Acts 27:11

Verse

But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.

American Standard Version (1901)

But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

Bible in Basic English

But the captain gave more attention to the master and the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But the centurion believed the pilot and the master of the ship, more than those things which were said by Paul.

Free Bible Version

But the centurion paid more attention to the advice of the ship's captain and its owner than to what Paul said.

Geneva Bible 1599

Neuertheles the Centurion beleeued rather the gouernour and the master of the ship, then those things which were spoken of Paul.

King James (Authorized) Version

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Plain English Version

But the boss soldier didn’t listen to Paul. He listened to the boss of the ship men and the owner of the ship.

Translation for Translators

But the officer did not listen to what Paul said. Instead, he decided to do what the pilot of the ship and the owner of the ship advised.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But the centurion paid more attention to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things that were spoken by Paul.

Noah Webster Bible

Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than the things which were spoken by Paul.

World English Bible

But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

Young's Literal Translation

but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

Context

Paul Sails for Rome

¹⁰“Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.”¹¹But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.¹²Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.

Summary

In Acts 27:11, Paul warns the crew and centurion aboard the ship that their voyage would be disastrous, resulting in great loss and danger. Despite the warning, the centurion chose to trust the ship's pilot and owner rather than heed Paul's advice. This verse illustrates the importance of discerning wise counsel and listening to Godly wisdom, even when it goes against popular opinion or conventional wisdom. It serves as a reminder to seek guidance from God and His messengers, as they often provide insights that can lead to safety and protection in the midst of life's storms.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The centurion believed the master - Τῳ κυβερνητῃ, the pilot; and owner of the ship, τῳ ναυκληρῳ, the captain and proprietor. This latter had the command of the ship and the crew; the pilot had the guidance of the vessel along those dangerous coasts, under the direction of the captain; and the centurion had the power to cause them to proceed on their voyage, or to go into port, as he pleased; as he had other state prisoners on board; and probably the ship itself was freighted for government. Paul told them, if they proceeded, they would be in danger of shipwreck; the pilot and captain said there was no danger; and the centurion, believing them, commanded the vessel to proceed on her voyage. It is likely that they were now in the port called the Fair Havens.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship,.... Who were either one and the same person, or if two persons, the one was the owner, whose the ship was, and the other, he that was at the helm, and steered and directed it; or the one might be the captain, and the other the pilot. The or "governor", as he is here called with the ancients, was he who sat on an eminence in the stern of the ship, at the helm, and had the direction of it; he gave the orders, which others executed: what qualified him for his post chiefly lay in three things; in the knowledge of the constellations, and winds, of the former that he might direct the course of the ship according to them, and by them foresee future tempests, and of the latter, that he might be acquainted with the several points, from whence they blew; also in the knowledge of ports, and places to put into, and of rocks and sands, that they might be escaped; likewise in the knowledge of the use of the helm, and sails (l); for one part of his business, as (m) Seneca observes, was to give orders after this manner; so and so move the helm, so and so let down the sails, &c. in every ship there was a governor, and in larger ones sometimes there were two; (n) Aelianus says, the Carthaginians had always two governors in a ship: the other word, is in the glossary rendered "navicularius", which signifies "the owner" of the ship; and so we render it; though perhaps he is the same with the "proreta", who governed the prow or head of the ship, and was the next in dignity to the governor, and a kind of a sub-governor; and his business was to observe tempests, to explore promontories, rocks and sands, and show them to the governor (o); and so Isidore (p) says, the owner of the ship is called Naucleros, because the ship is in his lot, "cleros" signifying lot: and as these best understood naval affairs, Julius gave more heed to what they said, and rather believed them, than those things which were spoken by Paul; by a spirit of prophecy, which he had no notion of; for though he treated him civilly as a man, he had no regard to him as a Christian, or as one endued with the Spirit of God, which he knew nothing of. (l) Scheffer. de Militia Navali Veterum, l. 4. c. 6. p. 296, 297. (m) Ep. 95. (n) Var. Hist. l. 9. c. 40. (o) Scheffer. ib. p. 302, 303. (p) Originum, l. 19. c. 1. p. 162.

Acts 27:11

Paul Sails for Rome

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.

American Standard Version (1901)

But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

Bible in Basic English

But the captain gave more attention to the master and the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But the centurion believed the pilot and the master of the ship, more than those things which were said by Paul.

Free Bible Version

But the centurion paid more attention to the advice of the ship's captain and its owner than to what Paul said.

Geneva Bible 1599

Neuertheles the Centurion beleeued rather the gouernour and the master of the ship, then those things which were spoken of Paul.

King James (Authorized) Version

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Plain English Version

But the boss soldier didn’t listen to Paul. He listened to the boss of the ship men and the owner of the ship.

Translation for Translators

But the officer did not listen to what Paul said. Instead, he decided to do what the pilot of the ship and the owner of the ship advised.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But the centurion paid more attention to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things that were spoken by Paul.

Noah Webster Bible

Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than the things which were spoken by Paul.

World English Bible

But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.

Young's Literal Translation

but the centurion to the pilot and to the shipowner gave credence more than to the things spoken by Paul;

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 27:11

Verse

Context

Paul Sails for Rome

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 27:11

Paul Sails for Rome

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary