Acts 27:43

Tyndale New Testament

But the vndercaptayne willinge to save Paul kept the from their purpose and commaunded that they yt could swyme shulde cast the selves first in to ye see and scape to londe.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But Julius the army officer wanted to let Paul live. So he did not allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners. He told the people who could swim to jump into the water and swim to land.

Revised Standard Version
but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their purpose. He ordered those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and make for the land,

Hebrew Names Version
But the centurion, desiring to save Sha'ul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should throw themselves overboard first to go to the land;

International Standard Version
but the centurion wanted to save Paul and prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

New American Standard Bible
but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from accomplishing their intention, and commanded that those who could swim were to jump overboard first and get to land,

New Century Version
But Julius, the officer, wanted to let Paul live and did not allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners. Instead he ordered everyone who could swim to jump into the water first and swim to land.

Update Bible Version
But the captain, 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;

Webster's Bible Translation
But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from [their] purpose, and commanded that they who could swim, should cast [themselves] first [into the sea], and get to land:

English Standard Version
But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,

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 to the land;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But the centurion, being desirous to save Paul, hindered them from their purpose, and commanded those that could swim, throwing themselves into the sea, first to get away to land,

Weymouth's New Testament
But their Captain, bent on securing Paul's safety, kept them from their purpose and gave orders that those who could swim should first jump overboard and get to land;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the centurien wolde kepe Poul, and forbede it to be don. And he comaundide hem that miyte swymme, to go in to the see, and scape, and go out to the loond.

English Revised Version
But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land:

Berean Standard Bible
But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul's life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

Contemporary English Version
But Captain Julius wanted to save Paul's life, and he did not let the soldiers do what they had planned. Instead, he ordered everyone who could swim to dive into the water and head for shore.

Amplified Bible
but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from [carrying out] their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to the shore;

American Standard Version
But 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;

Bible in Basic English
But the captain, desiring to keep Paul safe, kept them from their purpose, and gave orders that those who had knowledge of swimming were to go off the ship and get first to land:

Complete Jewish Bible
But the officer, wanting to save Sha'ul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and head for shore,

Darby Translation
But the centurion, desirous of saving Paul, hindered them of their purpose, and commanded those who were able to swim, casting themselves first [into the sea], to get out on land;

Etheridge Translation
and the centurion restrained them from this, because he was willing to save Paulos. And those who could cast forth to swim he commanded to be the first to swim, and to pass to the land.

Murdock Translation
But the centurion kept them from it, because he was desirous to preserve Paul. And those who were able to swim, he commanded to swim off first, and pass to the land.

King James Version (1611)
But the Centurion, willing to saue Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that they which could swimme, should cast themselues first into the sea, and get to land:

New Living Translation
But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn't let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.

New Life Bible
but the captain wanted to save Paul. He kept them from their plan. Calling out to those who could swim, he told them to jump into the sea and swim to shore.

New Revised Standard
but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But the Centurion willing to saue Paul, stayed them from this counsell, and commaunded that they that coulde swimme, shoulde cast them selues first into the sea, and goe out to land:

George Lamsa Translation
But the centurion stopped them from doing this, because he was willing to save Paul; so he commanded those who could swim to cast themselves first into the sea and get to land.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
but, the centurion, being minded to bring Paul safely through, hindered them of their purpose, and ordered such as were able to swim, to cast themselves overboard and, get first to the land, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
But the centurion, willing to save Paul, forbade it to be done. And he commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea and save themselves and get to land.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the vnder captayne wyllyng to saue Paul, kept the from their purpose, & commaunded that they which coulde swymme, shoulde cast them selues first into the sea, and scape to lande:

Good News Translation
But the army officer wanted to save Paul, so he stopped them from doing this. Instead, he ordered everyone who could swim to jump overboard first and swim ashore;

Christian Standard Bible®
But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

King James Version
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:

Lexham English Bible
but the centurion, because he wanted to save Paul, prevented them from doing what they intended, and gave orders that those who were able to swim should jump in first to get to the land,

Literal Translation
But being minded to save Paul, the centurion kept them back from their purpose and commanded those able to swim, first casting themselves overboard, to go out on the land.

Young's Literal Translation
but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, hindered them from the counsel, and did command those able to swim, having cast themselves out first -- to get unto the land,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the vndercaptayne wyllinge to saue Paul, keped them from their purpose, and commaunded that they which coulde swymme, shulde cast them selues first in to the see, and escape vnto londe:

Mace New Testament (1729)
who had a mind to save Paul, prevented their design: and order'd all that could swim immediately to get off to shore,

New English Translation
But the centurion, wanting to save Paul's life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,

New King James Version
But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

Simplified Cowboy Version
but the centurion kept them from killing Paul. The centurion ordered everyone to abandon ship and swim for the shore.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

Legacy Standard Bible
but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

Contextual Overview

²¹ Then after longe abstinence Paul stode forth in the myddes of them and sayde: Syrs ye shulde have harkened to me and not have lowsed from Candy nether to have brought vnto vs this harme and losse. ²² And nowe I exhorte you to be of good chere. For ther shalbe no losse of eny mas lyfe amonge you save of the ship only. ²³ For ther stode by me this nyght the angell of God whose I am and whom I serve ²⁴ sayinge: feare not Paul for thou must be brought before Cesar. And lo God hath geven vnto the all that sayle with ye. ²⁵ Wherfore Syrs be of good chere: for I beleve God that so it shalbe even as it was tolde me. ²⁶ How be it we must be cast into a certayne ylonde. ²⁷ But when ye fourtethe nyght was come as we were caryed in Adria about mydnyght the shipmen demed that ther appered some countre vnto the: ²⁸ and sounded and founde it .xx. feddoms. And when they had gone a lytell further they sounded agayne and founde .xv. feddoms. ²⁹ Then fearinge lest they shuld have fallen on some Rocke they cast .iiii. ancres out of the sterne and wysshed for ye daye. ³⁰ As the shipmen were about to fle out of the ship and had let doune the bote into the see vnder a coloure as though they wolde have cast ancres out of the forshippe:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

willing: Acts 27:3, Acts 27:11, Acts 27:31, Acts 23:10, Acts 23:24, Proverbs 16:7, 2 Corinthians 11:25

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 26:24 - that Jeremiah 40:5 - gave him Matthew 8:5 - a centurion Matthew 27:54 - the centurion Mark 15:39 - the centurion Luke 7:2 - centurion's Acts 10:1 - a centurion Acts 22:25 - the centurion Acts 28:16 - the centurion

Cross-References

Acts 5:29
Peter and the other Apostles answered and sayde: We ought moare to obey God then men.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the centurion, willing to save Paul,.... Not only because he was a Roman citizen, but because he perceived he was some extraordinary person; and chiefly because he was moved there unto by a superior influence, that Satan might not have his end; and that the will of God might be fulfilled, that he should go to Rome, and there bear a testimony of Christ.

Kept them from their purpose; would not suffer them to execute their design, restrained them from it, and laid his commands upon them to the contrary.

And commanded that they which could swim, should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land; which some restrain to the Roman soldiers, as if the centurion's speech was only directed to them; though it seems rather to have respect to the whole company, the mariners, who generally can swim, and the soldiers, as many of them as could, and the rest of the prisoners or passengers; though it may be, he might chiefly regard the soldiers, who were usually learned to swim, that they might the more readily pass rivers, in their marches, where they could find no bridges, that so he might be the sooner rid of them, and break their purpose.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But the centurion, willing to save Paul - He had at first been disposed to treat Paul with kindness, Acts 27:3. And his conduct on board the ship; the wisdom of his advice Acts 27:10; the prudence of his conduct in the agitation and danger of the tempest; and not improbably the belief that he was under the divine protection and blessing, disposed him to spare his life.

Kept them from their purpose - Thus, for the sake of this one righteous man, the lives of all were spared. The instance here shows:

(1) That it is possible for a pious man, like Paul, so to conduct in the various trying scenes of life - the agitations, difficulties, and temptations of this world - as to conciliate the favor of the people of this world; and.(2) That important benefits often result to sinners from the righteous. Paul’s being on board was the means of saving the lives of many prisoners; and God often confers important blessings on the wicked for the sake of the pious relatives, friends, and neighbors with whom they are connected. Ten righteous men would have saved Sodom Genesis 18:32; and Christians are in more ways than one the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, Matthew 5:13-14. It is a privilege to be related to the friends of God - to be the children of pious parents, or to be connected with pious partners in life. It is a privilege to be connected with the friends of God in business; or to dwell near them; or to be associated with them in the various walks and dangers of life. The streams of blessings which flow to fertilize their lands, flow also to bless others; the dews of heaven which descend on their habitations, descend on all around; and the God which crowns them with loving-kindness, often fills the abodes of their neighbors and friends with the blessings of peace and salvation.

And commanded - Probably they were released from their chains.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 27:43. Willing to save Paul, c.] Had one fallen, for the reasons those cruel and dastardly soldiers gave, so must all the rest. The centurion save that Paul vas not only an innocent, but an extraordinary and divine man and therefore, for his sake, he prevented the massacre; and, unloosing every man's bonds, he commanded those that could to swim ashore and escape. It is likely that all the soldiers escaped in this way, for it was one part of the Roman military discipline to teach the soldiers to swim.