Acts 27:42 Meaning and Explanation
“And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The soldiers plan to kill the prisoners to prevent any from swimming away and escaping.
What Does Acts 27:42 Mean?
As the ship breaks up, the soldiers form a grim plan: to kill the prisoners, lest any swim ashore and escape. By Roman law a guard who let a prisoner flee could forfeit his own life, so fear for themselves moved them to a deadly resolve.
At the very threshold of deliverance, a new danger arises — this time not from the sea but from men. Paul, who had been God's instrument of safety for all aboard, is now in mortal peril. Yet the same providence that ruled the storm rules the hearts of men. God, who had promised Paul's life (v. 24), would not let the soldiers' counsel stand. No human scheme can overturn what the Lord has purposed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 27:42
What does Acts 27:42 mean?
The soldiers plan to kill the prisoners to prevent any from swimming away and escaping.