Acts 27 · Verse 42

Acts 27:42

And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
Acts 27:42, King James Version

Acts 27:42 in other translations

BSBThe soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.
WEBThe soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.
ASVAnd the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
YLTAnd the soldiers' counsel was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one having swam out should escape,
DARBYAnd the counsel of the soldiers was that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should swim off and escape.
BBEThen the armed men were for putting the prisoners to death, so that no one would get away by swimming.
WebsterAnd the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

What does Acts 27:42 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 27:42-44
42-44. the soldiers' counsel was to hill the prisoners, lest any ... should escape--Roman cruelty, which made the keepers answerable for their prisoners with their own lives, is here reflected in this cruel proposal.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 42. And the soldiers' counsel, etc. Why they gave this advice is not known. It was probably, however, because the Roman military discipline was very strict, and if they escaped, it would probably be charged on them that it had been done by the negligence and unfaithfulness of the soldiers. They therefore proposed, in a most cruel and bloodthirsty manner, to kill them, though contrary to all humanity, justice, and laws; presuming probably that it would be supposed that they had perished in the wreck. This is a remarkable proof that men can be cruel even when experiencing the tender mercy of God; and that the most affecting scenes of Divine goodness will not mitigate the natural ferocity and cruelty of those who delight in blood.

(d) "counsel" Ps 74:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 42 The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners - What blood-thirsty, cowardly villains must these have been! Though, through the providence of God, those poor men had escaped a watery grave, and had borne all the anxiety and distresses of this disastrous voyage, as well as the others, now that there is a likelihood of all getting safe to land that could swim, lest these should swim to shore, and so escape, those men, whose trade was in human blood, desired to have them massacred! We have not many traits in the histories of the most barbarous nations that can be a proper counterpart to this quintessence of humano-diabolic cruelty.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 27:39-44

The ship that had weathered the storm in the open sea, where it had room, is dashed to pieces when it sticks fast. Thus, if the heart fixes in the world in affection, and cleaving to it, it is lost. Satan's temptations beat against it, and it is gone; but as long as it keeps above the world, though tossed with cares and tumults, there is hope for it. They had the shore in view, yet suffered shipwreck in the harbour…

Read the full comment on Acts 27:39-44 →

Acts 27:42 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τῶνtōnOf theG3588
δὲdenowG1161
στρατιωτῶνstratiōtōnsoldiersG4757
βουλὴboulē[the] planG1012
ἐγένετοegenetowasG1096
ἵναinathatG2443
τοὺςtoustheG3588
δεσμώταςdesmōtasprisonersG1202
ἀποκτείνωσιν,apokteinōsinthey may kill,G615
μήmēlestG3361
τιςtisanyoneG5100
ἐκκολυμβήσαςekkolumbēsashaving swum awayG1579
διαφύγῃ.diaphugēmay escape.G1309

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 27:42

  • Psalms 74:20

    Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

  • Mark 15:15-20

    And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! …

  • Proverbs 12:10

    A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:3

    This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

  • Acts 12:19

    And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarea, and there abode.

  • Luke 23:40-41

    But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ps 74:20; Pr 12:10; Ec 9:3; Mr 15:15-20; Lu 23:40,41

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 27:41

    And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

  • Acts 27:42

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

  • Acts 27:43

    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:

Read all of Acts 27

Acts 27:42 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces el acuerdo de los soldados era que matasen los presos, porque ninguno se fugase nadando.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’avis des soldats fut de tuer les prisonniers, de peur que quelqu’un d’eux ne se sauve à la nage et ne s’enfuie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Kriegsknechte Rat aber war, daß sie die Gefangenen töten sollten, damit nicht jemand fortschwimmen und entfliehen möchte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Militum autem consilium fuit ut custodias occiderent, ne quis cum enatasset, effugeret.