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).
Acts 27:33–38 places Paul at the center of the action once again. His ship has been storm-tossed and lost for two weeks. The 276 total passengers have finally reached land, but don't know what rocks or reefs are between them and safety. The centurion has prevented the crew's escape attempt (Acts 27:27–32). Now, Paul brings everyone together to do something they haven't been able to in fourteen days: eat. They share bread and jettison the remaining cargo. Once dawn breaks, the crew sails the ship closer to land, but the ship gets hung up on a reef. Eventually, however, everyone makes it to shore (Acts 27:39–44).
Acts 27 is an account of a famous sea voyage. Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus travel from Caesarea Maritima on their way to Rome. False charges and two years of imprisonment in Caesarea led Paul to appeal his case to a higher Roman court, and he is now on his way to that court. The chapter can be divided into seven paragraphs, alternating between descriptions of the sea voyage and Paul trying to keep everyone alive during a horrific storm. Eventually, they shipwreck on Malta. The ship and cargo are a complete loss, but no one dies.
