Acts 27:31 kjv
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 27:31 nkjv
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
Acts 27:31 niv
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
Acts 27:31 esv
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
Acts 27:31 nlt
But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, "You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard."
Acts 27 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 27:12 | The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so most decided to set sail. | Desire for safe passage |
| Acts 27:13 | A south wind sprang up, and they set sail from Phoenice. | Action taken based on weather |
| Acts 27:17 | They fastened ropes around the hull and, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, lowered the sea anchor. | Efforts to protect the ship |
| Acts 27:22 | "Keep courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship." | Paul's assurance of no lives lost |
| Acts 27:27 | On the fourteenth night, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea... | Extended perilous journey |
| Acts 27:30 | But as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea... | Sailors' attempt to escape |
| Acts 27:32 | Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." | Divine protection dependency |
| Acts 28:1 | After we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. | Safe arrival after shipwreck |
| John 15:13 | Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. | Contrasting selfless love |
| Phil 2:21 | For they all seek their own interests, not the interests of Christ Jesus. | Self-interest vs. Christ's work |
| 2 Tim 3:2 | For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant... | Characteristic of fallen humanity |
| Prov 29:10 | The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, but the upright seek their welfare. | Contrast between righteous and wicked |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. | Betrayal by a trusted friend |
| Josh 7:20 | For when I saw among the spoil a Babylonian cloak, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. | Achan's sin of coveting |
| Luke 12:15 | And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness..." | Warning against covetousness |
| Matt 16:26 | For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? | Ultimate loss despite earthly gain |
| Acts 20:24 | But I do not account my life of any value nor as preceding so that I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus... | Paul's own selfless commitment |
| Heb 10:39 | But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their soul. | Perseverance of faith |
| Mark 13:13 | You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. | Enduring persecution for Christ |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful... | God's faithfulness in trials |
Acts 27 verses
Acts 27 31 Meaning
This verse highlights the sailors' intention to escape Paul, leaving him behind with the ship and its passengers. Their plan was to lower the lifeboat and flee in secret.
Acts 27 31 Context
In Acts chapter 27, Paul is on his way to Rome as a prisoner. The ship he is on encounters a fierce storm. Despite the severe weather and the imminent danger of shipwreck, Paul assures everyone on board that no lives will be lost, though the ship will be. As the storm rages and they are driven across the sea, the sailors, facing their own peril and prioritizing self-preservation, attempt to abandon the ship by lowering the lifeboat. They intended to escape to save themselves, leaving the passengers and Paul to their fate.
Acts 27 31 Word analysis
- As (ὡς - hōs): Here, it signifies "when" or "while," introducing the circumstance of the sailors' actions.
- the sailors (τῶν ναυτῶν - tōn nautōn): Refers to the experienced mariners in charge of operating the ship.
- were seeking (ἐζήτουν - ezetoun): The imperfect tense indicates a continuous or repeated attempt, a deliberate effort to achieve a goal.
- to escape (φεύγειν - pheugein): To flee, to make an escape, emphasizing their desire to get away from the danger.
- from the ship (ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου - ek tou ploiou): From out of the ship, signifying leaving it behind entirely.
- and (καὶ - kai): Connects the previous action to the subsequent one.
- had lowered (κωλύσαντες - kolysantes): This is a participle, typically meaning "having hindered" or "having prevented." However, in the context of lowering a boat, it's often understood as "having let down" or "having lowered," implying they had completed the action of releasing the boat. The Greek can be interpreted as preventing anyone from stopping their escape.
- the ship's boat (τὴν σκάφην - tēn skaphēn): The small boat belonging to the larger vessel, likely used for lightering or as a dinghy.
- into the sea (εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν - eis tēn thalassan): Into the sea, indicating the boat's deployment into the water.
words-group by words-group analysis
- "were seeking to escape from the ship": This phrase captures the immediate motivation of self-preservation. The sailors saw the ship's ultimate doom and prioritized their own survival over their responsibility to the ship and its occupants.
- "and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea": This details the specific action taken to facilitate their escape. It was a direct act of abandoning their duty and the collective effort to survive. The participle structure suggests they accomplished this act of lowering.
Acts 27 31 Bonus section
This attempted escape by the sailors is a critical plot point that highlights the potential loss of not just the ship but of essential skilled personnel for the survival of those remaining. It creates a dramatic situation that necessitates intervention, further solidifying the significance of Paul's divine commission to remain with the ship. The event also serves to emphasize the importance of trust and reliance on God, even when human efforts and plans (like the sailors' escape) appear to be the most logical route to survival. It shows how faith isn't about avoiding difficulty, but about how one acts within it, contrasting with the faithless actions of the sailors.
Acts 27 31 Commentary
The sailors' attempt to escape in the lifeboat is a stark illustration of human nature under extreme duress. Faced with overwhelming danger, their instinct was to abandon the collective effort and ensure their own safety, betraying their responsibilities. This act stands in contrast to Paul's earlier divine assurance that lives would be preserved, underscoring the tension between human failing and God's providential care. Their intent was to flee without being seen, a testament to their awareness that their actions were a breach of trust and duty.