Acts 27:43

Acts 27:43 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
• New International Version (NIV)But 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

Context of Acts 27:43

41But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. 42The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.

Acts 27:43 word by word

ὁ δὲ ἑκατοντάρχης βουλόμενος διασῶσαι τὸν Παῦλον ἐκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς τοῦ βουλήματος, ἐκέλευσέν τε τοὺς δυναμένους κολυμβᾶν ἀπορίψαντας πρώτους ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐξιέναι,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the centurionἑκατόνταρχοςhekatontarchēs hekatontarchos · centurionG1543
• willingβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• to saveδιασῴζωdiasōzō · to saveG1295
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• keptκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• purposeβούλημαboulēma · planG1013
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• commanded thatκελεύωkeleuō · to orderG2753
• which couldδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• swimκολυμβάωkolumbaō · to swimG2860
• should castἀπορρίπτωaporrhiptō · to throw offG641
• firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• and getἔξειμιexeimi · to go out/awayG1826
• toἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• landγῆgē · earth: countryG1093

Cross-references for Acts 27:43

• Acts 27:3The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.
• Acts 23:10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.
• Proverbs 16:7When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
• 2 Corinthians 11:25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

Commentaries on Acts 27:43

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43Willing to save Paul, etc. - Had one fallen, for the reasons those cruel and dastardly soldiers gave, so must all the rest. The centurion saw that Paul was not only an innocent, but an extraordinary and divine man; and therefore, for his sake, he prevented the massacre; and, unloosing every man's bonds, he commanded those that could to swim ashore and escape. It is likely that all the soldiers escaped in this way, for it was one part of the Roman military…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 43But the centurion, willing to save Paul - He had at first been disposed to treat Paul with kindness, Acts 27:3. And his conduct on board the ship; the wisdom of his advice Acts 27:10; the prudence of his conduct in the agitation and danger of the tempest; and not improbably the belief that he was under the divine protection and blessing, disposed him to spare his life. Kept them from their purpose - Thus, for the sake of this one righteous man, the lives…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 27:43

• Armies
• Julius
• Kindness
• Mariners (Sailors)
• Paul
• Prophecy
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Centurion
• Cheer
• Close
• Creek
• Crete
• Euroclydon
• Exhort

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