Acts 27:42-44 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And In this critical juncture, as there were several prisoners on board, who were to be conveyed in custody to Rome; the soldiers' counsel was to kill them A counsel most unjust, ungrateful, and cruel; lest any of them should swim out and escape Out of their hands; of which they were unwilling to run the hazard, as they knew how severe the Roman law was in such cases, where there was any room to suspect the guards of connivance or negligence. But the centurion, willing Or rather, desirous; to save Paul For though he had despised his advice, (Acts 27:11,) yet he afterward saw much cause to respect him, and therefore prevented the soldiers from executing their purpose. Thus God, for Paul's sake, not only saved all the rest of the ship's company from being lost in the sea, but preserved the prisoners from being murdered, according to the unjust and barbarous proposal of the soldiers, who could have thought of no worse a scheme, had they all been condemned malefactors, and had these guards, instead of conveying them to their trial, been carrying them to the place of execution. Commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land That they might be helpful to others in getting on shore; and the rest, some on boards, &c. Still using means, though it was of God only that they had those means, and that the means were made effectual for their preservation. And it came to pass Through the singular care of Divine Providence, and according to the prediction of Paul; that they escaped all safe to land And there was not one single life lost; and some of them, doubtless, received the apostle as a teacher sent from God. These would find their deliverance from the fury of the sea but an earnest of an infinitely greater deliverance, and are, long ere this, lodged with him in a more peaceful harbour than Malta, or than earth could afford.