Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
35. gave thanks to God ] As he had advised, so he set the example of taking food. But he did more than this. He made an Eucharist of this meal. In the sight of the heathen soldiers and sailors, he brake the bread in solemn thanksgiving, and thus converted the whole into a religions act, which can hardly have been without its influence on the minds of some, at all events, of those who had heard St Paul’s previous words about the revelation which God had made to him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And gave thanks … – This was the usual custom among the Hebrews. See the notes on Mat 14:19. Paul was among those who were not Christians; but he was not ashamed of the proper acknowledgment of God, and was not afraid to avow his dependence on him, and to express his gratitude for his mercy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 35. Gave thanks to God] Who had provided the food, and preserved their lives and health to partake of it. Some think that he celebrated the holy eucharist here: but this is by no means likely: he would not celebrate such a mystery among ungodly sailors and soldiers, Jews and heathens; nor was there any necessity for such a measure.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Paul thanks God for their preservation hitherto: and there is no such encouragement to hope for future deliverances, as when God doth give us hearts to thank him for deliverances already enjoyed. But he thanked God also for giving them in their necessity such food to nourish and strengthen them, Mat 14:19; 15:36; Mar 8:6,19, and one season more to enjoy it. The acknowledging of God in all things we enjoy, doth sanctify them to us: otherwise they do defile us; for we usurp them; we holding them by no other tenor but in franc almoine, from God: neither can they be serviceable unto us, if God withholds his blessing. Hence the Jews would not eat until Samuel had thus blessed their food, 1Sa 9:13. And our Saviour himself, to give us an example, gives thanks before he would have the miraculous loaves and fishes distributed, Joh 6:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
35. when he had thus spoken he tookbreadassuming the lead.
and gave thanks to God inpresence of them allan impressive act in such circumstances,and fitted to plant a testimony for the God he served in the breastsof all.
when he had broken it,he began to eatnot understood by the Christians in the ship asa love-feast, or celebration of the Lord’s Supper, as some think, buta meal to recruit exhausted nature, which Paul shows them by his ownexample how a Christian partakes of.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when he had thus spoken he took bread,…. A piece of bread, of common bread, into his hands; for this could never be the eucharist, or Lord’s supper, which the apostle now celebrated, as some have suggested, but such sort of bread that seafaring men commonly eat: mention is before made of “meat” or “food”, which the apostle entreated them to take, which includes every sort of sea provisions they had with them; and which, with the ancients, were usually the following: it is certain they used to carry bread corn along with them, either crude, or ground, or baked; the former when they went long voyages, the last when shorter ones; and it is plain that they had wheat in this ship, which after they had eaten they cast out, Ac 27:38 and corn ground, or meal, they had used to eat moistened with water, and sometimes with oil, and sometimes with oil and wine; and they had a sort of food they called “maza” which was made of meat and milk; likewise they used to carry onions and garlic, which the rowers usually ate, and were thought to be good against change of places and water; and they were wont to make a sort of soup of cheese, onions and eggs, which the Greeks call “muttootos”, and the Latins “mosetum”; and they had also bread which was of a red colour, being hard baked and scorched in the oven, yea it was “biscoctus”, twice baked x; as our modern sea biscuit is, and which has its name from hence, and which for long voyages is four times baked, and prepared six months before the voyage is entered on; and such sort of red bread or biscuit very probably was this, which the apostle now took into his hands, and did with it as follows:
and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and for them all, as Christ did at ordinary meals, Mt 14:19.
and when he had broken it he began to eat: which was all agreeably to the custom and manner of the Jews, who first gave thanks, and then said “Amen”, at giving of thanks; when he that gave thanks brake and ate first: for he that brake the bread might not break it until the “Amen” was finished by all that answered by it, at giving of thanks; and no one might eat anything until he that brake, first tasted and ate y.
x Vid. Scheffer. de Militia Navali Veterum, l. 4. c. 1. p. 252, 253, 254. y T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 47. 1. Zohar in Num. fol. 100. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gave thanks to God ( ). First aorist active indicative of from which our word “Eucharist” comes. It was saying grace like the head of a Hebrew family and the example of Paul would encourage the others to eat. Probably Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus had memories of the Lord’s supper (Ac 2:42) while to others it was only an ordinary meal (Lu 24:30).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And when he had thus spoken,” (eipas de tauta) “Then as he was saying these things,” making these remarks.
2) “He took bread and gave thanks to God,” (kai labon arton eucharistesen to theo) “He also took bread and gave thanks to God,” assuming the lead, he took a loaf and gave a prayer of triumphant thanks, as if deliverance had already come, the deliverance God had promised, Act 27:24. Prayer is always appropriate, before partaking of food, Mat 15:36.
3) “In presence of them all: (enopion panton) “in the presence or (before the face) of them all;- Aboard the ship in the midst of the still raging storm, he openly prayed aloud in a prayer of thanksgiving for the prevailing, over ruling mercy and goodness of God, Joh 6:11.
4) “And when he had broken it, he began to eat.” (kai klasas erksato esthiein) “And breaking the bread (for all) having blessed it, he began to eat,” with joy or good cheer. This was a common meal in which Paul took the lead to resuscitate, to re-strengthen all physically, this was in no way to be intended as a mass partaking of the Lord’s Supper, which is always restricted to a local congregation of baptized, fellowshipping-believers, in church colleague, in some special locality, 1Co 11:17-34.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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35. He took bread. That he may the better encourage them, by his own example, he taketh bread and eateth. Luke saith that he gave thanks, not only according to his daily custom, but because that served greatly to testify his boldness and good confidence. It is not to be doubted but that Paul himself did that when he took meat, which he commandeth other men; but now he doth not only testify his thankfulness, neither doth he only desire of God that he will sanctify the meat which he is about to eat; but he calleth upon God without fear, who is the author of his life, that those poor wretches, which were drenched in sorrow, might conceive some good hope. And he prevailed thus far, at least, that they gathered so much courage to them as to take meat, who had, through fear, forgotten to care for their life. −
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(35) He took bread, and gave thanks to God.The act was a common practice of devout Jews at the beginning and the end of meals. (See Note on Mat. 14:9.) To the heathen soldiers and sailors it was probably altogether new, and at such a moment must have been singularly impressive. The act of breaking bread, though in itself not more than the natural incident of such a meal, must at least have reminded the few Christians who were his companions of the more solemn breaking of bread with which they were familiar. (See Note on Act. 2:46.) For them the meal, if not strictly eucharistic, in the liturgical sense of that term, would be at least as an Agap, or feast of charity.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Gave thanks Not asking these heathen for the privilege of saying grace, he establishes a Christian family ordinance on pagan shipboard. Happy is it when strong character exercises its power for good. Too often it is the case that in evil company the Christian easily allows the wicked power to rule. In his bright serenity Paul makes no reproving allusion to the inhuman treachery of the sailors just before occurring.
Began to eat Inducing them by his example.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.’
Then he led by example and taking bread, deliberately and publicly gave thanks in the presence of them all, and breaking it, began to eat. This in itself was a kind of acted out prophecy. It was declaring the certainty that he, and they, would survive. Even in the midst of such extremity the habits of a lifetime persisted. He could not eat without remembering God and giving thanks. The likeness to the Lord’s Supper is striking. What he was doing symbolised to Luke’s readers that however severe the storms of life, by partaking of Christ men could be delivered from them and be saved.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 27:35-36 . Like the father of a family (comp. Luk 24:39 ) among those at table (not, as Olshausen and Ewald suppose, notwithstanding that most of the persons were heathens, regarding the meal as a Christian love-feast), Paul now, by way of formal and pious commencement of the meal, uttered the thanksgiving-prayer for the disposition towards, and relative understanding of, which even the Gentiles present were in this situation susceptible over the bread (Mat 14:19 ; Mat 15:36 ; Mar 8:6 ; Joh 4:11 ), broke it, and commenced to eat ( ). And all of them, encouraged by his word and example, on their part followed.
. ] partook of food . Comp. Herod. viii. 90. It is otherwise in Act 27:33 , with accusative.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
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.
Ver. 35. In presence of them all ] He was not ashamed of God’s service before those heathens. No more was Abraham who built an altar to his God wherever he came. That was the first work he did, not fearing the idolatrous Canaanites. A bold and wise profession is required of every Christian. It is no gold that glitters not.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
35. ] “Paul neither celebrates an (Olsh.), nor acts as the father of a family (Meyer), but simply as a pious Jew , who asks a blessing before he eats.” De Wette.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 27:35 . ., cf. Luk 22:19 ; Luk 24:30 , with intentional solemnity (Weiss, Weizscker). The words are sometimes taken to mean that Paul simply encourages them by his own example to eat. But Blass, see critical note, who comments “et oratione confirmat et exemplo,” adds in [419] text , i.e. , to Luke and Aristarchus, in which he sees a distinct reference to the cna sacra (so Belser). But quite apart from this reading in [420] the peculiar language of St. Luke seems to intimate such a reference. Olshausen and Ewald (so Plumptre) take the words to refer to the Agape , whilst Meyer (so Hackett) sees a reference to the act of the Jewish house-father amidst his household; but Wendt simply refers it to the act of a pious Jew or Christian giving thanks before eating a meal and sharing it, so Zckler. Bethge, more specifically, sees in the act a thanksgiving of a Christian to God the Father, an instance of what St. Paul himself recommends, Eph 5:20 , Col 3:17 , and both Felten and Knabenbauer apparently prefer to interpret the words as marking Paul’s reverence towards God before the Gentiles around him. Breusing shows, p. 196, that might = panis nauticus , but in the passage which he quotes from Lucian we have .
[419] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.
[420] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
when, &c. = having said these things, and taken bread, he.
gave thanks. Greek. eucharisteo. Only here and Act 28:15 in Acts. First occurance. Mat 15:36.
broken. Greek. klao. See Act 2:46.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
35.] Paul neither celebrates an (Olsh.), nor acts as the father of a family (Meyer), but simply as a pious Jew, who asks a blessing before he eats. De Wette.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 27:35. , he gave thanks) A public confession of the Lord.-, he began) There was the force of example even in this. Paul, taking food with good courage, imparts courage to those giving way to despair.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Saving Paul Saved Them All
Act 27:35-44
The sailors endeavored to head the vessel toward the mouth of a creek that appeared before them, but she ran aground and stuck fast. It was here that a new and unexpected peril confronted Paul and his fellow-prisoners. The soldiers proposed to kill them, lest they should swim ashore and escape; but the centurion, perhaps out of gratitude to the man to whom they all owed their lives, forbade the soldiers and ordered everyone to endeavor somehow to get to land.
It does not so much matter how we get to heaven, as that we get there. Some who trust most in ritual and ceremonies may get there on broken pieces of the ship, but happier are they who can cast themselves directly upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. It was a drenched and shivering group that stood on the shore on that chill November day. Thank God, our condition will be very different when we emerge on the shore of eternity after crossing the cold waters. And as we stand on the beach of the glassy sea, all of us will render praise to Him who has brought us safe home.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
and gave: Act 2:46, Act 2:47, 1Sa 9:13, Mat 15:36, Mar 8:6, Luk 24:30, Joh 6:11, Joh 6:23, Rom 14:6, 1Co 10:30, 1Co 10:31, 1Ti 4:3, 1Ti 4:4
in: Psa 119:46, Rom 1:16, 2Ti 1:8, 2Ti 1:12, 1Pe 4:16
Reciprocal: Mat 14:19 – he blessed Mar 6:41 – blessed Luk 9:16 – he blessed 1Co 15:57 – thanks
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 27:35-37. Paul led the way and began to eat, after giving thanks for the bread. The group of 276 persons then took courage and also partook of the food.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 27:35. He took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. It is difficult to believe that there was not at this moment in his mind a reminiscence of the Sacred Eucharist, especially when we observe that the breaking of the bread is specified. See Luk 24:30; Luk 24:35.
He began to eat. He set the example. We see from what follows that this is by no means .unimportant.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 33