Acts 27 43

Acts 27:43 kjv

But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

Acts 27:43 nkjv

But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

Acts 27:43 niv

But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

Acts 27:43 esv

But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,

Acts 27:43 nlt

But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn't let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 43 Meaning

Acts 27:43 describes the pivotal intervention of the Roman centurion, Julius, during the shipwreck. Faced with the Roman soldiers' intention to kill the prisoners to prevent their escape, the centurion decisively overrode their plan. His specific motive was to protect Paul, whom he had grown to respect and whose words about safety he likely remembered. He then took immediate command of the desperate situation by instructing all who could swim to be the first to jump overboard and try to reach the safety of the shore, thus initiating the orderly evacuation that would ultimately save all lives on board, in fulfillment of God's promise through Paul.

Acts 27 43 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's perilous sea journey as a prisoner to Rome. Following an early warning from Paul about a disastrous voyage, the ship encounters a violent storm (Euraquilo) that lasts for days, stripping away all hope of survival. The context leading to verse 43 includes the ship's imminent breaking apart on an unknown shore (v. 41). The Roman soldiers, fearing the severe consequences of prisoners escaping during the chaotic landing (where a guard would be liable for an escaped prisoner's punishment, often death, cf. Acts 16:27), decide to kill all the prisoners. Paul had previously reassured everyone (v. 22-25) that while the ship would be lost, no lives would be. The centurion, Julius, had shown respect and even some trust in Paul earlier (v. 3, 31). This specific moment is the crisis point where a human decision could directly contravene God's promised deliverance, but the centurion's intervention aligns with God's plan.

Acts 27 43 Word analysis

• But: Introduces a stark contrast to the soldiers' immediate murderous intent, signaling a crucial turn of events due to an opposing will.

• the centurion: This refers to Julius, a Roman military officer of 100 men. He held authority over the soldiers and prisoners, demonstrating decisive leadership in crisis. His character throughout Acts 27 is portrayed as just and discerning.

• wishing to save: The Greek βουλόμενος (boulomenos) indicates a strong, deliberate intention or settled purpose, not just a passing desire. διασῶσαι (diasōsai) means "to save completely" or "to preserve through danger," highlighting a thorough, effective rescue.

• Paul: The object of the centurion's particular concern. Paul's dignified conduct, prophetic warnings, and spiritual authority likely earned Julius's respect and a belief that Paul's life was uniquely important. His status as a Roman citizen also made him politically significant.

• prevented them: The Greek ἐκώλυσεν (ekōlysen) means he "forbade," "hindered," or "stopped" them. This underscores the centurion's exercise of superior military authority to counteract a dangerous and unethical decision.

• from carrying out their purpose: Refers to the soldiers' dark intention (βουλὴν - "plan" or "counsel") to murder the prisoners. This was a brutal but logical response under Roman military law, to avoid punishment if prisoners escaped.

• and ordered: ἐκέλευσεν (ekeleusen) signifies a direct command, reflecting his authoritative control over the situation.

• those who could swim: A specific instruction for those physically capable, showing a practical, sequential approach to safety.

• to throw themselves overboard: The Greek ἀπορίπτειν ἑαυτοὺς (aporriptein heautous) implies an urgent, self-initiated leap or casting away into the water, directly from the ship.

• first: πρῶτον (prōton) emphasizes priority. This command established an order, reducing panic and allowing the strongest to secure a foothold ashore.

• and get to land: The ultimate objective, to safely reach solid ground after the shipwreck. The phrase ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκπίπτειν (epi tēn gēn ekpiptein) describes literally "falling out onto the land."

• "But the centurion, wishing to save Paul": This phrase immediately highlights divine providence at work through a human agent. The centurion's will, influenced by Paul's integrity and prophetic guidance, became the instrument of God's universal preservation. It contrasts worldly motives (soldiers fearing punishment) with a specific, benevolent one (saving Paul, which then extends to all).

• "prevented them from carrying out their purpose": This signifies a decisive act of authority that thwarted a collective murderous intent. It reflects the struggle between despair/brutality and reasoned/compassionate leadership in extreme conditions. The phrase encapsulates the power of leadership to shape outcomes in chaotic environments.

• "and ordered those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and get to land": This directive shows immediate, practical, and ordered thinking amidst utter disaster. It moves from preventing harm to actively initiating rescue, leveraging individual capabilities for collective survival. This measured approach saved time and lives, aligning with the "no lives lost" promise.

Acts 27 43 Bonus section

The centurion's actions highlight an important theme throughout Acts: how Roman officials, time and again, acted fairly or even protectively towards Paul, despite his status as a prisoner and preacher of an often-misunderstood new religion. From the tribune Claudius Lysias saving Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21-23), to Felix and Festus acknowledging no capital offense (Acts 24-25), to Julius, the centurion here. This pattern may implicitly serve as a polemic against the common Jewish accusations of Paul as a dangerous insurrectionist, showcasing that Roman authorities, who were generally concerned with peace and order, found him largely innocent and at times, even trustworthy or beneficial. This underscores that God, who "is a God of order and not of confusion" (1 Cor 14:33), often uses existing social and governmental structures to protect His work and workers, ensuring His redemptive purposes are advanced through a variety of human and divine means. The centurion’s practical decision making was likely also influenced by his own experience and the respect he'd seen from the commander earlier, who also recognized Paul's worth.

Acts 27 43 Commentary

Acts 27:43 encapsulates a moment of decisive moral and providential intervention. The centurion, Julius, stands out as an exemplary Roman official whose pragmatic and respectful disposition toward Paul ultimately secured the lives of all on board. His personal regard for Paul, likely solidified by Paul's accurate prophecy of the storm and subsequent assurance of no loss of life, led him to prioritize Paul's safety. In doing so, he overruled the soldiers' understandable but brutal impulse to execute the prisoners to mitigate their own legal liability under Roman law (where a guard could suffer the same fate as an escaped prisoner). This act not only prevented mass murder but initiated the orderly, though chaotic, evacuation process Paul had outlined through divine revelation. Thus, God's promise to Paul—that not a single life would be lost—was directly fulfilled through the authoritative decision of a Roman officer, showcasing God's ability to use even non-believing human authority to achieve His divine will and protect His chosen servant. It demonstrates the intersection of human agency, legal structures, and divine providence in salvation history.