Acts 27:35
in Acts 27After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
9 notes on this verseBut how" in every place," since we are prohibited (from praying) in public? In every place, he means, which opportunity or even necessity, may have rendered suitable: for that which was done by the apostles (who, in gaol, in the audience of the prisoners, "began praying and singing to God") is not considered to have been done contrary to the precept; nor yet that which was done by Paul, who in the ship, in presence of all, "made thanksgiving to God."
This site's exposition
kept urging them all to eat
on Acts 27:33-38
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat after fourteen days without food, for your own preservation, since not a single hair of your head will be lost. Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, a Jewish grace before pagan sailors and soldiers, and they were all encouraged. Once fed, they threw the grain into the sea, spending the cargo to save the lives.
This site's exposition
gave thanks to God in front of them all
John Chrysostom observes that Paul ate first so as to persuade them by his example as well as his words, and that his thanksgiving showed a mind sure of rescue. Albert Barnes notes that giving thanks before a meal was the custom of the Hebrews, as in Matthew 14:19. The others ate after him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
And he exhorts them again to take some meat, and they do as he bids them, and he takes some first, to persuade them not by word, but also by act, that the storm did them no harm, but rather was a benefit to their souls. Observe, his giving thanks after all that had happened strengthened them. For this showed an assured mind that they would be saved. "Then were they all of good cheer; and they also took some meat." And not only so, but henceforth they so cast all their care upon Paul, that they even cast out the corn, being so many.
The Medieval Church1 voice
That Paul began to eat was so that he would not die of hunger. "Having taken bread, he gave thanks to God" for what had happened. The order of the Eucharist also teaches us to say the same thing: "We thank Thee, O God, that …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And when he had thus spoken he took bread,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And gave thanks ... - This was the usual custom among the Hebrews. See the notes on Mat 14:19. Paul was among those who were not Christians; but he was not ashamed of the proper acknowledgment of God, and was not afraid to avow his dependence on him, and to express his gratitude for his mercy.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
while day was coming on--"until it should be day"; that is, in the interval between the cutting off of the boat and the approach of day, which all were "anxiously looking for" (Ac 27:29).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Gave thanks to God - Who had provided the food, and preserved their lives and health to partake of it. Some think that he celebrated the holy eucharist here: but this is by no means likely: he would not celebrate such a mystery among ungodly sailors and soldiers, Jews and heathens; nor was there any necessity for such a measure.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἴπας | eipas | Having said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| λαβὼν | labon | having taken | G2983 → | 257 times |
| ἄρτον | arton | bread | G740 → | 97 times |
| εὐχαρίστησεν | eucharistesen | he gave thanks | G2168 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεῷ | theo | to God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐνώπιον | enopion | before | G1799 → | 94 times |
| πάντων, | panton | all, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κλάσας | klasas | having broken [it] | G2806 → | 14 times |
| ἤρξατο | erxato | he began | G757 → | 85 times |
| ἐσθίειν. | esthiein | to eat. | G2068 → |
ΕἴπαςHaving said
eipasG2036 →925 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
λαβὼνhaving taken
labonG2983 →257 times
ἄρτονbread
artonG740 →97 times
εὐχαρίστησενhe gave thanks
eucharistesenG2168 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
θεῷto God
theoG2316 →1312 times
ἐνώπιονbefore
enopionG1799 →94 times
πάντων,all,
pantonG3956 →1235 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κλάσαςhaving broken [it]
klasasG2806 →14 times
ἤρξατοhe began
erxatoG757 →85 times
ἐσθίειν.to eat.
esthieinG2068 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
it leads to
- Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 4:5
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Romans 1:16
Through
2 Timothy 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
it leads to
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- 2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who…
- Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Jude 1:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Prayer; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.