SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:29
Y habiendo temor de dar en lugares escabrosos, echando cuatro anclas de la popa, deseaban que se hiciese de día.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 27:29
Verse 29. Cast four anchors out of the stern] By this time the storm must have been considerably abated; though the agitation of the sea could not have subsided much. The anchors were cast out of the stern to prevent the vessel from drifting ashore, as they found that, the farther they stood in, the shallower the water grew; therefore they dropped the anchor astern, as even one ship's length might be of much consequence.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 29. Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks , etc.] Or rough places, as shelves, rocks, or sands, as they might well fear, when the water shallowed so fast, from 20 to 15 fathoms: they cast four anchors out of the stern ; or hinder part of the ship; the Ethiopic version calls it, the head of the ship: and adds, where the governor sat; that is, at the helm, to steer it. Perhaps the reason of this version is, because it is not usual in modern navigation, and so, when this version was made, to cast out anchors from the stern, but from the prow or head of the ship; but it seems this was done by the ancients. According to Pliny, the Tyrrhenians first invented the anchor; though Pausanias ascribes the invention of it to Midas, the son of Gordius: the most ancient ones were made of stone, as was the anchor of the Argonautes; afterwards they were made of wood; and it is said, that the Japanese use wooden anchors now; and these were not pointed, but had great weights of lead, or baskets filled with stones at the head of them, to stop the ship with; last of all they were made of iron, but with a barb or tooth on one side only, not on both: the anchor with two teeth or barbs was found out by Eupalamius; or, as others say, by Anacharsis, the Scythian philosopher: it was usual to have more anchors than one in every ship, of which there was one which exceeded the rest, both in size and strength, and was called the sacred anchor; and which was only used in case of necessity f1314 ; and is what is now called the sheet anchor. The modern anchor is a large strong piece of iron, crooked at one end, and formed into two barbs, resembling a hook, fastened at the other end by a cable. The parts of an anchor are, (1) the ring into which the cable is fastened; (2) the beam, or shank, which is the longest part of the anchor; (3) the arm, which is that which runs down into the ground; at the end of which is, (4) the flouke or fluke, by some called the palm, being that broad and picked part with its barbs like an arrowhead, which fastens into the ground; (5) the stock, a piece of wood, fastened to the beam near the ring, serving to guide the fluke, so that it may fall right, and fix in the ground. There are three kinds of anchors commonly used, the kedger, the grapnel, and the stream anchor f1315 ; yea, I find that there are four kinds of anchors, the sheet anchor, best bower, small bower, and stream anchor: it seems the grapnel is chiefly for the long boat: here were four anchors, but very likely all of a sort, or, however, not diversified in the manner the modern ones are. These they cast out to stop the ship, and keep it steady, and that it might proceed no further, till they could learn whereabout they were: and wished for the day ; that by the light of it they might see whether they were near land, or in danger of rocks and shelves, as they imagined.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-29 - They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he wil speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people brin themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are wel off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can hinder God's favour to his people, for he is a Help always at hand. It is a comfort to the faithful servants of God when in difficulties, that as long as the Lor has any work for them to do, their lives shall be prolonged. If Pau had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them; but God calling him into it, they ar preserved with him. They are given thee; there is no greate satisfaction to a good man than to know he is a public blessing. He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself wa comforted. God is ever faithful, therefore let all who have an interes in his promises be ever cheerful. As, with God, saying and doing ar not two things, believing and enjoying should not be so with us. Hop is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that withi the veil. Let those who are in spiritual darkness hold fast by that and think not of putting to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wai till the day break, and the shadows flee away.
Greek Textus Receptus
φοβουμενοι 5399 5740 V-PNP-NPM τε 5037 PRT μηπως 3381 CONJ εις 1519 PREP τραχεις 5138 A-APM τοπους 5117 N-APM {VAR1: εκπεσωσιν 1601 5632 V-2AAS-3P } {VAR2: εκπεσωμεν 1601 5632 V-2AAS-1P } εκ 1537 PREP πρυμνης 4403 N-GSF ριψαντες 4496 5660 V-AAP-NPM αγκυρας 45 N-APF τεσσαρας 5064 A-APF ηυχοντο 2172 5711 V-INI-3P ημεραν 2250 N-ASF γενεσθαι 1096 5635 V-2ADN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:29 {Lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground} (me pou kata traceis topous ekpeswmen). The usual construction after a verb of fearing (me and the aorist subjunctive ekpes"men). Literally, "Lest somewhere (pou) we should fall out down against (kata) rocky places." The change in the soundings made it a very real fear. traceis (rough) is old adjective, but in the N.T. only here and #Lu 3:5 (from #Isa 40:4). {Four anchors} (agkuras tessaras). Old word from agke. In N.T. only in this chapter, with rhiptw here, with ekteinw in verse #30, with periairew in verse #40; and #Heb 6:19 (figuratively of hope). {From the stern} (ek prumnes). Old word, but in N.T. only in #Mr 4:38; here and #41 in contrast with prwira (prow). The usual practice was and is to anchor by the bows. "With a view to running the ship ashore anchoring from the stern would, it is said, be best" (Page). Nelson is quoted as saying that he had been reading #Ac 27 the morning of the Battle of Copenhagen (April, 1801) where he anchored his ships from the stern. {Wished for the day} (euconto). Imperfect middle, kept on praying for "day to come" (hemeran genesqai) before the anchors broke under the strain of the storm or began to drag. If the ship had been anchored from the prow, it would have swung round and snapped the anchors or the stern would have faced the beach.
