Acts 27:43 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

But the military officer, wanting to save Paul [from being killed], prevented them from doing this. [Instead] he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard and be the first to reach land.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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:

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their purpose. He commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and make for the shore,

American Standard Version (1901)

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;

Common English Bible

However, the centurion wanted to save Paul, so he stopped them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and head for land.

Catholic Public Domain Version

But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prohibited it from being done. And he ordered those who were able to swim to jump in first, and to escape, and to get to the land.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

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.

Acts 27:43 Cross References

Acts 23:10

And when a serious debate broke out, the commander was afraid that Paul might [virtually] be torn apart by the mob, so he ordered his soldiers to go down [to the Council meeting] and forcibly remove Paul and take him to the battalion headquarters.

Acts 23:24

And he [also] requested that they furnish animals for Paul to ride so he could be brought safely to Felix, the governor.

Acts 27:11

But the military officer paid more attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul was saying.

Acts 27:3

The next day we stopped at Sidon [i.e., a seaport on the northwest coast of Palestine]. Julius treated Paul with kindness, [even] giving him the opportunity to meet his friends [there] and receive help [from them].

Acts 27:31

Paul said to the military officer [Julius] and to his soldiers, “Unless these men stay aboard the ship, none of you will be saved.”

Acts 27:42

[Meanwhile] the soldiers had decided to kill the prisoners so that none of them would swim away and escape.

2 Corinthians 11:25

I was beaten with rods three times. I was stoned once. I suffered shipwreck three times and spent a night and a day in the open water.