Acts 27:31
New International Version
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

New Living Translation
But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”

English Standard Version
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Berean Literal Bible
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these remain in the ship, you are not able to be saved."

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

New King James Version
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

New American Standard Bible
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”

NASB 1995
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”

NASB 1977
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”

Amplified Bible
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Christian Standard Bible
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

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

Contemporary English Version
But Paul said to Captain Julius and the soldiers, "If the sailors don't stay on the ship, you won't have any chance to save your lives."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Paul told the officer and the soldiers, "If these sailors don't stay on the ship, you have no hope of staying alive."

Good News Translation
But Paul said to the army officer and soldiers, "If the sailors don't stay on board, you have no hope of being saved."

International Standard Version
Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain onboard, you cannot be saved."

Majority Standard Bible
But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ?Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.?

NET Bible
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."

New Heart English Bible
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."

Webster's Bible Translation
Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

Weymouth New Testament
But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."

World English Bible
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you can’t be saved.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “If these do not remain in the ship—you are not able to be saved”;

Berean Literal Bible
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these remain in the ship, you are not able to be saved."

Young's Literal Translation
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 'If these do not remain in the ship -- ye are not able to be saved;'

Smith's Literal Translation
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these should remain in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers: Except these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you will not be able to be saved.”

New American Bible
But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

New Revised Standard Version
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Paul found it out, he said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Unless these men remain on board the ship, you cannot be saved.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when Paul saw it, he told the Centurion and the Soldiers: “If these do not stay in the ship, you cannot survive.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers: Unless these remain in the ship, you can not be saved.

Godbey New Testament
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these may remain in the ship, you are not able to be saved.

Haweis New Testament
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these men abide in the ship, ye cannot be preserved.

Mace New Testament
upon this Paul said to the centurion and his men, "except the crew stay aboard, you can't be safe:"

Weymouth New Testament
But Paul, addressing Julius and the soldiers, said, "Your lives will be sacrificed, unless these men remain on board."

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

Worsley New Testament
Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, Unless these men stay in the ship ye cannot be saved.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Shipwreck
30Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. 31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.…

Cross References
John 6:68
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Jonah 1:12-15
“Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.” / Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more. / So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.” ...

Matthew 14:30-31
But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” / Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

Psalm 107:28-30
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. / He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. / They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired.

Mark 4:38-40
But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. / “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”

2 Corinthians 1:8-10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. / He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

Hebrews 2:3
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” / “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Psalm 46:1-3
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. / Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, / though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah

Luke 8:24-25
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.


Treasury of Scripture

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

said.

Acts 27:11,21,42,43
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul…

Except.

Acts 27:22-24
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship…

Psalm 91:11,12
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways…

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end…

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Acts 27
1. Paul shipping toward Rome,
10. foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11. but is not believed.
14. They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41. and suffer shipwreck;
44. yet all come safe to land.














But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers
Paul, a Roman citizen and apostle, is speaking with authority to the centurion and soldiers. The centurion, likely a leader of a Roman cohort, represents Roman authority. This interaction highlights Paul's influence and respect among the Roman officials, despite being a prisoner. It reflects the broader theme of God's providence and the respect Paul commanded due to his wisdom and divine insight. This moment is reminiscent of other instances where Paul interacts with Roman authorities, such as in Acts 16:37-39, where he asserts his rights as a Roman citizen.

“Unless these men remain with the ship
Paul refers to the sailors who were attempting to escape the ship. The ship, likely a large grain freighter, was caught in a violent storm, and the sailors' expertise was crucial for survival. This phrase underscores the necessity of unity and cooperation in times of crisis. It also reflects the biblical principle of obedience to divine guidance, as Paul had received assurance from an angel that all aboard would be saved if they followed God's instructions (Acts 27:23-24).

you cannot be saved.”
The term "saved" here is used in a physical sense, referring to survival from the shipwreck. However, it also carries spiritual connotations, as salvation is a central theme in Paul's teachings. This dual meaning can be seen as a type of Christ, where physical deliverance mirrors spiritual salvation. The necessity of remaining with the ship can be paralleled with abiding in Christ for spiritual salvation, as seen in John 15:4-5, where Jesus speaks of the importance of remaining in Him to bear fruit.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
The apostle and central figure in this passage, who is on his way to Rome as a prisoner. He provides divine insight and guidance during the storm.

2. Centurion
A Roman officer in charge of Paul and other prisoners. He plays a crucial role in the decision-making process during the voyage.

3. Soldiers
Roman soldiers accompanying the centurion, responsible for maintaining order and ensuring the prisoners, including Paul, do not escape.

4. Ship
The vessel carrying Paul, the centurion, soldiers, and other passengers. It is caught in a severe storm, leading to a crisis situation.

5. Storm
A significant event that tests the faith and decision-making of all aboard the ship, setting the stage for Paul's declaration.
Teaching Points
Obedience to Divine Guidance
Just as Paul instructed the centurion and soldiers, obedience to God's guidance is crucial for salvation and deliverance.

Faith in Crisis
In times of crisis, faith in God's promises and His appointed leaders is essential for navigating through challenges.

Community and Unity
The necessity for all to remain on the ship highlights the importance of unity and collective action in the body of Christ.

Trust in God's Plan
Even when circumstances seem dire, trusting in God's plan and His messengers can lead to salvation and safety.

Leadership and Responsibility
Paul's role as a leader, despite being a prisoner, shows that God can use anyone to lead and provide wisdom in difficult situations.(31) Except these abide in the ship . . .--We need hardly embarrass ourselves with the question how far the divine promise was dependent on the contingency thus specified. Prompt vigour, and clear discernment of what was needed on the instant, spoke out in the Apostle's words. The assurance that had been graciously given was to be realised, not by the apathy of a blind fatalism, but by man's co-operation. It was obvious that landsmen like the soldiers and the prisoners would be quite unequal to the task of handling a large ship under such critical conditions, and the presence of the sailors was therefore, from a human point of view, essential to the safety of the others. The thoughtful vigilance of St. Paul, even in those hours of darkness, was eminently characteristic.

Verse 31. - Paul said. It is remarkable what ascendency Paul had gained during this terrible fortnight. He now penetrated in a moment the design of the selfish sailors, and, with his wonted decision, told the centurion, who was in command of the whole party (ver. 11), and who, it is likely, had iris soldiers on deck to preserve order and discipline. Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. The ὑμεῖς is emphatic, you yourselves.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[But] Paul
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

said
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

centurion
ἑκατοντάρχῃ (hekatontarchē)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1543: A centurion of the Roman army. Or hekatontarchos hek-at-on'-tar-khos; from hekaton and archo; the captain of one hundred men.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

soldiers,
στρατιώταις (stratiōtais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4757: A soldier. From a presumed derivative of the same as stratia; a camper-out, i.e. A warrior.

“Unless
Ἐὰν (Ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

these [men]
οὗτοι (houtoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

remain
μείνωσιν (meinōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3306: To remain, abide, stay, wait; with acc: I wait for, await. A primary verb; to stay.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ship,
πλοίῳ (ploiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4143: A ship, vessel, boat. From pleo; a sailer, i.e. Vessel.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

cannot
δύνασθε (dynasthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

be saved.”
σωθῆναι (sōthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.


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Acts 27:30
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