Acts 27:21

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. But after long abstinence. A large ship loaded with wheat could not have been in want of provisions during such a voyage, even for such a number as it had on board. But the impossibility of cooking, and the constant occupation and engrossment of all hands, would put regular meals out of thought. 'The hardships (says Mr. Smith) which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from labouring at the pumps, and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described.' Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me - not meaning by this to reflect on them for the past, but only to claim their confidence for the future. And not have loosed from...

− 21._After long abstinence. _Though Luke doth not plainly express how the mariners and soldiers behaved themselves, yet he doth plainly distinguish Paul from them, declaring that he stood in the midst of them that he might comfort their faint hearts; for no man is fit to exhort but he who is himself an example of constancy and fortitude. Furthermore, Paul deferred this exhortation until they were all even at the last cast. We may easily gather out of the common custom of the infidels, that they raged and made much ado at the first. A moderate and soft voice could never have been heard amongst those cries and tumults. Now, after they be weary with working and howling, they sit still all in a damp, and Paul beginneth to speak to them. Therefore, it was meet that they should languish like men half dead, until they were somewhat quiet, and could hear a man which would give them good counse...

21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can hinder God's favour to his people, for he is a Help always at hand. It is a comfort to the faithful servants of God when in difficulties, that as long as the Lord has any work for them to do, their lives shall be prolonged. If Paul had thrust himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been cast away with them; but God calling him into it, they are preserved with him. They are given thee; there is no greater satisfaction to a go...

Verse Acts 27:21. _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, Acts 27:34. The vessel was a _corn vessel_; and they had not as yet thrown the _wheat_ into the sea, see Acts 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

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 Acts 27:9....

EXPOSITION ACTS 27:1 For, for _into, _A.V.;_ to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan band _for unto _one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus_'_ band, _A.V. THAT WE SHOULD SAIL. Observe the "we," denoting that Luke was of the party. Connecting it with the "we" of Acts 21:17, the inference is obvious that Luke was with Paul through the whole of these two eventful years, and that it is to this presence that we owe the detailed circumstantial narrative of Acts 21-28., as well as, perhaps, the composition of St. Luke's Gospel, for which the two years at Caesarea afforded an admirable opportunity. THE AUGUSTAN BAND; or, _cohort _(σπεῖρα); as...

BUT AFTER LONG ABSTINENCE,.... From food, not for want of it, as appears from what follows, Acts 27:36 nor in a religious way, in order to obtain the favour of God; but either for want of appetite, and a nauseousness and loathing of food, through the tossing of the ship, fright at the storm, and fears of death; and chiefly for want of time, being employed for the security of themselves and the ship. PAUL STOOD FORTH IN THE MIDST OF THEM; that all might hear him: AND SAID, SIRS, YE SHOULD HAVE HEARKENED UNTO ME: it would have been better for them to have taken his advice, and stayed at the Fair Havens, AND NOT HAVE LOOSED FROM CRETE; or sailed from thence: AND TO HAVE GAINED THIS HARM AND LOSS; whereby they would have shunned the injuries of the weather, the storm and tempest which they had endured, to the prejudice o

Acts 27:1. _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._ Even a Roman centurion could see that Paul was no ordinary prisoner, and that it was quite safe to allow him privileges which others might have abused. Acts 27:4. 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

CHAPTER 27 _ 1. From Caesarea to Fair Havens (Acts 27:1)._ 2. The Unheeded Warning. The Storm. Paul's Vision and Assurance of Safety (Acts 27:9). 3. The Shipwreck (Acts 27:27). Much has been written on this Chapter. The voyage of the Apostle Paul to Rome and the shipwreck is often explained as being typical of the stormy voyage of the professing church, her adversities and shipwreck. However, such an application needs caution. it is easy to make fanciful and far-fetched allegorical applications. Besides church history other lessons have been drawn from this narrative. A recent commentator claims that the keynote to the interpretation is given in...

TO MALTA. The Fast of the great Day of Atonement fell on the 10 th of Tishri (Sept.- Oct.). The season for shipping ended November 11, and opened again March 5; but voyages were counted dangerous after the middle of September. Paul speaks as an experienced traveller, and one who has been thrice shipwrecked (2 Corinthians 11:25). He is against setting sail again (Acts 27:21). The centurion, who had authority to control the navigation since the corn ship was a government vessel (Ramsay, _St. Paul,_ p. 321), does not listen to him; quite rightly he is guided by the experts who are responsible for the navigation, the master of the ship and the owner. The experts agreed with Paul so far that they did not wish to leave the shelter of Crete ...