SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:41
Pero dando en un lugar de dos aguas, hicieron encallar la nave; y la proa, hincada, estaba sin moverse, y la popa se abría con la fuerza del mar.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 27:41
Verse 41. Where two seas meet] The tide running down from each side of the tongue of land, mentioned ver. 39, and meeting at the point. Ran the ship aground] In striving to cross at this point of land, they had not taken a sufficiency of sea-room, and therefore ran aground.
The forepart stuck fast] Got into the sands; and perhaps the shore here was very bold or steep, so that the stem of the vessel might be immersed in the quicksands, which would soon close round it, while the stern, violently agitated with the surge, would soon be broken to pieces. It is extremely difficult to find the true meaning of several of the nautical terms used in this chapter. I have given that which appeared to me to be the most likely; but cannot absolutely say that I have everywhere hit the true meaning.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 41. And falling into a place where two seas met , etc.] An isthmus, on each side of which the sea ran; and which the inhabitants of Malta, as Beza says, show to this day, and call it, la Cala de San Paulo, or the Descent of Saint Paul. The meeting of these two seas might occasion a great rippling in the sea like to a large eddy, or counter tide; and here might be a sand on which they ran the ship aground ; for this place where the two seas met, as the same annotator observes, could not be the shore itself; for otherwise, to what purpose should they cast themselves into the sea, as they afterwards did, if the head of the ship struck upon the shore, and stuck fast there? but must rather mean a shelf of sand, opposite, or near the entrance into the bay, and where the shipwreck was. And the fore part stuck fast, and remained unmovable ; so that there was no getting her off: but the hinder part was broken by the violence of the waves ; that is, the stern; by which means there were boards and broken pieces for the company to get ashore upon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 39-44 - The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it ha room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixe in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan' temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keep above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hop for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never to be secure. Though there is grea difficulty in the way of the promised salvation, it shall, withou fail, be brought to pass. It will come to pass that whatever the trial and dangers may be, in due time all believers will get safely to heaven. Lord Jesus, thou hast assured us that none of thine shal perish. Thou wilt bring them all safe to the heavenly shore. And what pleasing landing will that be! Thou wilt present them to thy Father and give thy Holy Spirit full possession of them for ever __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
περιπεσοντες 4045 5631 V-2AAP-NPM δε 1161 CONJ εις 1519 PREP τοπον 5117 N-ASM διθαλασσον 1337 A-ASM επωκειλαν 2027 5656 V-AAI-3P την 3588 T-ASF ναυν 3491 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF μεν 3303 PRT πρωρα 4408 N-NSF ερεισασα 2043 5660 V-AAP-NSF εμεινεν 3306 5656 V-AAI-3S ασαλευτος 761 A-NSF η 3588 T-NSF δε 1161 CONJ πρυμνα 4403 N-NSF ελυετο 3089 5712 V-IPI-3S υπο 5259 PREP της 3588 T-GSF βιας 970 N-GSF των 3588 T-GPN κυματων 2949 N-GPN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:41 {But lighting upon} (peripesontes de). Second aorist active participle of peripiptw, old verb to fall into and so be encompassed by as in #Lu 10:30; Jas 1:2. There is a current on one side of St. Paul's Bay between a little island (Salmonetta) and Malta which makes a sand bank between the two currents. Unexpectedly the ship stuck in this sandbar. {Where two seas met} (diqalasson). Used in Strabo and Dio Chrysostom for divided seas (dis, qalassa). {They ran the vessel aground} (epekeilan ten naun). First aorist active indicative of old verb epikellw, to run a ship ashore. Only here in N.T. Here also we have the only N.T. use of naus for ship (from naw, new, to swim) so common in ancient Greek. Our word navy is from this word through the Latin. {Struck} (ereisasa). First aorist active participle of ereidw, old verb to fix firmly. Only here in N.T. {Unmoveable} (asaleutos). From a privative and saleuw to shake. Old word. In N.T. only here and #Heb 12:28. {Began to break up} (elueto). Inchoative imperfect passive of the old verb luw, to loosen. The prow was stuck in the sand-bar, and the stern was breaking to pieces by the opposing waves lashing on both sides. It was a critical moment.
