Acts 27:21

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

Acts 27:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:21

But after long abstinence
From food, not for want of it, as appears from what follows, ( Acts 27:36-38 ) nor in a religious way, in order to obtain the favour of God; but either for want of appetite, and a nauseousness and loathing of food, through the tossing of the ship, fright at the storm, and fears of death; and chiefly for want of time, being employed for the security of themselves and the ship.

Paul stood forth in the midst of them;
that all might hear him:

and said, sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me:
it would have been better for them to have taken his advice, and stayed at the Fair Havens,

and not have loosed from Crete;
or sailed from thence:

and to have gained this harm and loss;
whereby they would have shunned the injuries of the weather, the storm and tempest which they had endured, to the prejudice of their health, and the terrifying of their minds, and have prevented the loss of the goods and merchandise of the ship, and its tackling, utensils, instruments, and arms; the former of these is expressed by "harm" or injury, and the latter by "loss". The apostle addresses them in a very courteous manner, and does not use sharp reproofs, severe language, or upbraid and insult them, only reminds them of the counsel he had given, which had it been taken, would have been to their advantage; and the rather he mentions this, that since what he had foretold was in part already come to pass, they might give the more heed to what he was about to say to them.

Acts 27:21 In-Context

19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.

20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,