What does Acts 27:35 mean?

For the first time in two weeks, the ship charged to bring wheat from Alexandria to Rome is still enough that those onboard can make bread. They have survived fierce winter winds and waves that drove them from Crete, southwest to the dangerous waters around Libya, and back northwest to an island they can barely see in the light of the rising sun (Acts 27:14–17; 28:1). Finally, the waters are calm enough that they can eat something, and Paul encourages them to do so.

The way Paul presents the bread evokes the Lord's Supper. Luke and Aristarchus are with them, and it's possible there are other Christians onboard. Some scholars think Paul is officiating communion and the rest of the passengers and crew just take their example to eat something. The text, however, suggests Paul is encouraging everyone to eat. They have reached an island, but they still have work to do. The crew dumps the grain to raise the hull as far as possible above the sea bottom. Even doing so, between the ship and the beach is a hidden reef that will soon ground the ship (Acts 27:41), and everyone will have to either swim to shore or ride bits and pieces of the ship that can still float. They need energy to make the last few yards.