Acts 27:43 web — But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim shou…

World English Bible

"But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;"

— Acts 27:43, World English Bible

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Acts 27:43 in Other Translations

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Acts 27 — Context

40

Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time untying the rudder ropes. Hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.

41

But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.

42

The soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim out and escape.

43

But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;

44

and the rest should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. So it happened that they all escaped safely to the land.

Acts 27:43 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Acts 27:43 say?
Acts 27:43 in the World English Bible reads: “But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;”
Where is Acts 27:43 in the Bible?
Acts 27:43 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Acts, chapter 27, verse 43.
Who wrote Acts?
Acts is traditionally attributed to Luke. It was written c. AD 62–64.
What is the book of Acts about?
Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel — the story of how the message of the risen Jesus moved out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Through Peter, Paul, and many ordinary believers, the Holy Spirit builds the early church across the Roman world.
What are the major themes of Acts?
Acts explores themes including Holy Spirit, Mission, Church Growth, Persecution, Gospel to the Gentiles. These themes shape the meaning and context of Acts 27:43.
What translation should I read Acts 27:43 in?
Acts 27:43 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Acts 27:43?
Acts 27:43 reads (WEB): “But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go toward the land;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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