Translation commentary on Acts 27:31

Sailors (New English Bible “these men”) is a rendering of the pronoun “they.” In the present context it is obvious that the verb saved is used of the deliverance from physical danger. You cannot be saved may be rendered in this type of context as “you cannot save your lives” or “you cannot get ashore alive.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:31

27:31a

But: This verse in the Greek has no conjunction at the beginning. But there is possible contrast between what the sailors are doing and what Paul said. This is why the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions begin this verse with the word But

centurion: Translate this word as you did in 27:11.

27:31b

you cannot be saved: This clause refers to dying during the storm. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you cannot survive
-or-
you won’t have any chance to save your lives (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You will all die (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you cannot reach safety (Revised English Bible)

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