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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape.

Context of Acts 27:42

40Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

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 74:20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
• Proverbs 12:10The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
• Mark 15:15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
• Luke 23:40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

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