Acts 27 25

Acts 27:25 kjv

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

Acts 27:25 nkjv

Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Acts 27:25 niv

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

Acts 27:25 esv

So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Acts 27:25 nlt

So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 25 Meaning

Acts 27:25 conveys Paul's unwavering assurance and exhortation to the fearful crew and passengers amidst a deadly sea storm. He commands them to "take heart" (be courageous), grounding this imperative not in circumstances or human strength, but in his personal faith in God. This faith is founded upon a direct, divinely revealed promise that God would unfailingly bring to pass precisely what He had communicated to Paul. It is a declaration of divine faithfulness and a call to trust God's Word over all visible threats.

Acts 27 25 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's harrowing sea voyage to Rome as a prisoner. From the outset, Paul, guided by divine insight, had warned against sailing due to the dangerous season (v. 9-10). His counsel was disregarded by the centurion, who trusted the pilot and owner of the ship. Consequently, they encountered a violent northeastern storm called Euraquilo (v. 14), which relentlessly battered the ship for days, driving it without control and stripping away all hope of rescue (v. 18-20). In the depths of despair, without sun or stars visible, and after prolonged abstinence from food, Paul emerges as the spiritual leader. The immediate context for verse 25 is Paul revealing that an angel of God appeared to him during the night (v. 23-24), reaffirming that he must stand before Caesar and that God had granted him the lives of all who were sailing with him. Acts 27:25 is Paul's personal declaration, built on this divine assurance, calling the demoralized crew and passengers to share in his newfound, God-given courage.

Acts 27 25 Word analysis

• So take heart, men, (διὸ εὐθυμεῖτε, ἄνδρες, dio euthymeite, andres)

  • So (διὸ, dio): Connective adverb, meaning "therefore" or "wherefore." It logically links Paul's preceding revelation of the angel's message (Acts 27:23-24) to this exhortation. It signifies that the basis for their courage is the divine intervention just mentioned.
  • take heart (εὐθυμεῖτε, euthymeite): Imperative mood, plural verb, directly commanding courage or cheerfulness. The root word euthumos means "well-spirited," "cheerful," "courageous." This isn't just a suggestion but a firm injunction, indicating that discouragement is a choice they must overcome. Its significance lies in contrasting their visible despair (no hope, v. 20) with a divinely inspired hope that changes their emotional state. In Greek literature and philosophy, cultivating euthymia was often seen as a virtue, but Paul grounds it in God, not Stoic self-control.
  • men (ἄνδρες, andres): Direct vocative address, calling specific attention to his male listeners among the crew and soldiers. It adds a direct, personal, and authoritative tone to his address to those most responsible for the ship's operation and security, yet now most hopeless.

• for I have faith in God (πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ, pisteuō gar tō Theō)

  • for (γὰρ, gar): Causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for." It introduces the reason for Paul's command to "take heart." Their hope should stem from his belief, which is founded on a higher source.
  • I have faith (πιστεύω, pisteuō): First person singular, present active indicative verb, meaning "I believe," "I trust," "I have faith." It denotes Paul's deep, personal, and ongoing conviction. His faith is not wishful thinking but an active trust in the reliability of God. It's a conviction that empowers his words and distinguishes him as a man of spiritual authority.
  • in God (τῷ Θεῷ, tō Theō): Dative case of ho Theos, referring to the one true God. This clarifies the object and ultimate source of Paul's faith and the subsequent promise. It stands in stark contrast to any reliance on pagan deities or human efforts, which would have been common for sailors in that era. It subtly challenges the superstitious and polytheistic views of many on board, presenting a God who is both omnipotent and personal.

• that it will happen just as he told me. (ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται καθ’ ὃν τρόπον λελάληται μοι.)

  • that it will happen (ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται, hoti houtōs estai): This phrase asserts absolute certainty.
    • that (ὅτι, hoti): Conjunction introducing a declarative clause, often translated as "that" or "because."
    • it will happen (ἔσται, estai): Third person singular, future indicative of eimi ("to be"). It signifies a future event that is absolutely certain to occur. It's a statement of fact, not possibility or wish. This expresses prophetic certainty derived from divine utterance.
  • just as (καθ’ ὃν τρόπον, kath' hon tropon): This idiomatic phrase means "according to the way," or "just as," emphasizing precise and accurate fulfillment. The outcome will exactly match the divine pronouncement, underscoring God's meticulousness and His power to bring His word to precise fruition.
  • he told me (λελάληται μοι, lelalētai moi): Third person singular, perfect passive indicative of laleo ("to speak"), with the dative moi ("to me"). The perfect tense "it has been spoken" signifies a completed action with continuing results—the divine word remains spoken and is now established. The passive voice implies that God is the active agent in speaking, reinforcing divine initiative and authority. It clearly indicates Paul received direct communication from God (via the angel, Acts 27:23), giving his words irrefutable authority and a prophetic weight.

Acts 27 25 Bonus section

• Divine Intervention as a Prophetic Act: The angel's appearance to Paul is not merely comfort, but a prophetic declaration. Paul, in turn, functions as God's messenger to convey this word to those around him, making this verse a mini-prophecy delivered and then fulfilled in subsequent verses (shipwreck, no loss of life).
• Contrasting Paganism with Monotheism: In the Roman world, seafarers often appeased numerous gods (Poseidon, Castor and Pollux) for safe passage, or saw storms as fate or the capricious wrath of deities. Paul's declaration boldly presents one God who has a definite, controllable plan, challenging the fragmented and unreliable worldview of polytheism and fatalism common on the ship.
• The Power of a Godly Leader: Paul's conviction dramatically shifts the atmosphere from despair to a cautious hope among the desperate people. His example demonstrates how an individual rooted in divine truth can inspire courage and a renewed sense of purpose even in the most dire human crises. His concern for their lives goes beyond merely saving his own; it's a testament to the selfless nature of God-given leadership.
• God's Purpose Endures All Obstacles: This verse, and indeed the whole narrative of Acts 27-28, vividly illustrates that no earthly power, natural disaster, or human error can thwart God's ultimate plan (Paul testifying in Rome, Acts 23:11).
• "Just as He Told Me": This phrase emphasizes the precision of God's word and the meticulous fulfillment of His promises. It is a testament to the fact that God not only will do what He says, but exactly as He says, down to the details (like not one life being lost).

Acts 27 25 Commentary

Acts 27:25 captures the dramatic pivot from utter human despair to divine-sourced hope. Paul, the prisoner, transcends his circumstances to become the true authority and source of encouragement in a hopeless situation. His command to "take heart" is not empty rhetoric but an imperative flowing from an unshakable personal conviction—faith in God. This faith is neither subjective optimism nor a generic belief but a precise, divinely confirmed trust in a specific promise just delivered by an angel: that God's will for Paul to reach Rome, and for the safety of all with him, would be meticulously fulfilled.

This verse powerfully highlights several theological truths:

1. God's Sovereignty and Faithfulness: It underscores God's absolute control over natural forces, human decisions, and future events, demonstrating His unfailing commitment to His divine plan and word (cf. Num 23:19).
2. The Authority of Divine Revelation: Paul's assurance rests on a direct communication from God. The phrase "it has been spoken to me" invests his subsequent exhortation with prophetic weight, demanding unquestioning trust from his audience.
3. The Nature of True Faith: Paul's faith is not merely intellectual assent but a profound reliance on God's character and word, powerful enough to stand firm amidst overwhelming, tangible dangers. This faith empowers him to lead and comfort when all human remedies have failed.
4. Leadership through Spiritual Conviction: Paul, physically weak and a prisoner, emerges as the ultimate leader because his authority is spiritual and divine. He offers the one truly dependable anchor in a chaotic world—the promises of God. His leadership models how spiritual conviction can infuse courage into those around us in desperate times.

The verse is a practical lesson that courage in the face of insurmountable odds comes not from self-effort or favorable circumstances, but from resting on God's unfailing word, even when all seems lost.