When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that with no sun or stars visible for days, hope was lost not just because of the storm's violence, but because the ship was utterly disoriented, lacking any celestial navigation in a pre-compass era. This extreme darkness and lack of guidance meant they were truly adrift, making survival seem impossible.
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After enduring days of relentless storms, the ship's navigation became impossible as the sun and stars remained hidden, a critical issue before the invention of the compass. With their efforts to lighten the ship failing and no sign of relief, the crew and passengers collectively abandoned all hope of survival, convinced they would perish.
Imagine being adrift, with no compass, no map, and no idea which way is up. For ancient sailors, the sun and stars were their only hope. What happens when even they disappear?
In Acts 27, the storm rages, and a critical element of ancient navigation is lost: the sun and stars. Before the invention of the magnetic compass, these celestial bodies were essential for sailors to determine their location and direction.
We all face storms that threaten to sink us. But what happens when the storm is relentless, and every effort to save ourselves fails?
This verse captures the absolute nadir of the shipwreck experience for Paul and the crew. It's the moment where human effort and natural reassurance completely collapse.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
cheimōn · Greek Noun
A violent, stormy wind, typically involving high winds and heavy seas; in a biblical context, it often serves as a metaphor for divine judgment or the chaotic, uncontrollable nature of the world apart from God's sovereignty.
elpis · Greek Noun
A confident expectation of good, specifically regarding God's promises and future deliverance. Biblical hope is not a wish, but a firm assurance based on the character of God.
sōzō · Greek Verb
The act of being rescued, delivered, or preserved from danger, destruction, or the penalty and power of sin. It implies a transition from a state of peril to a state of safety through divine intervention.
This verse captures the climax of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. Navigating without the sun or stars meant losing all sense of direction, and the relentless storm stripped away all human hope, highlighting their utter dependence on divine intervention for survival.
c. AD 59
Paul Imprisoned in Caesarea
Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea Maritima under Roman authority, awaiting trial before Caesar.
c. AD 59-60
Paul's Appeal to Caesar
Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Emperor Nero in Rome, necessitating a sea voyage.
c. AD 60
Setting Sail from Sidon
Paul and other prisoners, under the guard of Julius the centurion, set sail from Sidon, their journey beginning along the coast of Asia Minor.
c. AD 60
Passage Past Crete
The ship sailed past Crete, but the crew decided to leave a harbor called Fair Havens due to unfavorable conditions and the lateness of the season for safe navigation.
c. AD 60— this verse
The Euroclydon Storm
A violent storm, known as a Euroclydon, struck the ship, driving it uncontrollably for many days and leading the crew to abandon all hope of survival.
c. AD 60
Shipwreck on Malta
The ship eventually ran aground and broke apart on the island of Malta, but all 276 people on board miraculously survived.
c. AD 60-61
Arrival in Rome
After a three-month stay on Malta, Paul and his companions finally reached Rome, where Paul was allowed to live in his own hired house under guard.
This passage describes the awesome power of God in creation, mentioning celestial bodies like the Pleiades and Orion, which are the very guides that failed Paul's ship, emphasizing the loss of natural direction and comfort.
Psalm 107:23-30This psalm vividly recounts sailors in a storm crying out to the Lord, mirroring the desperate situation of those on Paul's ship and highlighting how God can calm the tempest and bring them to their desired haven.
Jonah 1:4-5Jonah's experience on a storm-tossed ship, where the sailors feared for their lives and cast lots, echoes the despair and the attempt to appease disaster seen in Acts 27, though Jonah's reason was different.
2 Corinthians 11:25Paul himself recounts other instances of being at sea in danger, including shipwrecks and days adrift, which provides personal context and shows that this dramatic event was part of his pattern of suffering for the gospel.
ellicottActs 27:20: "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."
(20) When neither sun nor stars in many days appeared. —We have to remember that before the invention of the compass the sun and stars were the only guides of sailors who were out of sight of land. Now the sky was over-cast and this guidance failed. The ship was driving, but whither they knew not. All hope that we should be saved was then take…
bensonActs 27:20: "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."
Acts 27:20-22 . And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared — The direction of which could be the less spared before the compass was found out; and no small tempest lay on us — Still the wind was boisterous, and the sea ran high; all hope that we should be saved — That is, delivered from the danger we were in; was then taken away — Th…
The verse highlights that with no sun or stars visible for days, hope was lost not just because of the storm's violence, but because the ship was utterly disoriented, lacking any celestial navigation in a pre-compass era. This extreme darkness and lack of guidance meant they were truly adrift, making survival seem impossible.
After enduring days of relentless storms, the ship's navigation became impossible as the sun and stars remained hidden, a critical issue before the invention of the compass. With their efforts to lighten the ship failing and no sign of relief, the crew and passengers collectively abandoned all hope of survival, convinced they would perish.
After enduring days of relentless storms, the ship's navigation became impossible as the sun and stars remained hidden, a critical issue before the invention of the compass. With their efforts to lighten the ship failing and no sign of relief, the crew and passengers collectively abandoned all hope of survival, convinced they would perish.
"When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned." — The verse highlights that with no sun or stars visible for days, hope was lost not just because of the storm's violence, but because the ship was utterly disoriented, lacking any celestial navigation…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026