Acts 27:27-32 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

But when the fourteenth night Since they left Crete; was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria That is, in the Adriatic sea: as the ancients called all that part of the Mediterranean sea which lay south of Italy. About midnight, the shipmen deemed (apprehended) that they drew near to some country Or shore; which confirmed what Paul had told them, that they must be driven upon some island: and, to try whether it was so or not, they sounded In order to ascertain the depth of the water, which would be less as they drew nearer to the shore. And by the first experiment, they found it twenty fathoms, and by the next only fifteen Which decrease of their sounding convinced them that their apprehension was just. Then, fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks Of which there were very many in those seas, especially about the islands, where there might not be depth of water sufficient to keep the vessel from striking; they cast four anchors out of the stern This shows how great the tempest was, in that they needed so many anchors; and wished for day That they might the better discern their situation. And, as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship Perceiving the danger to be extreme, and endeavouring to provide for their own safety, by making to the shore; and when To compass their design; they let down the boat into the sea Supposing it would go more safely over the shallows; and were just going into it, under colour as though they would have cast anchors From the ship's head, to make the vessel more secure; thus dissembling the true reason of their going into the boat, which was to make their escape. Paul Who knew it was the will of God that all proper endeavours should be used for their preservation, in a dependance on the promise he had given them, perceiving the design they had in view; said to the centurion and to the soldiers Who had power to hinder their accomplishing their design; Except these mariners abide in the ship Without whom ye know not how to manage it; ye cannot be saved He does not say, We. That they would not have regarded. The soldiers were not careful for the lives of the prisoners: nor was Paul careful for his own. We may learn hence, to use the most proper means for security and success, even while we depend on Divine Providence, and wait for the accomplishment of God's own promise. He never designed any promise should encourage rational creatures to act in an irrational manner; or to remain inactive, when he has given them natural capacities of doing something, at least, for their own benefit. To expect the accomplishment of any promise without exerting these, is at best vain and dangerous presumption, if all pretence of relying upon it be not profane hypocrisy. Then the soldiers Who had learned from their commander to pay a deference to what Paul said, that the success of this intended fraud might be effectually prevented; cut off the ropes of the boat By which it was fastened to the side of the ship; and let it fall off into the sea Before any of the mariners got into it.