New International Version
Acts 27:21
21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
Acts 27:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
- New Living Translation (NLT)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.
Context of Acts 27:21
19On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
Read all of Acts 27Acts 27:21 word by word
πολλῆς τε ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν·¶ Ἔδει μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης, κερδῆσαί τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- afterτότεtote · thenG5119
- ·ὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- longπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- abstinenceἀσιτίαasitia · fastingG776
- Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- stood forthἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- of themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- ·ὦō · oh!G5599
- Sirsἀνήρanēr · manG435
- ye shouldδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- have hearkenedπειθαρχέωpeitharcheō · to obeyG3980
- unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- andἀνάγωanagō · to leadG321
- notμήmē · notG3361
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- CreteΚρήτηKrētē · CreteG2914
- andτεte · and/bothG5037
- to have gainedκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- harmὕβριςhubris · mistreatmentG5196
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- lossζημίαzēmia · damage/lossG2209
Cross-references for Acts 27:21
- Acts 27:33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.
- Psalms 107:5They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
- Acts 27:9Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them,
- Genesis 42:22Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”
- Acts 27:13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
Commentaries on Acts 27:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21After long abstinence - ̔ . Mr. Wakefield connects this with the preceding verse, and translates it thus: Especially as there was a great scarcity of provisions. But this by no means can agree with what is said, Acts 27:34-38. The vessel was a corn vessel; and they had not as yet thrown the wheat into the sea, see Acts 27:38. And we find they had food sufficient to eat, but were discouraged, and so utterly hopeless of life that they had no appetite for…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21But after long abstinence - By the violence of the storm, by their long continued labor, and by their apprehension of danger, they had a long time abstained from food. And to have gained this harm - To have procured this harm, or have subjected yourselves to it. Had you remained there you would have been safe. It seems to be bad English to speak of gaining a loss, but it is a correct translation of the original ͂́ kerdēsaiwhich expresses the idea of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger. Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or tempests can…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-26Paul spoke to the crew. He first criticized them for not listening to him (27:10–12). Then, he encouraged them by sharing the angel's assurance that everyone would survive.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2621-26. But after long abstinence--(See on Ac 27:33). "The hardships which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from laboring at the pumps and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described" [Smith]. Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, &c.--not meaning to reflect on them for the past, but to claim their confidence for what he was now to say:Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 27:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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