Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 27:10
And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
10. Sirs, I perceive that this ( R. V. the) voyage will be with hur, and much damage ( R. V. injury and much loss)]. Evidently the character of the Apostle had won him the regard and respect of those in charge of the vessel as well as of the centurion. He must have had some experience of sailing in the Mediterranean, and so was fitted to speak on the question which was now being debated. We should bear in mind too that he had seen more of perils by sea already than we gather from the Acts. For some time before this voyage to Rome, he wrote to the Corinthians (2Co 11:25), “Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.”
The verb rendered “I perceive” implies the results of observation, and does not refer to any supernatural communication which the Apostle had received. This is clear from the end of the verse where St Paul speaks of hurt to the lives of those on board, which did not come to pass (Act 27:44).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Sirs – Greek: Men.
I perceive – It is not certain that Paul understood this by direct inspiration. He might have perceived it from his own knowledge of the danger of navigation at the autumnal equinox, and from what he saw of the ship as unsuited to a dangerous navigation. But there is nothing that should prevent our believing also that he was guided to this conclusion by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Compare Act 27:23-24.
Will be with hurt – With injury or hazard. It is not meant that their lives would be lost, but that they would be jeoparded.
The lading – The freight of the ship. It was laden with wheat, Act 27:38. Paul evidently, by this, intended to suggest the propriety of remaining where they were until the time of dangerous navigation was past.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt, &c.] Paul might either have had this intimation from the Spirit of God, or from his own knowledge of the state of this sea after the autumnal equinox, and therefore gave them this prudent warning.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Paul did not say this so much by reason of the time of the year, and the tempests which do usually attend it, as by a prophetical spirit: God intending to provide for Paul in this tedious and difficult journey, endues him with the gift of prophecy; which (especially when they saw it verified) could not but beget a great respect toward him, and might be a means of salvation to many that were with him.
But also of our lives; so it had been, their lives had been lost as well as the ship and goods, had not God given the lives of all in the ship unto Paul, and saved them for his sake; as Act 27:24.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Sirs, I perceive, that thisvoyage will be with hurt and much damage, &c.not by anydivine communication, but simply in the exercise of a good judgmentaided by some experience. The event justified his decision.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive,…. Not only by the tempestuous weather which they had met with, and still continued, and which they must expect to have, if they continued on their voyage; but by a spirit of prophecy, which he was endued with, by which he foresaw, and so foretold, as follows;
that this voyage will be with hurt, and with much damage not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives; or of our persons, or bodies, that is, of the health of them; for certain it is that it was revealed to the apostle, that not one life should be lost; but yet through the shipwreck, what with the fright of it, and being in the water, much damage must accrue to their persons, as well as the ship and all its freight be lost.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I perceive [] . As the result of careful observation. See on Luk 10:18.
Hurt [] . The word literally means insolence, injury, and is used here metaphorically : insolence of the winds and waves, “like our ‘sport’ or ‘riot ‘ of the elements” (Hackett). Some take it literally, with presumption, as indicating the folly of undertaking a voyage at that season; but the use of the word in verse 21 is decisive against this.
Damage [] . Better, as Rev., loss. Hurt and damage (A. V.) is tautological. See on the kindred verb, notes on lose, Mt 16:26, and cast away, Luk 9:25.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And said unto them, Sirs,” (legon autois Andres) “Saying to them with repeated emphasis, ye responsible men,” in whose hands our 276 lives are held, Act 27:37.
2) I perceive that this voyage,” (theoro hoti ton ploun) “I perceive (calculate) that this voyage,” I theorize, based on personal observation and experience, not revelation, that this voyage you have charted, at this season of the year, that you are about to make, Act 17:22; Act 19:26; Act 21:20 use the term (Gk. theiro) in this sense. His observation was from personal, previous experience, as he had already written, 2Co 11:25.
3) “Will be with hurt and much damage,” (meta hubreos kai polles zemias) “Will be met with injury and much loss,” (mellein esesthai) “Is about to be,” with much hurt, injury, damage, and loss, for “He revealeth His secret unto His servants, the prophets,” Amo 3:7. This refers to injury inflicted by the elements in the tossing of the ship.
4) “Not only to the lading and ship,” (ou monon tou phortiou kai tou ploiou) “Not only of the cargo and of the ship,” from the violent tempest they later encountered for more than 14 days, Act 27:14; Act 27:21; Act 27:33-37.
5) “But also our lives.” (alla kai ton psuchon hermon) “But also (what is more important) of our lives,” being 276 in number, inclusive of sailors, prisoners, preachers, the centurion and shipmaster, captain of the crew. Paul “looked not on the things of his own,” to save his neck or life, but also on the interest of others, and said so on this occasion, Php_2:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(10) Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt.The tone is clearly that of a man who speaks more from the foresight gained by observation than from a direct supernatural prediction. St. Paul had had, it will be remembered, the experience of three shipwrecks (2Co. 11:25), and the Epistle to Titus, though probably written later, shows an acquaintance with Crete which suggests that he may have had some knowledge even of the very harbour in which they had found refuge. His advice accordingly was to remain where they were, in comparative safety, in spite of the drawbacks referred to in Act. 27:12. The word for hurt, which properly means outrage, is used here in the sense of a violent calamity.
Not only of the lading.The cargo probably consisted chiefly of corn coming from Alexandria to Rome. (Comp. Notes on Act. 27:18; Act. 27:38.)
But also of our lives.No lives were actually lost (Act. 27:44), but the Apostle speaks now, as above, from the stand-point of reasonable opinion. When his counsel was rejected he gave himself to prayer, and to that prayer (Act. 27:24) he attributes the preservation of his companions not less than his own.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. I perceive Not by revelation, as in Act 27:23, but by natural perception and inference.
Lives All escaped, so that Paul speaks not here as a prophet.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 27:10. Of the lading and ship, Or, of the cargo and ship.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 27:10-11 . ] when I view the tumult of the sea.
] A mixing of two constructions, of which the former is neglected as the speech flows onward. See Heind. ad Plat. Phaed . p. 63 C; Winer, p. 318 [E. T. 426]; Raphel, Polyb. in loc. Comp. on Act 19:27 , Act 23:23 f.
] with presumption . Paul warns them that the continuance of the voyage will not take place without temerity . Accordingly . contains the subjective, and ( ) . . . the objective, detriment with which the voyage would be attended. The expositors (Ewald, however, takes the correct view) understand . of the injuria or saevitia tempestatis . But as the definition tempestatis has no place in the text, the view remains a very arbitrary one, and has no corresponding precedent even in poets (comp. Pind. Pyth . i. 73: , Anthol. iii. 22. 58: ). The whole utterance is, moreover, the natural expression of just fear , in which case Paul could say without mistrusting the communication which he received in Act 23:11 ; for by the is affirmed, not of all, but only of a great portion of the persons on board. He only received at a later period the higher revelation, by which this fear was removed from him, see Act 27:23-24 . He speaks here in a way inclusive of others ( ), on account of their joint interest in the situation . A special “entering into the fellowship of the Gentiles” (Baumgarten) is as little indicated as is the assumption that he did not preach out of grief over the Jews. The present time and situation were not at all suitable for preaching.
] , , Oecumenius. So the opposite view of the steersman and the captain of the ship ( ) prevailed with the centurion. By reason of the inconvenience of the haven for wintering, the majority of those on board came to the resolution, etc., Act 27:12 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Ver. 10. But also of our lives ] Which every creature, from the highest angel to the lowest worm, maketh much of. Why is living man sorrowful? Lam 3:39 . As if the prophet should say, He hath cause to rejoice that he is yet alive amidst all his sorrows. A living dog is better than a dead lion. “Joseph is yet alive.” This was more worth to Jacob than all Joseph’s honour. It is the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed. Skin for skin, &c. It should not be grievous to any man to sacrifice his estate to the service of his life.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] From the use of here, and from the saying itself, it seems clear to me that Paul was not uttering at present any prophetic intimation, but simply his own sound judgment on the difficult question at issue. It is otherwise at Act 27:22-24 . As Smith remarks, “The event justified St. Paul’s advice. At the same time it may be observed, that a bay, open to nearly one half the compass, could not have been a good winter harbour.” (p. 47.)
is interpreted by Meyer as subjective ‘ accompanied with presumption on our part :’ but not to mention that this would be a very unusual sense, Act 27:21 , . . . , is decisive (De W.) against it.
] A mixing of two constructions, see Winer, edn. 6, 44. 8, remark 2. This is most flagrant in later writers, as Pausanias and Arrian, see Bernhardy, Syntax, p. 369; but is also found earlier, e.g. Plato, Charm., p. 165: . Isus, . . p. 57: See other references in Winer, 1. c.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 27:10 . : here used of the result of experience and observation, not of a revelation, cf. Act 17:22 ; Act 19:26 ; Act 21:20 . : anacoluthon. : forgotten by the number of words intervening in the flow of speech a vivid dramatic touch; cf. Xen., Hell. , ii., 2, 2, see Blass, Gram. , p. 279, Winer-Moulton, xliv., 8, A 2. , cf. Act 11:28 , Act 24:15 ; Act 24:25 , only in Luke, Simcox, Language of the N.T. , p. 120. , cf. Act 27:21 : “with injury and much loss,” A. and R.V. : used of the injury inflicted by the elements, injuria tempestatis, cf. Jos., Ant. , iii., 6, 4. : Anthol. , vii., 291, 3. : Grimm-Thayer renders “injury inflicted by the violence of a tempest,” and this well combines the active and passive shades of meaning; for the passive signification of cf. 2Co 12:10 . : only elsewhere in Paul, cf. Phi 3:7-8 . : occurs regularly with the infinitive in the N.T. instead of , Burton, p. 183. , see critical note, if we read the word which is dim. in form not in significance is often found of the freight of a ship; but see also Blass and Wetstein, in loco , for distinction between and .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Sirs. Greek aner. App-123. Compare Act 7:26; Act 14:15; Act 19:25.
perceive. Greek. theoreo. App-133.:11.
voyage. Same as “sailing” in Act 27:9.
will = is about to.
hurt. Greek. hubris. Only here, Act 27:21. 2Co 12:10.
damage = loss. Greek. zemia. Only here, Act 27:21. Php 1:3, Php 1:7, Php 1:8.
lading = cargo. Greek. phortos. Only here; but the texts read phortion, as in Mat 11:30; Mat 23:4. Luk 11:46. Gal 1:6, Gal 1:5.
also of our lives = of our lives also.
lives. Greek. psuche. App-110.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] From the use of here, and from the saying itself, it seems clear to me that Paul was not uttering at present any prophetic intimation, but simply his own sound judgment on the difficult question at issue. It is otherwise at Act 27:22-24. As Smith remarks, The event justified St. Pauls advice. At the same time it may be observed, that a bay, open to nearly one half the compass, could not have been a good winter harbour. (p. 47.)
is interpreted by Meyer as subjective-accompanied with presumption on our part: but not to mention that this would be a very unusual sense, Act 27:21, . . . , is decisive (De W.) against it.
] A mixing of two constructions, see Winer, edn. 6, 44. 8, remark 2. This is most flagrant in later writers, as Pausanias and Arrian,-see Bernhardy, Syntax, p. 369; but is also found earlier, e.g. Plato, Charm., p. 165: . Isus, . . p. 57: See other references in Winer, 1. c.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 27:10. , unto them) to the centurion and the rest.–) sometimes has an infinitive. Polybius writes, , . Raphelius adduces more instances from him.-) , Latin injuria, is often said with respect to one suffering who had not deserved the injury, even though the operating (agent) cause be not culpable. This word, , especially has regard to the ship: has regard both to the ship and to the souls in it.- ) makes the language modal [see Append. Sermo Modalis], is likely to be, is liable to be: and savours of modesty. [He does not expressly say that it ought or must be done; with which comp. Act 27:21; but merely indicates the danger impending from the course which they were choosing to adopt. So also in Act 27:31.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
I perceive: Act 27:21-26, Act 27:31, Act 27:34, Gen 41:16-25, Gen 41:38, Gen 41:39, 2Ki 6:9, 2Ki 6:10, Psa 25:14, Dan 2:30, Amo 3:7
damage: or, injury, Act 27:20, Act 27:41-44, 1Pe 4:18
Reciprocal: Act 14:15 – Sirs
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 27:10. I perceive is from THEOREO, and the several definitions in the lexicon present the idea of a conclusion based on what one has seen or can see, in connection with his better judgment. From such a basis, Paul advised that it would be a risk to both their lives and to the ship for them to sail.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 27:10. Hurt and much damage, i.e. risk of injury and great loss.
But also of our lives. St. Paul, with his customary good sense, uses an argument which would appeal forcibly to every one who heard him, whether concerned or not with the cargo or with the management of the ship (see below, Act 27:31).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 9
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 10
I perceive; I am convinced.–Of our lives; that is, that it will endanger our lives.