King James Version

What Does Acts 27:42 Mean?

Acts 27:42 in the King James Version says “And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.” — study this verse from Acts chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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

Acts 27:42 · KJV

Context

40

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. taken: or, cut the anchors, they left them in the sea

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.

42

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

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:

44

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.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse captures a pivotal moment in Paul's shipwreck narrative, revealing the brutal pragmatism of Roman military culture. The Greek word βουλή (boulē, 'counsel' or 'plan') indicates a deliberate, strategic decision rather than a spontaneous reaction. The soldiers' proposal to kill the prisoners reflects their accountability under Roman law—guards who allowed prisoners to escape faced execution themselves (Acts 12:19). The phrase μή τις ἐκκολυμβήσας διαφύγῃ (mē tis ekkolymbēsas diaphygē, 'lest anyone swimming out should escape') shows their fear of capital punishment for dereliction of duty.

This cruel calculus stands in stark contrast to the centurion Julius's protective intervention in the next verse. The term δεσμώτας (desmōtas, 'prisoners') emphasizes their bound, helpless state, making the soldiers' plan even more ruthless. Paul's earlier prophecy that all would survive (Acts 27:22-25) now hangs in the balance, demonstrating God's sovereignty even over military decisions in crisis situations. The tension between human self-preservation instincts and divine purposes creates a powerful narrative moment where God's word must overcome human fear and institutional violence. This verse illustrates how God's promises often face opposition from worldly systems and human reasoning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Roman military law was exceptionally strict regarding prisoner custody. The Justinian Code codified what was already standard practice: guards who allowed prisoners to escape would receive the punishment that prisoner was destined to receive. This explains the soldiers' extreme response—they preferred to kill prisoners rather than risk their own execution for negligence. The shipwreck occurred around 60 AD during Paul's voyage to Rome for trial before Caesar. The 276 people aboard (Acts 27:37) included Roman soldiers, sailors, prisoners, and passengers. Swimming to shore was feasible—they were near Malta—but the violent storm and nighttime conditions made it dangerous. The centurion's authority to overrule the soldiers' counsel demonstrates the command hierarchy even in crisis situations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the soldiers' counsel reveal the harsh realities of Roman military justice?
  2. What does this verse teach about human self-preservation instincts versus God's protective purposes?
  3. How did the centurion's intervention fulfill Paul's prophecy that all would be saved?
  4. What parallels exist between the prisoners' helpless situation and humanity's spiritual condition?
  5. How does this crisis moment demonstrate God's sovereignty over both natural disasters and human decisions?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
τῶν1 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δὲ2 of 13

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

στρατιωτῶν3 of 13

“the soldiers”

G4757

a camper-out, i.e., a (common) warrior (literally or figuratively)

βουλὴ4 of 13

“counsel”

G1012

volition, i.e., (objectively) advice, or (by implication) purpose

ἐγένετο5 of 13

“was”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἵνα6 of 13

“to”

G2443

in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

τοὺς7 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δεσμώτας8 of 13

“the prisoners”

G1202

(passively) a captive

ἀποκτείνωσιν9 of 13

“kill”

G615

to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy

μή10 of 13

“lest”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

τις11 of 13

“any of them”

G5100

some or any person or object

ἐκκολυμβήσας12 of 13

“should swim out”

G1579

to escape by swimming

διαφύγοι13 of 13

“and escape”

G1309

to flee through, i.e., escape

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 27:42 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 27:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 9:3Mark 15:15-20Acts 12:19Psalms 74:20Luke 23:40-41Proverbs 12:10

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