Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Acts 27:21

in Acts 27

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

KJV

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.

⋯

This verse in Acts 27

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

After such a prolonged storm, he addresses them not with reproach, but wishes that in the future they would believe him, and presents what happened as testimony to the truth of what he had told them. Then he predicts two things, namely: that the ship …

This site's exposition

Paul stood forth in the midst

on Acts 27:21-26

After long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst, and his I-told-you-so is one sentence long and instrumental, spoken to earn a hearing for the exhortation that matters: be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. His ground is a visitation in the night, there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, the double clause of belonging and service that the bench holds up as Paul's whole identity in seven words. Fear not, thou must be brought before Caesar, and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee: the promise of 23:11 holds the storm's outcome, and two hundred and seventy-five lives ride on one man's intercession. I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me, Paul concludes, faith stated as the middle term between promise and outcome, and the howbeit of the island keeps the word honest, salvation promised, shipwreck included.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 53 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Then after so great a storm he does not speak as insultingly over them, but as wishing that at any rate he might be believed for the future. Wherefore also he alleges what had taken place for a testimony of the truth of what was about to be said by him. One is not likely to have a good reception, when he chides in the midst of calamity; but when he tells them what more there is to come of the calamity, and then predicts the good, then he is acceptable. Therefore he attacks them then first, when "all hope that they should be saved was taken away": that none may say, Nothing has come of it. And their fear also bears witness.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

But after long abstinence,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

But after long abstinence - By the violence of the storm, by their long continued labor, and by their apprehension of danger, they had a long time abstained from food. And to have gained this harm - To have procured this harm, or have subjected yourselves to it. Had you remained there you would have been safe. It seems to be bad English to speak of gaining a loss, but it is a correct translation of the original κερδῆσαί kerdēsai, which expresses the idea of acquiring or procuring, whether good or evil. See Act 27:9-10.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

"The hardships which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from laboring at the pumps and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described" [SMITH]. Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, &c.--not meaning to reflect on them for the past, but to claim their confidence for what he was now to say:
[Other Sermons by Mr. Spurgeon, upon parts of this passage, are as follows—Sermons #1070, Volume 18—WRECKED, BUT NOT RECKLESS; #2952, Volume 51—THE CHURCH—THE WORLD'S HOPE and #1355, Volume 23—A CHEERY WORD IN TROUBLOUS TIMES.] HERE we see a Believer full of comfort cheering others. The words of good cheer now before us are from a man, but inasmuch as he does but repeat what the Lord had spoken to him, they are none the less precious. And they may be all the more profitable if they move us, by their example, to speak words of cheer to others.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

[Other Sermons by Mr. Spurgeon, upon parts of this passage, are as follows—Sermons #1070, Volume 18—WRECKED, BUT NOT RECKLESS; #2952, Volume 51—THE CHURCH—THE WORLD'S HOPE and #1355, Volume 23—A CHEERY WORD IN TROUBLOUS TIMES.] HERE we see a Believer full of comfort cheering others. The words of good cheer now before us are from a man, but inasmuch as he does but repeat what the Lord had spoken to him, they are none the less precious. And they may be all the more profitable if they move us, by their example, to speak words of cheer to others. The Believer is sure to come to the front. He may be hidden away in the crowd and his condition and circumstances may put him in the rear rank for a time, but his light will by some means rise out of obscurity. Paul is nothing but a prisoner all the time the ship sails safely. He is courteously entreated, yet he holds rank among others who are being carried to Rome for trial. But the storm comes on and the ship is driven before the tempest—and he who was only a prisoner becomes practically the chief man in the ship! The owner, the captain, the centurion—these are very small figures in the picture. You scarcely notice them in the group huddled together in the laboring boat. Paul is the center of the whole company, the observed of all. He is as much the master of the ship as Caesar was when, in the tempest, he encouraged the mariners with the words, "Fear not, you carry Caesar and all his fortunes." Paul is greater than Caesar, for he says less of himself and more of the Eternal God. He is evidently reverenced and esteemed even by those who hold him in chains. Paul on board that vessel was strikingly like the Lord Jesus when He came into the ship upon the Galilean Lake. There are many parallels between every true Believer and his Lord.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

After long abstinence - Πολλης δε ασιτιας ὑπαρχουσης. Mr. Wakefield connects this with the preceding verse, and translates it thus: Especially as there was a great scarcity of provisions. But this by no means can agree with what is said, Act 27:34-38. The vessel was a corn vessel; and they had not as yet thrown the wheat into the sea, see Act 27:38. And we find they had food sufficient to eat, but were discouraged, and so utterly hopeless of life that they had no appetite for food: besides, the storm was so great that it is not likely they could dress any thing. Have gained this harm and loss - It seems strange to talk of gaining a loss, but it is a correct rendering of the original, κερδησαι, which expresses the idea of acquisition, whether of good or evil. Those who wish it, may see this use of the term well illustrated by Bp. Pearce, in his note on this verse. The harm was damage to the vessel; the loss was that of the merchandise, furniture, etc.

The words behind it

31 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 27:11But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship.4 worksActs 27:7After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.4 worksGenesis 42:22And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”3 worksPsalms 107:5–6They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.3 worksTitus 1:5The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.3 worksActs 27:33–35Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 27:9–10By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,2 worksActs 14:15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.1 works1 Corinthians 3:15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.-3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Genesis 42:22

    And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

    it leads to

    • Psalms 9:12

      For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

    • 1 Kings 2:32

      The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to…

    • 2 Chronicles 24:22

      Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call…

    • Genesis 37:21–22

      When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.

    • Genesis 9:5–6

      And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

  • Through

    Acts 27:7

    After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.

    it leads to

    • Acts 2:11

      both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

    • Titus 1:12

      As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

    • Titus 1:5

      The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 27 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3145: “Paul in the Tempest” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 27 →