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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 27:21 - 27:26
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_27:21-26
21When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, "Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. 22Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.' 25Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26"But we must run aground on a certain island."
Act_27:21 "they had gone a long time without food" There are at least three possible meanings in relation to Act_27:33 :
1. maybe they were seasick from the violent, protracted storm
2. they were praying and fasting for the religious purpose of being spared (i.e., pagan ritual, cf. Act_27:29)
3. they were so busy trying to save the ship, eating became a lesser issue
▣ "you ought to have followed my advice" This is Paul's "I told you so!" It provided Paul the opportunity to act as the Spirit's spokesman.
Act_27:22 "but only of the ship" Notice the use of dei in Act_27:26. See full note on dei at Act_1:16. It is used three times in this chapter (Act_27:21; Act_27:24; Act_27:26).
Act_27:23 "an angel of the God" Several times Jesus or an angel appeared to Paul to encourage him (cf. Act_18:9-10; Act_22:17-19; Act_23:11; Act_27:23-24). God had an evangelistic plan and purpose for Paul's life (cf. Act_27:26; Act_9:15) and a storm was not going to stop it.
Act_27:24 "Do not be afraid, Paul" This is a present middle (deponent) imperative with the negative participle which usually means stop an act already in process (cf. Act_23:11; Pro_3:5-6).
▣ "God has granted you all those who are sailing with you" This first verb is a perfect middle (deponent) indicative. God had a plan and purpose for Paul's ministry (cf. Act_9:15; Act_19:21; Act_23:11). He must (dei) witness in Rome before her governmental and military leaders.
Paul's life and faith impacted the destiny of his companions. This same extension of grace can be seen in Deu_5:10; Deu_7:9; 1Co_7:14. This does not remove personal responsibility, but accentuates the potential influence of believing family, friends, and co-workers.
Act_27:25 Paul's admonition of Act_27:22, "to keep up your courage," a present infinitive, is repeated, "keep up your courage," which is a present active imperative.
▣ "for I believe God" Paul's encounter with the living Christ enabled him to trust God's word ("it will turn out exactly as I have been told" perfect passive indicative). Faith is the hand that receives the gifts of God—not only salvation, but providence.
Robert B. Girdlestone, Synonyms of the Old Testament has a great statement and quote from Romaine, Life of Faith.
"We now approach the N.T. with a clear distinction between faith on the one hand, and trust and hope on the other. Faith is the taking God at His word, while trust and patience and also hope are the proper fruits of faith, manifesting in various forms the confidence which the believer feels. A message comes to me from the Author of my existence; it may be a threat, a promise, or a command. If I take is as 'yea and amen,' that is Faith; and the act which results is an act of amunah or faithfulness God. Faith, according to Scripture, seems to imply a word, message, or revelation. So the learned Romaine says in his Life of Faith:—'Faith signifies believing the truth of the Word of God; it relates to some word spoken or to some promise made by Him, and it expresses the belief which a person who hears it has of its being true; he assents to it, relies upon it, and acts accordingly: this is faith.' Its fruit will vary according to the nature of the message received, and according to the circumstances of the receiver. It led Noah to build an ark, Abraham to offer up his son, Moses to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, the Israelites to march round the walls of Jericho. I believe God that it shall be even as it has been told me—this is a picture of the process which the Bible calls faith" (pp. 104-105).
For "believe" see Special Topic at Act_2:40; Act_3:16; and Act_6:5.