Acts 27:37 Contradictions and Paradoxes

According to Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, there were 276 people on the boat. Everyone on the ship was important and counted, showing God's care for every person.

Contradiction with Judges 7:7

Judges 7:7 records a situation where God chooses only 300 men for Gideon's army, which is significantly fewer than the 276 mentioned in Acts 27:37, highlighting a contrast in numbers used for divine purposes.

Judges 7:7: And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.

Contradiction with Matthew 14:21

Matthew 14:21 describes the feeding of about 5,000 men, demonstrating a much larger group compared to the 276 individuals mentioned in Acts 27:37, emphasizing a contrast in scale during miraculous events.

Matthew 14:21: And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Contradiction with Genesis 18:32

Genesis 18:32 involves God agreeing to spare Sodom if ten righteous people can be found there, suggesting a smaller significant number in a divine context compared to the 276 people in Acts 27:37.

Genesis 18:32: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 14:6

1 Samuel 14:6 shows Jonathan saying the Lord can save by many or by few, implying a different perspective on the necessity of having a certain number of people for God's purposes, contrasted with the specific number in Acts 27:37.

1 Samuel 14:6: And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

Contradiction with Exodus 12:37

Exodus 12:37 describes about 600,000 men on foot leaving Egypt, presenting a vastly larger group than the 276 in Acts 27:37, signifying a stark difference in numbers associated with significant biblical events.

Exodus 12:37: And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot [that were] men, beside children.

Contradiction with John 6:10

John 6:10 mentions about 5,000 men sitting down, presenting a contrast in the size of groups in the context of Jesus’ miracles compared to the 276 people noted in Acts 27:37.