Verse 21
21. Long abstinence Yet not total abstinence. Cooking had been impossible or difficult, and anxiety had destroyed appetite.
Stood forth Assuming even in his fetters to make a regular and authoritative address. Before starvation and hopelessness had subdued this motley company they might hardly have allowed him the assumption.
Should have hearkened We do not quite agree with Dr. Hackett that there is no “reproach,” or rather reproof, here. The apostle does not mean, indeed, that they ought to have obeyed him as an apostle, but that so good were the reasons for obeying his counsel they ought to have realized them. It was an inexcusable misdoing.
Gained incurred.
Harm Rather, rebuke, condemnation for folly. The same as used in Acts 27:10 for hurt. It was fitting that the apostle should humble his unruly audience in order that a mastery over them should be attained for future use, (Acts 27:31; Acts 27:43.) The rebuke fell upon the majority, (Acts 27:12,) more on the ship’s captain and ship’s owner, but most decisively upon Julius, (Acts 27:11.)
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