Acts 27:39-41 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And when it was day And they had the shore before them; they knew not the land And therefore were still at a loss what course to take; but they discovered a certain creek A bay or bosom of the sea, having land on each side, where they judged it most likely for them to get on shore; using, however, still all proper means for their safety. And when they had taken up Or, as it is now termed, weighed; the anchors, they committed themselves Or, rather, the ship; unto the sea And tried to stand in for the creek. But the original expressions here, τας αγκυρας περιελοντες; ειων εις την θαλασσαν, may be rendered, having cut the anchors, they left them in the sea. And loosed the rudder- bands Their ships had frequently two rudders, one on each side. These were fastened while they let the ship drive; but were now loosened, when they had need of them to steer her into the creek. And hoisted up the mainsail to the wind Which seemed to set right for their purpose. Although our translators here render the word, αρτεμονα, mainsail, Grotius (who supposes that σκευος, rendered sail, Acts 27:17, signifies the main-mast, and consequently, that the mainsail was now gone, Act 27:19) supposes it was a sail near the fore part of the ship, answering to what we call the foremast, or the bowsprit. And falling into a place where two seas met Probably by reason of a sand-bank running parallel with the shore, such was the violence of the current, that they ran the ship aground, so that the fore part stuck fast upon the sand. but the hinder part was broken to pieces by the violence of the waves So that they suffered shipwreck with the shore in view, and almost in the harbour, teaching us never to be secure.