Acts 27:17
Which being taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship, and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, they let down the sail yard, and so were driven.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Qua sublata, adjutoriis utebantur, accingentes navem, timentes ne in Syrtim inciderent, summisso vase sic ferebantur.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- ἣν ἄραντες βοηθείαις ἐχρῶντο ὑποζωννύντες τὸ πλοῖον· φοβούμενοί τε μὴ εἰς τὴν Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσιν, χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, οὕτως ἐφέροντο.
Haydock's commentary
The used helps, under-girding the ship.4 Perhaps bracing or binding about the vessel with ropes or chains, lest she should be torn asunder.
Into the quick-sands. Literally, into a syritis, such as are on the coasts of Africa, whither now they were almost driven.
The let down the sail-yard.5 This seems to be the sense of these words letting down the vessel. Some translate striking the sail; but others think they were in apprehension for the mainmast. (Witham)
4 Accingentes navem, upozonuntes to ploion, bracing the ship with something.
5 Submisso vase, chalasantes to skeuos. The word skeuos, has many significations, and may be taken for the ship, or any part of it: here it may signify the main-mast, which they might take down, lest it should be torn away.
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily LIII on Acts xxvi. 30-32
See how again also they pass sentence in his favor, and after having said, “Thou art beside thyself,” ( v. 24 ) they acquit him, as undeserving not only of death, but also of bonds, and indeed would have released him entirely, if he had not appealed to Cæsar. But this was done providentially, that he should also depart with bonds. “Unto bonds,” he says, “as an evil doer.” ( 1 Tim. ii. 9 .) For if his Lord “was reckoned among the transgressors” ( Mark xv. 28 ), much more he: but as the Lord did not share with them in their character, so neither did Paul. For in this is seen the marvellous thing, the being mixed up with such, and yet receiving no harm from them. “And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily LIII on Acts xxvi. 30-32
(Recapitulation.) And Paul says, “I perceive that (this voyage will be) with hurt and loss.” ( v. 10 .) And observe how unassuming the expression is. That he may not seem to prophesy, but to speak as of conjecture, “I perceive,” says he. For they would not have received it, had he said this at the outset. In fact he does prophesy on this former occasion, as he does afterward, and says (there), “The God whom I serve,” leading them on. Then how comes it that it was not “with loss” (of any) “of their lives?” It would have been so, but that God brought them safe through it. For as far as depended on the nature of the thing, they had perished, but God prevented it. Then, to show that it was not from conjecture that he so spake, the master of the ship said the contrary ( v. …