Acts 27:11
in Acts 27But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
⋯
This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe Evangelist says that "the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more." He did this on the assumption that one should rather listen to people experienced in sailing than to a passenger inexperienced in this matter. Thus, this was an error …
This site's exposition
sailing was now dangerous
on Acts 27:9-12
Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past: Luke dates by the Day of Atonement, putting the voyage in October when ancient shipping closed for winter. Paul admonishes them plainly, hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives, the prisoner offering his first counsel; the centurion believed the master and the owner more, and the bench declines to blame him for preferring professionals while noting how the chapter will grade the advice. Fair Havens being incommodious for wintering, the majority counsel is a short run to Phenice, a decision of comfort over caution, and the exposition lets the scene teach what it has always taught, that the majority and the experts can be wrong together.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Then, to show that it was not from conjecture that he so spake, the master of the ship said the contrary, and he a man of experience in the matter: so far was it from being the case that Paul's advice was given from conjecture. Moreover, the place suggested this same which the master said, "being not commodious;" and it was evident that from conjecture "the more part advised" as they did, rather than Paul.
"But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship." The centurion did not pay attention to what was said by Paul, being persuaded rather by those experienced in navigation, who were more inclined to prevail than by a passenger …
The Medieval Church2 voices
But the centurion trusted the helmsman and the shipmaster. Shipmasters in Greek, in Latin are called navicularius.
And he trusted the pilot more. The pilot in Greek is called the master of the ship.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The centurion regarded the master - And indeed it is a general rule, believe an artificer in his own art. Yet when there is the greatest need, a real Christian will often advise even better than him.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
5 ), and knew the several parts of the island well enough. But the centurion gave more regard to the opinion of the master and owner of the ship than to Paul's; for every man is to be credited in his own profession ordinarily: but such a man as Paul, who was so intimate with Heaven, was rather to be regarded in seafaring matters than the most celebrated sailors.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
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 Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The master - The person who is here meant was the helmsman, who occupied in ancient ships a conspicuous place on the stern, and steered the ship, and gave directions to the crew. The owner of the ship - Probably a different person from “the master.” He had the general command of the ship as his own property, but had employed “the master,” or the pilot, to direct and manage it. His counsel in regard to the propriety of continuing the voyage would be likely to be followed.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and owner . . . more than . . . Paul--He would naturally think them best able to judge, and there was much to say for their opinion, as the bay at Fair Havens, being open to nearly one-half of the compass, could not be a good winter harbor.
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.
How the passage was read
On Acts 27:9-12On Acts 27:9-12
“The Fast” on a sailor's calendar
“The Fast” here is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the great autumn fast of Leviticus 16, used by Luke exactly as a modern writer might say “after Thanksgiving”: as a date. Yom Kippur falls in late September or October, and in the ancient Mediterranean, open-sea sailing was reckoned dangerous from about that point until spring. Luke's note is a Jewish calendar doing secular work: the fast is past, therefore the sailing season is closing, therefore Paul's warning.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Sources: Leviticus 16:29 (the fast's date, the seventh month's tenth day) · The Day of Atonement (this site's study)
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἑκατοντάρχης | hekatontarches | the centurion | G1543 → | 20 times |
| τῷ | to | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυβερνήτῃ | kubernete | pilot | G2942 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῷ | to | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ναυκλήρῳ | nauklero | ship owner | G3490 → | |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | rather | G3123 → | 81 times |
| ἐπείθετο | epeitheto | was persuaded | G3982 → | 51 times |
| ἢ | e | than | G2228 → | 342 times |
| τοῖς | tois | by the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| Παύλου | paulou | Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| λεγομένοις.¶ | legomenois | spoken. | G3004 → | 1325 times |
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
ἑκατοντάρχηςthe centurion
hekatontarchesG1543 →20 times
τῷby the
toG3588 →19766 times
κυβερνήτῃpilot
kuberneteG2942 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῷby the
toG3588 →19766 times
ναυκλήρῳship owner
naukleroG3490 →
μᾶλλονrather
mallonG3123 →81 times
ἐπείθετοwas persuaded
epeithetoG3982 →51 times
ἢthan
eG2228 →342 times
τοῖςby the [things]
toisG3588 →19766 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
ΠαύλουPaul
paulouG3972 →158 times
λεγομένοις.¶spoken.
legomenoisG3004 →1325 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes…
it leads to
- Genesis 6:13
Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.
- 1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
- Ezekiel 14:14
then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
- Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Luke 17:26
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
- Genesis 6:13
Through
Ezekiel 33:4Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 18:13
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
- Acts 18:6
But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to…
- Ezekiel 18:13
Through
Proverbs 27:12The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
it leads to
- Proverbs 22:3
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
- Proverbs 22:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.