· Translation: KJV

Acts 27:17After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.

The setting

Mediterranean Sea, near Crete, 60 AD. A grain ship carrying 276 people battles a northeaster storm called Euraquilo. Paul is a prisoner being transported to Rome for trial.

The emotion here: documenting with precision while remembering terror

The original word

hypozōnnumi (ὑποζώννυμι) — to undergird a ship with cables to prevent breaking apart

Why it matters

Roman grain ships could be 180 feet long and carry 1,200 tons of wheat from Egypt to Rome

Read with care

What most readers miss in Acts 27:17

This 'frapping' technique involved passing cables under the ship's hull to hold it together

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about having faith during storms, but it's actually about taking practical action while trusting God - they didn't just pray, they worked frantically to save the ship.

Bible Genome reading

Acts 27:17 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerLuke
Eraearly_church
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability20%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance80%
Standalone30%
Themes:crisispreparation

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Acts 27

Acts 27:17 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include crisis, preparation. Notable phrases: hoisted it up; used cables; reinforce the ship.

Your reflection

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