Acts 27 31

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 verses

Acts 27 31 Meaning

Acts 27:31 is a critical warning delivered by Paul during a perilous sea voyage. It conveys a clear message that while divine providence is at work, human effort and specialized skills are indispensable for the group's physical survival. Paul informs the Roman centurion and soldiers that if the experienced sailors abandon the ship, the rest of the occupants will inevitably perish. This verse underscores the necessity of practical action and reliance on skilled personnel, even in situations where a divine promise of deliverance has been given.

Acts 27 31 Context

Acts chapter 27 describes Paul's perilous journey to Rome as a prisoner. The immediate context of verse 31 is the dire situation of a ship caught in a severe Mediterranean storm, the Euraquilo, for many days. After significant loss of cargo and despair, Paul stands up among the fearful crew and passengers to share an angelic visitation, promising that no life would be lost, though the ship itself would be destroyed (Acts 27:23-26). Despite this divine assurance, the skilled sailors, seeing the ship nearing a rocky shore, cunningly attempt to escape in a lifeboat under the pretense of lowering anchors (Acts 27:29-30). It is at this critical moment, as the sailors are about to abandon their duty, that Paul intervenes.

Historically, sea travel in the Roman world was dangerous, especially outside favorable seasons. Ships relied heavily on experienced mariners, and their abandonment in a crisis meant certain doom for an untrained crew or passengers. The centurion, Julius, and his soldiers, though possessing military authority, lacked maritime expertise. Paul's warning, therefore, is rooted in practical observation of seafaring realities, directly challenging the sailors' selfish desertion and underscoring the indispensable value of their expertise for the promised survival of all on board.

Acts 27 31 Word analysis

• Παῦλος (Paulos): "Paul." Though a prisoner, his authority had grown due to his calm demeanor and accurate previous warnings about the voyage (v. 9-10). Here, he speaks with practical wisdom.
• ἔλεγεν (elegon): "was saying" or "said." Imperfect tense, highlighting an ongoing or emphatic declaration, suggesting the importance of his statement at that moment.
• τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ (tō hekatontarchē): "to the centurion." Julius, the Roman officer, the man in command. Paul directly addresses the person responsible for the safety of the prisoners and soldiers, indicating a respect for authority and the gravity of the warning.
• καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις (kai tois stratiōtais): "and to the soldiers." These are the enforcers of the centurion's command; their quick action would be crucial.
• Ἐὰν μή (Ean mē): "Unless" or "If not." A strong conditional conjunction, introducing a necessary condition. Without the following action, the stated consequence is inevitable.
• οὗτοι (houtoi): "these men." Refers specifically to the "sailors" (οἱ ναῦται - hoi nautai) mentioned in v. 30, who were attempting to escape.
• μείνωσιν (meinōsin): "stay" or "remain." Aorist active subjunctive, emphasizing the necessity of their continued presence and action on board. It implies a sense of fixed position and duty.
• ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ (en tō ploiō): "in the ship." Their designated place of duty, where their specialized skills could be exercised.
• ὑμεῖς (humeis): "you" (plural). Encompasses the centurion, the soldiers, Paul himself, and all the other passengers and prisoners — everyone except the fleeing sailors.
• οὐ δύνασθε (ou dynasthe): "you cannot" or "it is impossible for you." A definitive negative, indicating the utter impossibility of survival without the sailors.
• σωθῆναι (sōthēnai): "to be saved" or "to be delivered." Aorist passive infinitive. In this immediate context, it refers exclusively to physical deliverance from the shipwreck, not spiritual salvation. It means to survive, to be brought safely to shore.

• "Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers": This grouping highlights Paul's strategic addressing of the authoritative figures on the ship. Despite his prisoner status, his previous insights and God's revelations give his words undeniable weight and direct them to those who can act decisively.
• "Unless these men stay in the ship": This phrase precisely defines the critical condition for the collective survival. "These men" are implicitly identified as the skilled mariners. Their presence is deemed non-negotiable for successfully navigating the crisis.
• "you cannot be saved": This clear and dire consequence directly links human skill and presence to the outcome of physical deliverance. It means that divine promises of safety do not obviate the need for human action and the specific means necessary for that safety to be realized.

Acts 27 31 Bonus section

Paul's intervention in Acts 27:31 reveals his remarkable blend of spiritual insight and astute practical judgment. As a Roman citizen with likely diverse travel experiences, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he correctly discerned the indispensable role of the sailors, even when others (like the Roman soldiers) might not have recognized their specific, critical expertise. This underscores a key biblical principle: God’s divine plan and intervention do not typically supersede or ignore natural laws and human skills. Rather, His sovereignty often incorporates and uses these elements. The sailors' attempt to escape was an act of self-preservation that, ironically, would have doomed everyone, including themselves if their lifeboat failed. Paul's warning ensured the collective safety by leveraging their essential but otherwise faithless, human skill.

Acts 27 31 Commentary

Acts 27:31 offers a profound theological and practical insight into the interplay of divine providence and human responsibility. Although Paul had received an unequivocal promise from God that all lives on board would be saved, he did not view this as an excuse for fatalism or inaction. Instead, he observed the practical reality that the ship's skilled sailors were essential for bringing the vessel safely to shore. His urgent warning demonstrates that divine guarantees often operate through human agency, effort, and practical wisdom. God's promise of a particular outcome does not remove the need for appropriate human means to achieve it. This verse serves as a crucial reminder that faith in God's ultimate plan should motivate, rather than diminish, responsible and prudent action. It shows that neglecting necessary human action, even when God's promise is secured, can undermine the very means by which that promise is to be fulfilled.