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Acts 27:33–38
“When he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves” (vv. 35–36).
Once the soldiers escorting Paul to Rome saw his wisdom in predicting danger for their boat travels and heard of the angelic vision in which God had promised that no one on board the ship would die, they knew that they had to heed the Apostle’s instruction (Acts 27:1–26). Thus, when the sailors attempted to escape the ship on a smaller lifeboat and Paul told the soldiers that their survival depended on keeping the sailors on board, the soldiers prevented the sailors from leaving the ship (vv. 27–32). Peril remained, however, as the storm continued to threaten to run the ship aground.
A decision had to be made regarding what to do next, and Paul spoke again to the men on the ship. It had been fourteen days since the men had eaten, for anxiety, attempts to steady the ship, and even nausea from the waves’ tossing of the boat had made them unwilling or unable to consume any food. So the Apostle encouraged them all to eat. They would need the strength for the rest of the journey, which was sure to be filled with more troubles. Paul assured them that the food would strengthen them and once again encouraged them with God’s promise that not even a hair on their heads would perish (vv. 33–34). The Lord had His eyes on the men on the ship down to each of their hairs, so they could be assured that God would not let them die (see also Matt. 10:30). Luke, the author of the account, tells us that the men found comfort from Paul’s words and ate. Then they lightened the load of the ship further by throwing the wheat overboard (Acts 27:35–38). Such an action was a tangible expression of their belief in Paul’s promise that they would survive. As one commentator notes, they would throw food overboard only if they knew that they were going to make it and would soon have something to eat again.
Luke notes that when it came time to eat, Paul took bread, gave thanks to God for it in the presence of the men on the ship, and broke it and ate (v. 35). Some commentators have suggested that he celebrated the Lord’s Supper here, but that is unlikely, since most of the company on the boat were not Christians. The Apostle was simply thanking God for bringing them safely thus far and demonstrating to the other men that our daily bread comes ultimately from the hand of the Lord (see Ps. 104). In the act of thanksgiving, Paul bore witness to the one true God.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Offering thanks for our meals reminds us that all that we have comes by the Lord’s will, and it can be a testimony to others of the one true God. We are not to engage in showy displays of piety (Matt. 6:5–18), but a simple prayer of thanksgiving for our food can point both us and onlookers to the provision of the Lord.
For further study
- Exodus 16
- Mark 6:30–44
- Luke 4:1–4
- 1 Timothy 4:4–5
The bible in a year
- Hosea 5–6
- Revelation 1