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.
Original Language Analysis
οὗ
G3739
οὗ
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
3 of 21
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔμελλεν
on
G3195
ἔμελλεν
on
Strong's:
G3195
Word #:
4 of 21
to intend, i.e., be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probabili
ἡμέραν
day
G2250
ἡμέραν
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
5 of 21
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
γίνεσθαι
was coming
G1096
γίνεσθαι
was coming
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
6 of 21
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
παρεκάλει
besought
G3870
παρεκάλει
besought
Strong's:
G3870
Word #:
7 of 21
to call near, i.e., invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παῦλος
Paul
G3972
Παῦλος
Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
9 of 21
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
μεταλαβεῖν
to take
G3335
μεταλαβεῖν
to take
Strong's:
G3335
Word #:
11 of 21
to participate; genitive case, to accept (and use)
τροφῆς
meat
G5160
τροφῆς
meat
Strong's:
G5160
Word #:
12 of 21
nourishment (literally or figuratively); by implication, rations (wages)
λέγων,
saying
G3004
λέγων,
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
13 of 21
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
σήμερον
This day
G4594
σήμερον
This day
Strong's:
G4594
Word #:
15 of 21
on the (i.e., this) day (or night current or just passed); generally, now (i.e., at present, hitherto)
ἡμέραν
day
G2250
ἡμέραν
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
16 of 21
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
προσδοκῶντες
that ye have tarried
G4328
προσδοκῶντες
that ye have tarried
Strong's:
G4328
Word #:
17 of 21
to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await
Historical Context
Ancient sailors feared shipwreck intensely; most couldn't swim. Fourteen days adrift in storm-tossed seas would have caused severe dehydration, exhaustion, and fear-induced appetite loss. The Adriatic Sea (Acts 27:27) was notorious for sudden violent storms. Dawn brought first opportunity to assess their location and plan landing strategy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does crisis-induced anxiety prevent you from accepting God's provision for basic needs?
- What does Paul's concern for physical welfare teach about holistic spiritual leadership?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
While the day was coming on—Paul seized the psychological moment between darkness and dawn to address the ship's crisis. This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting emphasizes sustained distress; the Greek asitoi (without food) suggests anxiety-induced inability to eat, not religious fasting. Two weeks of terror had depleted them physically and spiritually.
Paul's exhortation (parekalei, 'besought') shows pastoral concern for practical needs. The apostle modeled spiritual leadership addressing whole-person welfare—not just souls but bodies, not merely eternal destiny but present survival. His having taken nothing indicates they'd subsisted on minimal food, weakening them for the coming ordeal of swimming ashore.