And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. Acts 27:42

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A literal reading is much sparser in content, “And the soldiers’ plan was that they should kill the prisoners, lest someone, having swam out, should escape” (CG).

In the previous verse, the ship ran aground with the prow stuck fast. With the beating of the waves, the stern loosened from the main hull. Thus, the ship could no longer be a place of safety. All would need to get off quickly. However, it next says, “And the soldiers’ plan was that they should kill the prisoners.”

Here is the second and last use of desmótés, prisoners. It was first seen in Acts 27:1. These would have included all of those bound, regardless of what category of prisoner may have been on the ship. In Acts 27:1, it noted that Paul, even if such a prisoner, was in a different category than the others. Thus, he was given certain liberties.

The obvious reason for wanting to kill the prisoners is that if they were to escape, then the soldiers would be held accountable for having allowed it. Thus, their lives would most likely be forfeited. The reason for wanting to kill the prisoners is next stated, saying, “lest someone, having swam out, should escape.”

The word translated as “someone” is in the singular. The concern was that even one escapee would be problematic. The word translated as “swam out,” ekkolumbaó, is exactingly translated. The idea may either mean “swam out of reach,” “swam out of the water,” or something else. Such prisoners would have thus been out of the reach of the soldiers.

That leads to the word translated as escape, diapheugó. It is also unique to the New Testament. It literally signifies “flee through.” Therefore, it indicates a thorough escape. At this time, these men had arrived on an unidentified piece of land.

It will be seen that it is an island. However, at this time, that was unknown. A prisoner could swim out, flee through, and just keep going if it were a continent rather than an island. Therefore, these soldiers did not want to take such a risk.

Life application: It is obvious from these verses that the soldiers had a right to kill the prisoners in such a situation. As long as the bodies were accounted for, it appears it didn’t matter if they were brought in dead or alive. This was an effective means of keeping prisoners in check.

It was thus a preventative measure. In today’s world, such things are looked down on. Schools used to be places of discipline and learning. The threat of punishment or being expelled weighed upon the minds of students. However, the policies of the left only deal with matters after problems arise. Therefore, schools are no longer safe, they no longer are places of learning, and crime among students has skyrocketed.

This is also true with society in general. Everything has become a reaction, but there is no tolerance in the policies of the left for preventive measures. This is wholly unbiblical. The law was given for such people. As Paul says –

“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11

The inclination of the human heart is bent toward evil. Thus, law is necessary. It, along with punishment prescribed by the law, is a preventive measure against those who would do such things. The left’s idea is grace first and hope for the best. This philosophy deals with a total misunderstanding of humanity because it has rejected the notion that man is inherently wicked. They have chucked the biblical model out of society, and they have thus cast out morality, decency, and restraint.

Be sure to never vote for or support anyone who holds to such views. You will only bring disaster upon yourself in the process.

Lord God, how faithless we are as a people toward You. Humanity, when unrestrained, will naturally take the wrong path, committing more and more evil with each passing day. Help us to be responsible in how we teach, vote, and decide on how things should be done. May we include You and the lessons of Your word in all that we do. Amen.