Acts 27:42

Acts 27:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
• New International Version (NIV)The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.

Context of Acts 27:42

40So the sailors cut the ropes which had the anchors on them. They left the anchors there in the sea. They also removed the ropes which had tied the rudders. Then they raised the sail at the front of the ship. Now the wind could blow the ship straight towards the shore. 41But there was a place in the sea where the water was not deep. The ship sailed onto the sand in this place and it stayed there. The front of the ship pushed into the sand and it could not move. The sea was very strong and it hit against the back of the ship. As a result, the back of the ship broke into pieces. The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners that they were guarding. They did not want these men to swim to the land and escape. 43But the army officer wanted to save Paul. So he commanded the soldiers not to kill the men. Instead he said, ‘Everyone who can swim, jump into the water first. Then swim to the shore. 44You other people must follow them. Hold on to pieces of wood, or pieces of the ship.’ In this way all of us got safely out of the sea and we arrived on the land.

Acts 27:42 word by word

τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν βουλὴ ἐγένετο ἵνα τοὺς δεσμώτας ἀποκτείνωσιν, μή τις ἐκκολυμβήσας διαφύγῃ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• the soldiers’στρατιώτηςstratiōtēs · soldierG4757
• counselβουλήboulē · planG1012
• wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• killἀποκτείνωapokteinō · to killG615
• the prisonersδεσμώτηςdesmōtēs · prisonerG1202
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• of them should swim outἐκκολυμβάωekkolumbaō · to swim outG1579
• and escapeδιαφεύγωdiapheugō · to escapeG1309

Cross-references for Acts 27:42

• Psalms 74:20Remember what you have promised to do for us. There are dark places everywhere, where cruel people hide.
• Proverbs 12:10Righteous people take care of their animals. But wicked people are cruel even when they think they are kind.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3Finally, the same thing happens to everyone on the earth. That seems to be a terrible thing. People choose to do evil things. While they are alive, they choose to live like fools. And after that, they die.
• Mark 15:15Pilate decided to do what the crowd wanted. So he let Barabbas go free. He said to his soldiers, ‘Hit Jesus many times with a whip. Then take him and fix him on a cross to die.’
• Luke 23:40But the bad man on the other cross told him that he should be quiet. He said, ‘You should be more afraid of God. We will die here, as well as him.

Commentaries on Acts 27:42

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners - What blood-thirsty, cowardly villains must these have been! Though, through the providence of God, those poor men had escaped a watery grave, and had borne all the anxiety and distresses of this disastrous voyage, as well as the others, now that there is a likelihood of all getting safe to land that could swim, lest these should swim to shore, and so escape, those men, whose trade was in human blood…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42And the soldiers‘ counsel … - Why they gave this advice is not known. It was probably, however, because the Roman military discipline was very strict, and if they escaped it would be charged on them that it had been done by the negligence and unfaithfulness of the soldiers. They therefore proposed to kill them, though contrary to all humanity, justice, and laws; presuming, probably, that it would be supposed that they had perished in the wreck. This is a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-44Verses 39-44 The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour; thus we are taught never…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 42-44Even during a crisis, the soldiers were responsible for the prisoners (see 12:19; 16:27; 27:32; see study note on 16:27). Fortunately, the commanding officer helped them. This showed God's protection and favor, as all 276 people safely reached the shore, exactly as the angel promised (see 27:24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 42-4442-44. the soldiers' counsel was to hill the prisoners, lest any ... should escape--Roman cruelty, which made the keepers answerable for their prisoners with their own lives, is here reflected in this cruel proposal.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 27:42

• Mariners (Sailors)
• Paul
• Prophecy
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• Cheer
• Close
• Creek
• Crete
• Euroclydon
• Exhort
• Fast
• Gain
• Hinder
• James

Commentaries on Acts 27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings