When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. Acts 27:39

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A more literal rendering would be, “And when day came, they knew not the land. And they noticed a certain bay having a shore, unto which they determined to drive out the ship, if they were able” (CG).

In the previous verse, the sailors filled themselves with food and then lightened the ship by throwing out the wheat. It next says, “And when day came, they knew not the land.” What they knew was coming because of having taken soundings, and possibility through other nautical clues has now come to pass. They had finally come near land after being lost at sea for two full weeks.

With land in sight, they would need to search for some suitable location to drive the ship ashore. Probably with minimal ability to steer because of having cast so much of the tackle overboard, this would not be a simple procedure, but it was still possible. In observing the land, it next says, “And they noticed a certain bay having a shore.”

The word translated as “shore” is the same as that used in Matthew 13 and John 21. It is simply a coast with a sandy or pebbled beach rather than rocks. On this shore in Acts 27, there is a spot in Malta now known as St. Paul’s Bay. It is where this is believed to have taken place. It is about seven miles from the great harbor now known as Valletta, which is the capital of Malta.

The sailors, if experienced enough, would have probably known the great harbor, but at this time they had no idea what the spot ahead of them was. However, it had a bay with a beach, and so they decided that it would be a good spot to run the ship aground. Therefore, it next says of this shore, “unto which they determined to drive out the ship, if they were able.”

The word used here, which speaks of running the ship aground is exótheó. This is its second and last use in the New Testament. Its first use was in Acts 7:45 under a completely different context when Stephen spoke of driving out the inhabitants of Canaan. Here, they intend to “drive out” the life of the ship by thrusting it upon the shores of Malta.

Life application: In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon says –

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.

When early settlers came to Florida, they left where they lived, cutting down trees suitable for their mission ahead. They then constructed rafts or boats from the logs which they proceeded to sail down the waterways of America until they arrived at whatever location they had set out for.

From there, they disassembled their raft or barge and dragged the wood to where they intended to homestead, using that wood to build their homes. Some of these older houses have many different species of northern wood totally foreign to Florida in them.

Today, those older homes are sold and restored or sold and torn down. The smart laborers, however, will save these unusual woods for other uses.

As for those on the ship, it was used as their means of livelihood until it was used as a means of simply staying alive. After that, it was determined that the boat was to be driven out of the sea and onto the shores of Malta. After that, it would be scrapped, and its parts repurposed for other things.

The point is that we cannot get too tied down to the things of this world. The uses that we have set for things in our lives change. The need for various possessions often ends. As Solomon says later in Ecclesiastes 3:6 –

“A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away.”

Let us use the things of this world according to our needs, but we should not let them take over our lives and consume us. There is a time for us to depart from all things according to the necessary season. If we remember to thank God for what we possess, and to then thank God for the changes that come, we should be content in whatever our situation is.

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

Lord God, may we recognize that this world is not our home and that the things we possess and enjoy are just temporary trinkets and baubles that will pass away. The only thing we can truly hold onto is our hope in Christ Jesus. And what a hope it is – certain and trustworthy. Thank You for the precious hope we possess. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.