Acts 27:21

¶ But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

But {G1161} after {G5225} long {G4183} abstinence {G776}{G5119} Paul {G3972} stood forth {G2476} in {G1722} the midst {G3319} of them {G846}, and said {G2036}, Sirs {G5599}{G435}, ye should {G1163}{G3303} have hearkened {G3980} unto me {G3427}, and not {G3361} have loosed {G321} from {G575} Crete {G2914}, and {G5037} to have gained {G2770} this {G5026} harm {G5196} and {G2532} loss {G2209}.

It was then, when they had gone a long time without eating, that Sha’ul stood up in front of them and said, “You should have listened to me and not set out from Crete; if you had, you would have escaped this disastrous loss.

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.

And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.

Acts 27:21 captures a pivotal moment of truth and confrontation during a perilous sea voyage. After an extended period of severe storms and deprivation, the Apostle Paul steps forward to address the despairing crew and passengers, reminding them of the prescient warning they had previously disregarded.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is situated within Paul's journey as a prisoner being transported to Rome, meticulously documented in Acts chapter 27. The ship had departed from Fair Havens, Crete, against Paul's counsel, opting instead for what they hoped would be a safer winter harbor. Soon after, they were caught in the infamous "Euroclydon," a violent northeastern tempest that had relentlessly driven them off course for many days. This prolonged ordeal led to extreme fear, seasickness, and the inability to eat, resulting in the "long abstinence" mentioned. Paul's address comes at a point of utter despondency, where "all hope that we should be saved was then taken away" (Acts 27:20).

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Consequences of Unheeded Counsel: Paul's direct statement, "ye should have hearkened unto me," plainly illustrates the direct link between ignoring sound, divinely inspired advice and experiencing detrimental outcomes. The "harm and loss" they were currently enduring were a painful consequence of their collective decision to sail from Crete against Paul's initial warning, highlighting the tangible repercussions of human choices.
  • Paul's Prophetic Insight and Leadership: Despite being a prisoner, Paul consistently emerges as the true voice of wisdom and leadership on board. His foresight, initially dismissed by the centurion and shipmaster (Acts 27:11), is now tragically validated. This positions Paul as a figure of divine guidance and authority, even in the most dire and chaotic circumstances.
  • Facing Harm and Loss: The phrase "harm and loss" (Greek: hybrin kai zemian) refers specifically to the severe damage inflicted upon the ship and its cargo, but also implicitly to the deep emotional and physical toll on the passengers and crew. It acknowledges the very real suffering that can arise from poor decisions, yet it also sets the stage for the miraculous divine intervention that is about to unfold.

Linguistic Insights

The term "long abstinence" is from the Greek word ἀσιτία (asitia), which literally means "without food" or "fasting." In this context, it denotes a prolonged period where the crew and passengers were unable or unwilling to eat due to the extreme severity of the storm, constant seasickness, and the overwhelming struggle for survival, rather than a spiritual discipline. The "harm and loss" refers to the violent damage (hybrin) and the financial/material detriment (zemian) suffered by the vessel and its contents.

Practical Application

Acts 27:21 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Heeding Wise Counsel: The passage powerfully underscores the importance of listening to and valuing wise counsel, especially from those who demonstrate spiritual discernment, experience, or prophetic insight. Disregarding sound advice, whether from human or divine sources, can lead to avoidable difficulties, suffering, and regret.
  • Faith in Adversity: Even when past mistakes have led to dire circumstances, Paul's subsequent actions and words (beginning in Acts 27:22) demonstrate that God's grace and promises can still prevail. This moment of "I told you so" is not delivered for condemnation, but to establish Paul's credibility for the incredible divine assurances he is about to deliver, offering hope where none existed.
  • Leadership in Crisis: Paul exemplifies calm, authoritative leadership rooted in unwavering faith, even when his formal authority is not recognized. His ability to speak truth and offer hope amidst despair is a powerful model for believers in any leadership role, demonstrating the impact of spiritual conviction in challenging times.

Reflection

Paul's words in Acts 27:21 serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting warnings, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a profound demonstration of God's providence and Paul's unwavering faith in the face of seemingly certain disaster. It highlights how divine insight, though sometimes initially dismissed, ultimately proves true and provides the foundational hope for deliverance.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Genesis 42:22

    And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

  • Psalms 107:5

    Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

  • Psalms 107:6

    Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he delivered them out of their distresses.

  • Acts 27:33

    And while the day was coming on, Paul besought [them] all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

  • Acts 27:35

    And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken [it], he began to eat.

  • Acts 27:7

    And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

  • Acts 27:9

    Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished [them],
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