Chapter

Acts 27:33

ESV As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.
NIV Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.
NASB Until the day was about to dawn, Paul kept encouraging them all to take some food, saying, 'Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing.
CSB When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.
NLT Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. 'You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,' he said.
KJV And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
NKJV And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.

What does Acts 27:33 mean?

Paul is prisoner being transported to Rome on an Alexandrian ship, finally reaching the end of a two-week voyage through a typhoon-grade storm in the Mediterranean. The ship has' dodged the hidden sandbars off the coast of Libya and managed not to swamp or capsize, but the waves and wind are so great no one has eaten for two weeks. The Greek for "in suspense" means "watching to see how this will end." They've been "watching" with no hope of survival for over a week (Acts 27:20). Everyone's exhausted with fear, and they still need to make it to shore, so Paul takes charge.

It's night. They don't know exactly where they are. They don't know what stands between them and land. They don't know if there's a good place to bring the ship in closer—perhaps even a beach. But Paul assures them that no one will die. Everyone will make it (Acts 27:22). First, however, they need to eat. Even if they do make it to within swimming distance of the island, they'll need energy to make it the last few yards. Paul either finds bread or quickly makes some from the wheat the ship is transporting. He prays over it, breaks it, and eats it. The passengers and crew are encouraged and take some as well. Then they throw the wheat into the sea to try to raise the ship above potential hazards (Acts 27:34–38).

Paul will face one more obstacle before he can reach dry land: the soldiers don't want any of the prisoners to escape. In fact, they'd rather kill them than risk it. Julius, the centurion who is guarding Paul and the other prisoners, has always been kind to Paul and has learned to trust him (Acts 27:3). He controls his soldiers, and everyone makes it to the island alive (Acts 27:42–44).
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