And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
And when neither sun nor stars in many (or, 'several') days appeared - probably most of the 14 days mentioned (Acts 27:27 ). This continued thickness of the atmosphere prevented their making the necessary observations of the heavenly bodies by day or by night; so that they could not tell where they were. And no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 'Their exertions (says Mr. Smith) to subdue the leak had been unavailing; they could not tell which way to make for the nearest land, in order to run their ship ashore-the only resource for a sinking ship; but unless they did make the land, they must founder at sea. Their apprehensions, therefore, were not so much caused by the fury of the tempest as by the state of the ship.' From the inferiority of ancient to modern naval architecture, leaks were sprung much more easily, and the means of repairing them were fewer than now. Hence, the far greater number of shipwrecks from this cause.
Paul addresses those on board on the misfortune that had overtaken them by going against his advice, but assures them, on the authority of a divine revelation, of eventual deliverance for all of them, at the same time warning them that they must lose the ship and be cast on some island (27:21-26)