Acts 27:21-25

 

Acts 27:21 (KJB)

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.

 

For a long time the 276 people who were on board the ship had abstained from food. It was probably because they would not want to become overly sea sick or that the food had been tossed overboard or was destroyed by the sea water entering into the ship. During the time where they were the most vulnerable to depression, Paul stood in their midst and tells them that they should have listened to him and remained at Crete for the winter and this way they would not be suffering all this loss of goods and possible harm to the people. Paul was not doing an “I told you so” but was about to give them some good news in the middle of disaster. He wanted to get them into the right mindset that he was right at the beginning so this way they would listen to what he had to say and not reject it outright.

 

Acts 27:22 (KJB)

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

 

If Paul did not remind them that his previous words were true, they may have rejected the good news that he was going to give them. In the midst of all this turmoil, Paul encourages everyone to be of good cheer. Paul then goes on to tell them that not one person will lose their life but only the ship will be lost.

 

Acts 27:23 (KJB)

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

 

Paul then continues stating that an angel of God had appeared to him and stood beside him. Paul then continues to say that he belongs to God as a servant of the true God and not one of the false Greek gods. So the information that he has for them is absolutely true and will not be deviated from in any measure, small or large. If God speaks it, then it will come to pass.

 

Acts 27:24 (KJB)

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

 

God confirms to Paul that he must stand before Caesar as a testimony and God has granted that all those who are on board this ship will live through the storm and the coming shipwreck. Up to this time it seemed all hope was lost but Paul must have found a small space where he could get alone with the Lord and pray. The leaders on board and the centurion could do nothing to help save this ship but the only reason that all the lives were to be saved because there was a man of God on board who still had divinely ordained work to do. It was for Paul’s sake that God spared the lives of everyone on that ship.

 

Acts 27:25 (KJB)

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

 

Paul had concluded his small message with the same way he started that everyone on board should be of good cheer that if God states something is going to happen a certain way, then it will happen just the way God decrees it. They should not fear the present situation because this bit of tribulation has already had its outcome decreed by God. Now that God had spoken to them, they could get their eyes off the storm and off of the discouraging circumstances and fix them on God. (Isa 26:3 KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

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