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

40And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted the mainsail to the wind, and made toward the shore. 41And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the bow stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the stern was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to land.

Acts 27:42 word by word

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

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• soldiersστρατιώτηςstratiōtēs · soldierG4757
• counselβουλήboulē · planG1012
• wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• killἀποκτείνωapokteinō · to killG615
• prisonersδεσμώτηςdesmōtēs · prisonerG1202
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• themτιςtis · oneG5100
• outἐκκολυμβάωekkolumbaō · to swim outG1579
• escapeδιαφεύγωdiapheugō · to escapeG1309

Cross-references for Acts 27:42

• Psalms 74:20Have respect to the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
• Proverbs 12:10A righteousmanregardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
• Mark 15:15AndsoPilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
• Luke 23:40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

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