Acts 27 42

Acts 27:42 kjv

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

Acts 27:42 nkjv

And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.

Acts 27:42 niv

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

Acts 27:42 esv

The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.

Acts 27:42 nlt

The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 42 Meaning

Acts 27:42 describes a critical moment during the shipwreck where the Roman soldiers, fearing the escape of their prisoners, planned to execute them. This grim intention arose from their adherence to strict Roman military law, which held guards accountable by death for the loss of any prisoner. The verse underscores the extreme peril faced by Paul and his fellow captives, highlighting the direct conflict between human legalistic fear and God's preordained plan for Paul's safety and mission.

Acts 27 42 Context

Acts Chapter 27 details Paul's treacherous sea journey to Rome as a prisoner, where he is to appeal to Caesar. Despite Paul's earlier warnings of disaster, the centurion and ship's owner chose to set sail, leading them into a violent tempest known as a "Euraquilo." After days of severe storm and losing all hope, an angel appeared to Paul, assuring him that though the ship would be lost, all lives on board would be saved, as Paul "must stand before Caesar." This divine promise becomes the overarching narrative. Approaching land after 14 days at sea, the sailors attempted to escape in a skiff, but Paul intervened, stating that without the men remaining on board, their lives could not be saved. As the ship begins to break apart near shore, the Roman soldiers, ever vigilant over their captives, hatch a plan to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from attempting to swim to shore and escaping their custody. This verse represents the soldiers' desperate and legally obligated decision, standing in stark contrast to God's previously declared intent to save all souls.

Acts 27 42 Word analysis

• The soldiers': hoi stratiōtai (οἱ στρατιῶται) - Refers to the Roman military personnel on board, part of the cohort guarding the prisoners. Their role was clear and unforgiving under Roman law.
• plan: boulē (βουλή) - A deliberate counsel, purpose, or resolution. This was not a spontaneous act but a considered decision reflecting military procedure and potential legal repercussions. It indicates forethought based on their training and the seriousness of their responsibility.
• was to kill: apokteinai (ἀποκτεῖναι) - A definite intent to take life, often in the context of capital punishment or warfare. For Roman soldiers, allowing prisoners, especially high-profile ones, to escape would mean they themselves faced a death penalty (cf. Acts 12:19; 16:27). This extreme measure was a legalistic necessity for their own survival, driven by fear.
• the prisoners: tous desmiōtas (τοὺς δεσμιώτας) - Literally "the bound ones," referring to all individuals in their custody. Paul was among them, along with other unnamed prisoners likely destined for Roman courts or labor. This term highlights their helpless, controlled status.
• so that: hina mê (ἵνα μή) - Introduces the negative purpose clause, "in order that not," clearly stating the reason for their murderous intent.
• no one: tis (τις) - "anyone," or "some one," but with the preceding "hina mê" it translates to "no one." It emphasizes their desire to ensure zero escapes.
• might swim away: ekkolumbēsai (ἐκκολυμβῆσαι) - A vivid Greek word combining ek (out of) and kolumbao (to swim). It refers to swimming out from something, specifically from the wreckage and toward the shore. It pinpoints the precise method of potential escape.
• and escape: kai diaphygoien (καὶ διαφύγοιεν) - "And escape through." Diaphygo implies "escaping through" danger or getting away completely. This complements "swim away" by emphasizing the successful outcome of reaching safety and evading recapture. The soldiers' goal was not just to prevent swimming, but ultimately to prevent successful evasion of justice or custody. The dual expression stresses the absolute prevention of freedom for the prisoners.

Words-group analysis

• "The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners": This phrase succinctly states the Roman soldiers' intention, driven by their military duty and the severe penalties for allowing prisoner escape. It represents a human solution to a crisis, a harsh practicality in the face of accountability, contrasting sharply with the divine promise of salvation for all on board.
• "so that no one might swim away and escape": This defines the exact motivation for their brutal plan. It shows their awareness of the imminent danger of the shipwreck providing an opportunity for the prisoners to flee. The specific imagery of swimming away and escaping highlights the soldiers' desperate concern for complete prevention of any abscondment. Their concern for their own lives and status overshadowed any humanitarian considerations.

Acts 27 42 Bonus section

The intervention of the centurion, Julius, in verse 43 to prevent the soldiers' plan, is crucial and foreshadowed earlier in the chapter. From the outset, Julius is portrayed with unusual favor towards Paul (Acts 27:3, "treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends..."). This benevolent attitude, likely divinely orchestrated, placed a key human agent in a position to ensure Paul's survival. The soldier's "plan" to kill all prisoners thus not only threatened Paul but potentially thwarted God's larger purpose for him to preach the Gospel in Rome and beyond. The almost instantaneous frustration of this lethal plan highlights God's active, minute-by-minute governance over seemingly random events and human intentions, demonstrating how God prepares and positions individuals to fulfill His will. It further suggests that the lives of the other prisoners were also spared as an indirect consequence of God's direct protection of Paul, illustrating that God's grace often extends beyond the primary beneficiary to those around them.

Acts 27 42 Commentary

Acts 27:42 reveals the dark pragmatism of the Roman military in a life-or-death situation. Facing a shipwreck, the soldiers prioritized their duty and personal survival under strict Roman law. Their plan to execute all prisoners was a calculated, albeit cruel, measure to avoid their own likely execution for dereliction of duty. This moment amplifies the danger Paul faces, not just from the elements but from human design. It powerfully sets up the subsequent verse (v. 43) where God, through the influence of the centurion, directly overrides this human will, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty and faithfulness to His promise to Paul. The verse serves as a stark reminder of human desperation and legalism against the backdrop of God's overarching grace and providence. It underscores that God often works His will through the choices and actions of people, even in opposition to other human intentions.