<p>27:29 <em>And fearing that we should run aground on the rocks, they let go four anchors from the stern and wished for daylight</em>- Given the strength of the storm, it might seem unlikely that four anchors could hold the ship. But St. Paul's Bay in Malta is characterized by clay and not sand. The account has every whiff of credibility. &quot;Wished for daylight&quot; could be translated &quot;prayed for the day to come&quot;- replete with latter day references. But the immediate reference is surely to their prayer inspired by Paul's example, and praying presumably to the God Paul had taught them of that the boat would not break apart that night, until the daylight came and they could see how they could best get ashore.</p>
<p>On that last night, the sailors prayed for the day to dawn (v.29 Gk., RVmg.). &quot;The day&quot; is an idiom for the Kingdom in Rom. 13:12. This fits in alongside the many other connections between intense prayer and the second coming. If we <em>know</em>&nbsp;Christ, then we will long to share his glory, we will long to see his beauty with our own eyes. So <em>are we</em>&nbsp;praying earnestly for the day to dawn? Or are we just content with the knowledge that it will come, like a slow train coming? Those men prayed for the dawn so intently because they knew that if the winds blew for much longer, they just couldn't hold on, they would be swept away. They feared &ldquo;lest we should be cast on rocky ground&rdquo; (Acts 27:29 RV)- replete with reference to the parable of the sower. There are many indications that the body of Christ will be weak and sickly when he returns.</p>