Acts 27:33

“And while the day was coming on, etc.] Between midnight and break of day: Paul besought them all to take meat; to sit down and eat a meal together: saying, this day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried; or have been waiting for, or expecting; that is, as the Arabic version expresses it, a shipwreck; for fourteen days past, ever since the storm begun, they had expected nothing but shipwreck and death: and continued fasting, having taken nothing: not that they had neither ate nor drank all that while, for without a miracle they could never have lived so long without eating something; but the meaning is, they had not eaten anyone regular meal all that while, had only caught up a bit now…”

“while day was coming on--"until it should be day"; that is, in the interval between the cutting off of the boat and the approach of day, which all were "anxiously looking for" (Act 27:29). Paul--now looked up to by all the passengers as the man to direct them. besought them all to take meat--"partake of a meal." saying, This is the fourteenth day ye have tarried--"waited for a breathing time." having eaten nothing--that is, taken no regular meal. The impossibility of cooking, the occupation of all hands to keep down leakage, &c., sufficiently explain this, which is indeed a common occurrence in such cases.”

“And while the day was coming on - At daybreak. It was before they had sufficient light to discern what they should do. To take meat - Food. The word “meat” was formerly used to denote “food” of any kind. That ye have tarried - That you have remained or been fasting. Having taken nothing - No regular meal. It cannot mean that they had lived entirely without food, but that they had been in so much danger, were so constantly engaged, and had been so anxious about their safety, that they had taken no regular meal, or that what they had taken had been at irregular intervals, and had been a scanty allowance. “Appian speaks of an army which for 20 days together had neither food nor sleep; by which…”

“Ye continue fasting, having taken nothing - No regular meal, through a deep sense of their extreme danger. Let us not wonder then, if men who have a deep sense of their extreme danger of everlasting death, for a time forget even to eat their bread, or to attend to their worldly affairs. Much less let us censure that as madness, which may be the beginning of true wisdom. Acts 27:34”

“27:33-35 Paul’s words and actions are those of a true leader who personally assesses a perilous situation, decides on action, and leads others in solving the problem (cp. Neh 1–3; contrast Jon 1). Paul’s positive example and strong faith in God (Acts 27:22-25) encouraged the others to eat and take heart.”

“while: Act 27:29 This: Act 27:27 Acts 27:34”