• Acts 27:17
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 17 ἣν which ἄραντες having lifted up βοηθείαις helps ἐχρῶντο they were using ὑποζωννύντες undergirding τὸ the πλοῖον· boat; φοβούμενοί fearing τε and μὴ not εἰς into τὴν the Σύρτιν Syrtis ἐκπέσωσιν, they might fall out, χαλάσαντες having lowered τὸ the σκεῦος, gear, οὕτως thus ἐφέροντο. they were being borne.

  • Acts 27:17
    The Bible in Living English

    • 17* and when they got it in they took strengthening measures, fastening ropes around the hull, and, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, let down the rigging and so drove along.

  • Acts 27:17
    American Standard Version

    • 17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.

  • Acts 27:17
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 17 which hoisting up they began to use helps, under-girding the ship; and fearing lest on the sand-bank of Africa they should run aground lowering the gear so were they borne along.

  • Acts 27:17
    King James Version

    • 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.

  • Acts Study Notes—Chapter 27
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 27:17

      the Syrtis: The Greek name Syrʹtis comes from a root meaning “to drag.” Syrtis was the name of two gulfs located within the large indentation on the coast of northern Africa (on the coast of modern-day Tunisia and Libya). The western gulf (between Tunis and Tripoli) was called Syrtis Minor (now the Gulf of Gabès). Just to the E was Syrtis Major, the modern-day Gulf of Sidra. Ancient sailors dreaded both gulfs because of the treacherous sandbanks that were constantly being shifted by the tides. Strabo, a first-century C.E. Greek geographer, said regarding vessels that got caught in the shoals: “The safe escape of a boat is rare.” (Geography, 17, III, 20) Josephus (The Jewish War, 2.16.4 [2.381]) says that the name Syrtis alone caused terror in those who heard it.​—See App. B13.