Acts 27:21

But after long abstinence As this sentence stands in A. V. it seems to indicate that the Apostle had been observing this long abstinence before he spake to his companions. The Gk. means that everybody on board had been without food for a long time. Read (with R. V.) "when they had been long without food." This was in consequence of the excitement which made it impossible to eat, as well as the condition of the vessel which made the preparation of food very difficult. They had been living on anything that happened to be attainable, and that had been very little.

and not have loosed[R. V.set sail] from Crete His exhortation had been that they should stay at Fair Havens, even though it was not so very commodious as a harbour.

and to have gained[gotten R. V. this harm[injury R. V. and loss "To gain a loss" is a Greek, though not an English expression, and signifies "to prevent the loss by avoiding the danger." The negative of the previous clause must not therefore be taken with this clause too, but the whole read as meaning "ye would not have set sail from Crete, and so would have escaped (been the gainers in respect of) this harm and loss from which ye now suffer."