Devine Scripture

Acts 27:44

What does Acts 27:44 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 27:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 27:44 means

The rest follow on planks and pieces of the ship until all reach land safely. The image is vivid: a broken vessel scattering fragments that become instruments of salvation. God’s promise is fulfilled in full detail—every life preserved, though the ship is lost. The verse closes the ordeal with understated triumph. No miracle stilling the storm occurs; instead, providence guides means, people act in faith-informed courage, and mercy carries them ashore. The battered company stands alive on an unknown island, ready for the next chapter of God’s mission through Paul in Rome’s shadow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the rest, some on boards and some on things from the ship. And so it came about that they all got safe to land.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the rest, some indeed upon boards, and some upon certain things of the ship; and thus it came to pass that all came safe unto the land.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the rest, some they carried on boards and some on those things that belonged to the ship. And so it came to pass that every soul got safe to land.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the rest, some on boards, some on some of the things [that came] from the ship; and thus it came to pass that all got safe to land.

Context

Following the centurion’s orders, those who can swim reach shore, and the rest cling to floating wreckage. The outcome is as Paul declared: all survive, the ship is destroyed. The chapter ends at the shoreline of an unidentified island, setting up the events of the next chapter. The flow from decision to sail, through storm and despair, to divine assurance and deliverance, underscores God’s sovereign preservation of Paul for his appointment in Rome.

v.43But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;

v.44This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 107:28

    Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.

  • Acts 27:22

    And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

  • John 6:39

    And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

  • Acts 27:31

    Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

  • Amos 9:9

    For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, like as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least kernel fall upon the earth.

  • 1 Peter 4:18

    And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?

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