Acts 27:37

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred and seventy six souls.

Acts 27:37 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:37

And we were in all in the ship
Reckoning the master and owner of the ship, and the centurion and the soldiers, and the apostle and his company, with whatsoever passengers there might be:

two hundred and threescore and sixteen souls;
the Alexandrian copy reads, "two hundred seventy and five"; and the Ethiopic version, "two hundred and six". This account of the number is given to show, that the historian, who was one of them, had an exact knowledge of all in the ship; and this being recorded before the account of the shipwreck, may serve to make the truth of the relation the more to be believed that none of them perished, since their number was so precisely known; and makes it the more marvellous, that such a number of men should be saved, and in a shipwreck; and shows, that there must be a wonderful interposition of divine power to bring them all safe to land.

Acts 27:37 In-Context

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken [it], he began to eat.

36 Then they were all of good cheer, and they also took food.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred and seventy six souls.

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into which they purposed, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.