Bible Strands
Acts 27:21
After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the soldiers, sailors, and prisoners aboard the ship during a prolonged storm that has obscured the sun and stars for many days. He rises before them after they have endured extended starvation.
The words — σταθεὶς (statheis) literally means "having stood up," and ἀσιτίας (asitias) denotes a "time without food." These terms mark Paul’s deliberate physical intervention amid the crew’s prolonged deprivation.
The thread — The pattern of ignored warnings leading to disaster echoes Reuben’s earlier rebuke in Genesis 42:22. The shared experience of hunger and thirst mirrors the despair described in Psalms 107:5.
Why it lands — The text records Paul’s factual reminder that he previously advised against departing Crete to avoid this exact crisis. It demands the reader acknowledge that divine warning requires human obedience to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 42:22 And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”
- Psalms 107:5 They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them.
- Acts 27:7 After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
- Acts 27:9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
- Acts 27:33 Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.