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Acts 27

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

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.

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

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

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

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

What does Acts 27:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 27:33 is a verse situated within the narrative of Paul's voyage to Rome, where he is to stand trial before Caesar.

In this part of the account, Paul and others are aboard a ship caught in a violent storm that has lasted for many days.

The crew and passengers are exhausted, frightened, and have evidently been fasting, either because their duties in battling the storm have been so great that they have neglected to eat, or because of the scarcity of provisions on board.

When Paul speaks of "taking meat," he is referring to eating food.

It is likely that because of the extended duration of the tempest, food supplies were not being prepared, and Paul is urging those on board to nourish themselves for the rigors to come.

The mention of "This day is the fourteenth day" indicates the length of time they had been under extreme stress and possibly without proper meals.

Paul suggests that they "take meat" for their own survival and strength.

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Historical Context

Acts 27 falls within the broader narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, which details the early spread of Christianity after Christ's resurrection and ascension.

The book of Acts was authored by Luke, a companion of Paul, and is often dated to around 60-70 A.D. In this chapter, the apostle Paul, who has been imprisoned for his preaching, is being transported to Rome for his appeal to Caesar.

The storm described in chapter 27 is typical of the kinds of dangers faced by ancient mariners, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea. Travel by sea was fraught with peril, and storms could last for many days, making sea journeys risky undertakings.

Theological Insights

Theological interpretation of this verse may highlight Paul's role as a spiritual leader and his concern for the physical well-being of those around him.

It reflects the Christian principle of caring for the whole person, body and soul.

In the midst of the storm, Paul's calm and faith could be seen as a testament to his trust in God's providence, regardless of the dire circumstances.

Another theological insight pertains to the communal aspect of eating, which in Christian tradition is often associated with fellowship and the sharing of the Eucharist. Paul encouraging the others to eat together could symbolize the nurturing of community through shared adversity.

Practical Applications

Acts 27:33 can provide practical lessons for everyday life. One application is the recognition of human limitations and the necessity of self-care, as neglecting one's health can undermine the ability to cope with challenges.

It is a reminder to pay attention to one’s physical needs, even in times of crisis or when consumed with a pursuit.

Additionally, the verse can encourage individuals to be sources of calm and rationality in chaotic situations, offering guidance and help to those in need, similar to how Paul served as a beacon of hope and practicality on the storm-tossed ship.

Cross-References

Acts 27:21-25 - Paul had earlier assured the men that there would be no loss of life among them as they would stand before Caesar.
1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches not to worry about one's life, what to eat or drink; life is more than food.
Philippians 4:6 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Language Study

In the Greek text, the term translated as "meat" is τροφῆς (trophēs), which generally means food or nourishment.

The concept of "taking" food, "προσλαβέσθαι" (proslabesthai), carries the implication of receiving or partaking of something. The action is an active choice to nourish oneself, which is significant given the context of neglect due to the stressful situation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient culture, both Greek and Hebrew societies placed significant emphasis on hospitality and the sharing of meals. The act of breaking bread together was a sacred duty and a sign of fellowship.

From a religious standpoint, many religious traditions use shared meals as an act of communion, whether it's the Jewish Passover Seder or the Christian Eucharist.

Paul's encouragement to share a meal may resonate with these broader cultural and religious practices of community-building and sustaining one another physically and spiritually.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the physiological effects of stress, fasting, and the necessity of nutrition in high-stress situations can be examined.

Stress and fasting can both weaken the body's immune system and make individuals less able to cope with physical challenges.

The body requires regular intake of nutrients to maintain energy levels, especially in situations demanding high physical activity and alertness, such as managing a ship in a storm.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 27:33 often point to Paul's leadership qualities and his practical concern for the welfare of those with him.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary discusses how Paul assumed a position of practical leadership, securing the safety of those on board by ensuring they were fed.

The Expositor's Greek Testament chalks up Paul's intervention to his supernatural calmness and insight, staying rational and providing for physical needs in the midst of supernatural assurance of safety.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible sees this instance as an illustration of Paul's care for the whole person, ministering not only to spiritual but also corporal necessities.

Acts 27

Acts 27

What does Acts 27:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 27:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?