope of saving themselves, they are prepared to understand God's word, and to trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
μητε 3383 CONJ δε 1161 CONJ ηλιου 2246 N-GSM μητε 3383 CONJ αστρων 798 N-GPN επιφαινοντων 2014 5723 V-PAP-GPN επι 1909 PREP πλειονας 4119 A-APM-C ημερας 2250 N-APF χειμωνος 5494 N-GSM τε 5037 PRT ουκ 3756 PRT-N ολιγου 3641 A-GSM επικειμενου 1945 5740 V-PNP-GSM λοιπον 3063 A-ASN περιηρειτο 4014 5712 V-IPI-3S πασα 3956 A-NSF ελπις 1680 N-NSF του 3588 T-GSM σωζεσθαι 4982 5745 V-PPN ημας 2248 P-1AP
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:20 {When neither sun nor stars shone upon us} (mete heliou mete astrwn epifainontwn). Genitive absolute again. {For many days} (epi pleionas hemeras). For more days than a few. {No small storm} (ceimonos ouk oligou). Litotes again. {All hope that we should be saved was now taken away} (loipon perieireito elpis pasa tou swzesqai hemas). "For the rest (or future) there began to be taken from around us (perieireito inchoative imperfect and see use of the verb in #2Co 13:16 of the veil) all hope of the being saved so far as we were concerned." Despair was beginning to settle like a fog on all their hopes. Had Paul lost hope?
