Acts 27:31
What does Acts 27:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:31 means
Paul tells the centurion and soldiers that unless the sailors remain on the ship, they cannot be saved. God’s promise of life does not cancel the means of that salvation—skilled hands and corporate discipline. Paul discerns that letting the experts desert would undermine the deliverance God ordained. The verse shows the harmony between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Faith speaks up, takes practical steps, and guards the conditions necessary for the promise to be fulfilled. Paul’s moral authority, established earlier, now directs decisive action to keep the crew together until landfall.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Paul said to the captain and his men, If you do not keep these men in the ship, you will not be safe.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, `If these do not remain in the ship--ye are not able to be saved;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers: Except these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.
Context
Following the attempted escape, Paul issues a crucial warning that ties survival to the sailors’ presence. His words carry enough weight with the centurion that immediate action follows. The next verse will describe the soldiers cutting away the boat, removing the temptation to desert and forcing everyone to ride the ship to the end. This moment unifies the company under Paul’s counsel as dawn approaches and final preparations are made.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 27:42
And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- Luke 4:9
And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
- Luke 1:34
And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
- Acts 27:11
But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
- Acts 27:21
And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.
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