The Meaning of Acts 27:31 Explained

Acts 27:31

KJV: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

YLT: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 'If these do not remain in the ship -- ye are not able to be saved;'

Darby: Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.

ASV: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Paul  said  to the centurion  and  to the soldiers,  Except  these  abide  in  the ship,  ye  cannot  be saved. 

What does Acts 27:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 27:27-34 - Safety Dependent On Obedience
Paul presents a noble picture, standing there in the gray dawn while the heavy seas are breaking over the ship. He seems to have become by force of character the commander of the entire company. Certainly the soldiers and passengers owed their lives to his sagacity in penetrating the purpose of the sailors in leaving the ship. Note that he said to Julius, ye cannot be saved not we. The Apostle was so sure of God that he had no shadow of doubt as to his own preservation, Acts 27:24.
Once more he encouraged them, and urged them to take food. He himself set the example, giving thanks to God in the presence of them all. How brave and how inspiring was his behavior! They all began to be of good cheer. Men may say what they will about the impracticability of Christ's teachings, but let a man once begin to live by them, obeying them absolutely and trusting Christ utterly, and he becomes like a lion in courage. Through God we can do valiantly, for He treads down our enemies, Psalms 60:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 27

1  Paul shipping toward Rome,
10  foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11  but is not believed
14  They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41  and suffer shipwreck;
44  yet all come safe to land

Greek Commentary for Acts 27:31

Except these abide in the ship [Εαν μη ουτοι μεινωσιν εν τωι πλοιωι]
Condition of the third class (undetermined, but with hope, etc.). Paul has no hesitancy in saying this in spite of his strong language in Acts 27:24 about God‘s promise. He has no notion of lying supinely down and leaving God to do it all. Without the sailors the ship could not be properly beached. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 27:31 mean?

said - Paul to the centurion and to the soldiers If not these remain in the ship you to be saved not are able
εἶπεν Παῦλος τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις Ἐὰν μὴ οὗτοι μείνωσιν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ ὑμεῖς σωθῆναι οὐ δύνασθε

εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παῦλος  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἑκατοντάρχῃ  centurion 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἑκατοντάρχης 
Sense: an officer in the Roman army.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
στρατιώταις  soldiers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: στρατιώτης  
Sense: a (common) soldier.
οὗτοι  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
μείνωσιν  remain 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
πλοίῳ  ship 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πλοῖον  
Sense: a ship.
σωθῆναι  to  be  saved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive
Root: ἐκσῴζω 
Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.
δύνασθε  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.