| Geneva Study Bible Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. People's New Testament 27:30-32 As the shipmen were about to flee. The sailors were about to take the boat, under false pretense, and abandon the ship. For the safety of all it was needful that they remain, in order to manage the ship when it was run ashore. Hence the centurion, at Paul's request (Ac 27:31), cut off the boat and let it drift away (Ac 27:32). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat-already lowered. and let her fall off-let the boat drift away. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 27:30-38 God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God's; we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general, often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. The comfort of God's promises can only be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith, prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves. | 
