Acts 27:17

New American Standard Bible
After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along.
New King James Version
When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
King James Bible
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.

7水手們把小艇拉上來，用纜索把船綁好、又怕撞在敘爾提淺灘上，便落下船具，這樣任船飄蕩。

「落下篷來，任船飄去。」(使徒行傳二十七:17)
「篷」是船動力的來源，在微風的日子，拉起的篷，接受風吹的力量，推動船隻前進。篷與風吹的角度，可以決定前進船隻方向的調整。篷也是船的抗風設備，可以將迎頭的風對切。
但是在暴風中，篷的動力、調整方向，與分力的果效，全部散失。落下篷，等於宣佈投降，船任風飄去。人生如海上行船，篷若落下，等於時勢比人強，任憑處置，任人而行，活著沒希望。