Acts 27:36

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(36) Then were they all of good cheer.—The words present a striking contrast to the despair of Acts 27:20. The hearty cheerfulness (is it too colloquial a phrase to say the “pluck”?) of the Apostle had communicated itself, as by a kind of electric sympathy, to his companions. They looked to him as their friend and leader, and had spirits to eat once more.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:30-38 God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved, appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God's; we do not trust God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general, often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest distresses and dangers. The comfort of God's promises can only be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith, prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And gave thanks ... - This was the usual custom among the Hebrews. See the notes on Matthew 14:19. Paul was among those who were not Christians; but he was not ashamed of the proper acknowledgment of God, and was not afraid to avow his dependence on him, and to express his gratitude for his mercy.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

36. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat—"took food"; the first full meal since the commencement of the gale. Such courage in desperate circumstances as Paul here showed is wonderfully infectious.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Believing Paul’s words, promising in the name of that God whom he served, that they should all be preserved; believing, they did rejoice. Now Paul, a prisoner, a neglected and contemned person, comes to be valued and credited. Whilst they sailed with a prosperous gale, neither God, nor his poor prisoner and chained apostle, is thought upon; but in a storm or tempest they are glad to believe and follow his direction. God’s stars shine in the night, and are seen in affliction.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then were they all of good cheer,.... Encouraged by the apostle's words and example:

and they all took some meat; and made a comfortable meal, which they had not done for fourteen days past.

Geneva Study Bible

Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 27:36. τροφῆς: with a partitive meaning; cf. γεύσασθαι, Acts 23:14, μεταλαβεῖν, Acts 27:33, κορέννυσθαι, Acts 27:38. Cf. Herod., viii. 90. Luckock points out that St. Luke distinguishes between the bread of which the Apostle partook and the food, τροφῆς, taken by the rest, and certainly the expression κλάσας is remarkable, cf. Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; but it is perhaps noteworthy that the Romanist Felten (see above) sees no reference to the Eucharist, although he fully admits that this act of Paul in thus giving thanks must have made a great impression at such a moment.—εὔθυμοι, Acts 27:22, cf. 2Ma 11:26.—καὶ αὐτοί: “also themselves,” following his example. For the second time Paul had restored their courage by his faith and prudence; the event had already shown that he deserved confidence, and it is evident that he inspired it; see the testimony of Breusing, pp. 198, 199.

Wendt, so too Jüngst, and Clemen see no reason to regard Acts 27:33-36 as an interpolation in the “We” source, as Acts 27:21-26 above. Overbeck regards both sections as standing or falling together, and treats them both as interpolations, but Ramsay, whilst regarding the two sections as inseparably connected, treats them both as belonging to the original “We” source, and he rightly expresses surprise at those who accept Acts 27:33 ff., and refuse to accept Acts 27:21-26 (Saint Paul, p. 337); much more intelligible is the judgment of Weizsäcker than that of the other German critics in question when he describes the narrative as an indivisible whole, and considers it impossible to disentangle the mere history of travel from it, or to strip away the miraculous additions.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. all of good cheer] Paul’s hopeful spirit had breathed hope into the whole company, and doubtless the religious character infused into the meal was not without a calming influence.

took some meat] The “some” of the A. V. seems warranted by the genitive case in the original, and is therefore to be preferred to the “took food” of the R. V.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 36. - Themselves also took food for they also took some meat, A.V. Of good cheer (εὔθυμοι); see above, vers. 22, 25, notes. Acts 27:36