Acts 27:37
What does Acts 27:37 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:37 means
Luke notes that there were two hundred threescore and sixteen souls aboard—276 people. The exact number underlines the scale of the deliverance God promised and the credibility of the account. Such detail also magnifies the mercy involved: not a handful, but hundreds, will be spared. The ship is a microcosm of society—prisoners, soldiers, sailors, officials, and believers—bound together by one promise. The verse invites readers to see the breadth of God’s care extending beyond Paul to all who share his voyage, fulfilling the word that was “granted” concerning everyone with him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And we were, in the ship, two hundred and seventy-six persons.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862(and we were--all the souls in the ship--two hundred, seventy and six),
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And we were in the ship, all the souls, two hundred and seventy-six.
Context
After morale rises and the meal is shared, Luke records the total number aboard, emphasizing the magnitude of the coming rescue. The next verse shows them lightening the ship further by throwing out the wheat—sacrificing the cargo to improve buoyancy and the chance of reaching shore. These practical steps follow directly from renewed hope and prepare for the daylight attempt to beach the vessel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 2:41
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
- Romans 13:1
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.
- 1 Peter 3:20
that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:
- Acts 7:14
And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
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