Acts 27 37

Acts 27:37 kjv

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

Acts 27:37 nkjv

And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.

Acts 27:37 niv

Altogether there were 276 of us on board.

Acts 27:37 esv

(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)

Acts 27:37 nlt

all 276 of us who were on board.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 37 Meaning

This verse provides a precise tally, stating that there were exactly 276 individuals on board the ship. This factual detail establishes the sheer number of lives at stake, preparing the reader for the remarkable preservation of every person, which God had previously promised through the Apostle Paul. The count underscores the magnitude of God's faithfulness and the miraculous nature of the coming deliverance.

Acts 27 37 Context

Chapter 27 details Paul's perilous voyage to Rome as a prisoner, under the charge of a centurion named Julius. Despite Paul's earlier prophetic warning of impending danger (Acts 27:10), his advice was disregarded. A violent "northeaster" storm struck their ship (Acts 27:14), leading to days of relentless hardship, despair, and the jettisoning of cargo. In the midst of this overwhelming crisis, Paul received a divine message from an angel, assuring him that while the ship would be lost, not a single life among them would perish because God had a plan for him to stand before Caesar (Acts 27:22-26).

Verse 37 appears as the crew and passengers prepare for the final stages of the shipwreck. After days without food due to fear and stress, Paul encourages everyone to eat for strength, citing God's promise of safety. This precise count of 276 individuals comes right before the dramatic climax of the shipwreck and the miraculous fulfillment of God's word through Paul. It highlights Paul's unwavering faith and leadership during extreme duress and sets the stage for a spectacular display of divine providence amidst human vulnerability.

Acts 27 37 Word analysis

• And (δὲ - de): A conjunctive particle often rendered as "but" or "now," connecting this statement of fact to the preceding events of shared meal and Paul's encouragement, signifying an additional, precise detail.
• we were (ἦμεν - ēmen): First-person plural imperfect indicative of εἰμί (eimi), "to be." It emphasizes the inclusive nature of the count, indicating the presence of Paul, the narrator Luke, and their companions, making them part of this group facing the impending event.
• in all (οἱ πάντες - hoi pantes): Literally "the all ones" or "all of them," this phrase emphatically stresses the totality and comprehensiveness of the number given, ensuring no one is omitted from the precise tally.
• in the ship (ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ - en tō ploiō): A straightforward prepositional phrase that anchors the count to the specific location where these lives are gathered, signifying the confined and dangerous environment where God's preservation would become evident.
• two hundred threescore and sixteen (διακόσιαι ἑβδομήκοντα ἕξ - diakosiai hebdomēkonta hex): This specific numerical value (276) provides significant historical verisimilitude to Luke's account. It indicates a large transport vessel, common in Roman times for carrying many passengers, soldiers, and cargo, making the preservation of every single one particularly striking.
• souls (ψυχαί - psychai): The plural of ψυχή (psychē). While it can denote the immaterial aspect of a human, in this context, consistent with usage in Luke-Acts and the Septuagint, it primarily means "persons," "lives," or "individuals." It highlights that each number in the tally represents a living human being, underscoring the preciousness and vulnerability of each life and making the promised preservation all the more significant as a physical deliverance.

Words-group analysis

• "And we were in all in the ship": This phrase serves to directly establish the setting and the scope of the number to follow, confirming that the entire group subject to the shipwreck drama is about to be quantified. It reiterates Paul and Luke's shared experience within this precarious situation.
• "two hundred threescore and sixteen souls": This exact count provides powerful confirmation of the details of Luke's narrative, elevating it beyond a general account of survival to a meticulously recorded event. The term "souls" specifically emphasizes that these are distinct, living persons whose lives are miraculously saved. The substantial number intensifies the dramatic impact of God's unfailing promise through Paul—that not one of these 276 lives would be lost.

Acts 27 37 Bonus section

• The Power of Exactitude in Narrative: Luke's meticulous recording of the precise number 276 for the "souls" (persons) onboard serves to reinforce the historical reliability and eye-witness quality of the book of Acts. Such detail implies careful observation or reliable information gathering, characteristic of an ancient historian committed to accuracy. This numerical precision strengthens the overall credibility of the biblical account, highlighting that these were not vague allegories but verifiable historical events.
• Emphasizing God's Specificity and Sovereignty: The specificity of the number, rather than a round figure, draws attention to God's incredibly detailed providence. It's not "about 300" but exactly "276," implying that God knew and cared about every single individual on that ship. This speaks to a God who is sovereign over all circumstances, even the chaos of a shipwreck, and whose word, spoken through His servant Paul, carries the power to ensure the precise outcome promised: no loss of life for any of those 276 individuals. It highlights that God's plans are carried out with an absolute certainty that overrides human expectation or natural limitations.

Acts 27 37 Commentary

Acts 27:37 stands as a pivotal detail within the narrative of the shipwreck, transforming a harrowing sea tale into a profound testament to divine providence. By providing the precise number of 276 individuals ("souls" meaning living persons), Luke not only lends undeniable historical accuracy to his account but also magnificently magnifies the miraculous intervention of God. This isn't just a handful of people surviving a storm; it's a vast and diverse group of prisoners, soldiers, sailors, and passengers—each life, despite their status, preserved against all odds. This precise enumeration underscores that God's promises, delivered through Paul (Acts 27:22-26), are not vague assurances but specific, all-encompassing commitments of physical preservation. It prepares the reader to witness the fulfillment of God's word on a grand scale, emphasizing the value of every human life in His eyes and the absolute reliability of His divine decree, even in the face of nature's most formidable challenges. The verse acts as a bridge from the desperation of the storm to the assured, yet still challenging, path to deliverance.