King James Version

What Does Acts 27:17 Mean?

Acts 27:17 in the King James Version says “Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicks...” — study this verse from Acts chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.”

Acts 27:17 · KJV

Context

15

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive .

16

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship ;

19

And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

Read Acts 27 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They used helps, undergirding the ship—The 'helps' (βοηθείαις, boētheiais) were cables passed under the hull to prevent timbers from separating under wave stress, called 'frapping.' Fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands—the Syrtis (Σύρτιν, Syrtin), two shallow sandbars off Libya's coast where ships grounded and broke apart. Their terror was justified; many vessels perished there. Strake sail (χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, chalasantes to skeuos, 'lowering the gear')—they reduced sail or dragged sea anchors to slow the southwestward drift. Frantic human effort—undergirding, lowering sail—achieved nothing without God's promise (27:24). Yet God honors faithful stewardship even when success depends on grace.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor (modern Gulf of Sidra and Gulf of Gabes off Libya/Tunisia) were graveyard shallows feared throughout antiquity. Ships driven into them grounded on shifting sands and were pounded apart by waves. Ancient vessels' wooden hulls, joined by mortise-and-tenon, needed reinforcement during extreme stress. The crew's seamanship, though ultimately insufficient, showed professional competence.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you balance diligent human effort with dependence on divine grace during trials?
  2. When have you worked desperately to avoid disaster, only to realize salvation required God's intervention?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 19 words
ἣν1 of 19

“Which”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἄραντες2 of 19

“when they had taken up”

G142

to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh

βοηθείαις3 of 19

“helps”

G996

aid; specially, a rope or chain for frapping a vessel

ἐχρῶντο4 of 19

“they used”

G5530

to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e., (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act tow

ὑποζωννύντες5 of 19

“undergirding”

G5269

to gird under, i.e., frap (a vessel with cables across the keel, sides and deck)

τὸ6 of 19
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πλοῖον7 of 19

“the ship”

G4143

a sailer, i.e., vessel

φοβούμενοί8 of 19

“fearing”

G5399

to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere

τε9 of 19

“and”

G5037

both or also (properly, as correlation of g2532)

μὴ10 of 19

“lest”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

εἰς11 of 19

“into”

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὴν12 of 19
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Σύρτιν13 of 19

“the quicksands”

G4950

a shoal (from the sand drawn thither by the waves), i.e., the syrtis major or great bay on the north coast of africa

ἐκπέσωσιν14 of 19

“they should fall”

G1601

to drop away; specially, be driven out of one's course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient

χαλάσαντες15 of 19

“strake”

G5465

to lower (as into a void)

τὸ16 of 19
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σκεῦος17 of 19

“sail”

G4632

a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband))

οὕτως18 of 19

“and so”

G3779

in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)

ἐφέροντο19 of 19

“were driven”

G5342

to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 27:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 27:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 27:29Acts 27:26Acts 27:41

Places in This Verse

SyrtisBody of Water · Modern: Sidra · 31.50°N, 18.00°E1 verse across 1 book
View all places in Acts 27 →

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