Acts 27:33
What does Acts 27:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 27:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 27:33 means
As dawn nears, Paul urges all to take food, noting they have continued fasting for fourteen days. Exhaustion threatens their ability to act when opportunity comes. Paul’s pastoral care is practical: bodies must be strengthened to receive the deliverance God promised. He neither spiritualizes nor ignores physical needs. This verse shows his leadership in turning fear-bound passivity into readiness. Fasting here is not a virtue but a symptom of distress; eating becomes obedience to hope. Paul ministers to a mixed crowd—soldiers, sailors, prisoners—treating all as people worthy of care in view of the mercy God has pledged.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when dawn was near, Paul gave them all orders to take food, saying, This is the fourteenth day you have been waiting and taking no food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And till the day was about to be, Paul was calling upon all to partake of nourishment, saying, `Fourteen days to-day, waiting, ye continue fasting, having taken nothing,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when it began to be light, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued fasting, taking nothing.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And while it was drawing on to daylight, Paul exhorted them all to partake of food, saying, Ye have passed the fourteenth day watching in expectation without taking food.
Context
With the boat cut away and unity restored, the company must prepare for the final effort to reach land. Paul addresses their physical depletion, urging them to eat as dawn approaches. The next two verses will reinforce this appeal with a specific promise of safety, Paul’s public thanksgiving to God, and the company’s renewed cheer as they eat. This sequence bridges divine assurance and human readiness, equipping them for the coming beaching.
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