Acts 27:33-38

Thankfulness, sustenance, and good cheer, 33-38

Verse 33: As daytime approached, Paul encouraged everyone to eat something. They had been fasting fourteen days. This likely was to a great extent of necessity, that is, in the struggle with the storm having neither luxury to prepare or consume. However, it is likely that at least some had a modicum of religion and fasted also in humility and despair before their gods, in hopes of deliverance. For fasting in time of trouble and sorrow, see II Samuel 1:12; 12:16; II Chronicles 20:3; Nehemiah 1:4; 9:1; Esther 4:16; Joel 1:13-15; Jonah 3:5.

Verses 34-35: Paul asked them to eat, considering (1) this is for your health, and (3) in gratitude “for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.” The very hairs of our heads are numbered and known by God (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7). God promised the shipmen and passengers they would not lose one of them (Cf. Luke 21:18). They would be delivered. Paul took some bread “and gave thanks to God” over it, for all to see and hear. He began to eat of it.

To the church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks…” (I Thessalonians 5:18). Acts 27 records a case of Paul’s thankfulness “in every thing,” a time of great danger in a storm at sea. In this case, the thankfulness was based in God’s future promise over their present circumstances. In every thing giving thanks includes looking backward in the past, looking around in the present, and looking forward to the future.

Verses 36-37: Some men are leaders in times of peace; some men are leaders in times of war. Here, Paul rises to leadership in time of crisis. The actions and advice of Paul lifted their spirits and dispelled the gloom. Then they “were they all of good cheer,” and they also began to eat. The total number of persons on the ship “two hundred threescore and sixteen souls,” that is, 276 people.

Verse 38: The 276 people on board eat what they consider to be enough, then lighten the ship one final time as they are about to make their run for safety. They cast the wheat they had kept into the sea.