36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat—"took food"; the first full meal since the commencement of the gale. Such courage in desperate circumstances as Paul here showed is wonderfully infectious. read more
The shipwreck 27:27-44 read more
All on board needed to eat to gain strength for the work of getting ashore that lay ahead. Paul gave thanks to God publicly for the food (cf. 1 Timothy 4:4-5). This would have helped all present to connect their deliverance with God. This meal was evidently not a celebration of the Lord’s Supper, as some commentators suggested. [Note: E.g., Neil, p. 252.] The circumstances of the occasion argue against this view as does the terminology Luke used (Acts 27:35; cf. Luke 24:30). The rest of the... read more
The Voyage and ShipwreckActs 27:1 to Acts 28:16. The Journey to Rome.This narrative is the most detailed account of an ancient voyage which we possess, and is our principal source of knowledge of the art of navigation as practised by the ancients. St. Luke describes the voyage at length, because it exhibits his hero in a very favourable light. The details of the voyage are clearly authentic (see Intro.).1. Julius] a person otherwise unknown. The narrative reveals him as courteous and humane,... read more
(36) Then were they all of good cheer.—The words present a striking contrast to the despair of Acts 27:20. The hearty cheerfulness (is it too colloquial a phrase to say the “pluck”?) of the Apostle had communicated itself, as by a kind of electric sympathy, to his companions. They looked to him as their friend and leader, and had spirits to eat once more. read more
Paul in the Storm Acts 27:22 We have here a page out of an ancient log-book, and it cannot fail to be interesting even to a dry-landsman. I. In this strange world the good and the evil alike must endure their share of tribulation. On board this corn-ship we have a miniature world. How impartial the tempest. Fire burns the saint as well as the sinner. Storms have no favourites. II. The world often rejects the sage counsel of the man of God. Paul advised them to steer the ship into the Fair... read more
CHAPTER 27 1. From Caesarea to Fair Havens (Acts 27:1-8 ). 2. The Unheeded Warning. The Storm. Paul’s Vision and Assurance of Safety (Acts 27:9-26 ). 3. The Shipwreck (Acts 27:27-44 ). Much has been written on this Chapter. The voyage of the Apostle Paul to Rome and the shipwreck is often explained as being typical of the stormy voyage of the professing church, her adversities and shipwreck. However, such an application needs caution. it is easy to make fanciful and far-fetched allegorical... read more
The journey to Rome has been seen as a striking picture of the history of the church publicly in its earlier years, with its rapid decline and eventual shipwreck. Paul is on board, but a prisoner, indicating that the truth he proclaimed was not given the liberty that is properly due to it, though there is some measure of respect for him. The end of the journey (and the end of Acts) sees Paul a prisoner in Rome itself, as in the great Roman church Paul's ministry has been confined severely for... read more
A PRISONER AT ROME The reader is urged to add to the interest of this lesson by the further use of the map. The sea journey is marked by different stages, from: Adramyttium to Myra (Acts 27:1-5 ), · Myra to the Fair Havens (Acts 27:6-8 ), · Fair havens to Melita or Malta (Acts 27:6 to Acts 28:1 ), · Melita to Syracuse (Acts 28:2-12 ), · Syracuse to Rhegium, Puteoli and Rome (Acts 28:13-15 ). The most interesting stage is the third, which covers the shipwreck. In all classic literature there... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 27:36
of good cheer . Greek. euthumos. Only here. The verb occurs verses: Acts 27:22 , Acts 27:25 . read more