Acts 27 34

Acts 27:34 kjv

Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

Acts 27:34 nkjv

Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."

Acts 27:34 niv

Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head."

Acts 27:34 esv

Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."

Acts 27:34 nlt

"Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish."

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 34 Meaning

This verse is Paul's compassionate yet authoritative urging for all 276 individuals aboard the storm-battered ship to partake of food for their physical well-being. He underscores the immediate necessity for sustenance, ensuring their strength to face the ongoing ordeal and explicitly reaffirms God's divine promise that not a single life will be lost and indeed, every individual will be completely preserved, down to the very hairs of their heads. It demonstrates Paul's practical leadership and unwavering faith in God's word even amidst extreme peril.

Acts 27 34 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's arduous sea voyage as a prisoner being transported to Rome to appeal to Caesar. The ship, with Paul and a centurion named Julius, departs with other prisoners. Paul advises against sailing further due to dangerous conditions (v. 9-10), but his warning is ignored. They soon encounter a devastating storm, the "Euroclydon" (v. 14), which drives the ship helplessly for days, causing despair among all aboard. For fourteen days, no one had eaten due to the constant struggle, fear, and hopelessness. Paul receives a divine message through an angel, promising that though the ship would be lost, no lives would be. Paul recounts this vision to encourage everyone, exhorting them to take courage and promising complete safety (v. 21-25). After the sailors attempt to abandon the ship, Paul intervenes, stating that if they leave, the others cannot be saved (v. 30-32). Immediately after preventing the desertion and reinforcing the angel's message, Paul moves to the practical necessity of eating, providing the immediate backdrop for verse 34. This moment highlights Paul's emergent leadership and compassion within a desperate and religiously diverse group.

Acts 27 34 Word analysis

• Therefore (διὸ - dio): This Greek conjunction signifies a logical conclusion or inference based on what precedes. In this context, it connects Paul's previous affirmation of God's promise of safety (Acts 27:22-25) directly to the subsequent urgent appeal to eat. Because God has promised preservation, they now have a basis to take courage and nourish themselves.

• I urge you (παραιτῶ - paraitō): This verb is a strong appeal or entreaty, rather than an absolute command. While Paul had authority due to his prophecy and counsel, he used persuasion. This word can also mean to beg, refuse, or decline, but here, in the middle voice (παραιτῶμαι), it suggests a request made for one's own benefit, strongly implying a plea or strong suggestion that the listeners should accept for their good. It reflects Paul's loving concern, not mere dominance.

• to take some food (τροφῆς μεταλαβεῖν - trophēs metalabein): This phrase means literally "to partake of food." Τροφῆς (trophēs) is the genitive of τροφή (trophe), meaning "food" or "nourishment." Μεταλαβεῖν (metalabein) means "to get a share of, to partake of, to share." After fourteen days of stress, effort, and absence of normal meals (Acts 27:33), this exhortation emphasizes the critical need for physical sustenance. The act of eating together in ancient contexts often carried connotations of communion and shared humanity.

• for this is (τοῦτο γὰρ - touto gar): Γὰρ (gar) means "for," introducing an explanation or reason. Τοῦτο (touto) refers directly to the act of eating. Paul provides the rationale for his urgent request.

• for your health (σωτηρίας ὑμῶν ὑπάρχει - sōtērias hymōn hyparchei): Here, σωτηρία (sōtēria), commonly translated "salvation," is used in its physical sense of "preservation," "safety," or "well-being." Paul connects eating to their literal survival and capacity to endure. The act of nourishing the body would grant them the physical strength needed for the ordeal still ahead, making the promise of salvation physically possible for them to achieve. It contrasts with a purely spiritual "salvation" but underscores God's care for the whole person. Ὑμῶν (hymōn) means "your" (plural), addressing everyone on board. Ὑπάρχει (hyparchei) means "it is," "it exists as," emphasizing the reality of food's function.

• for not one of you (οὐδὲ γὰρ θρὶξ ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς οὐδενὸς ὑμῶν): This introduces another reason for the urgency to eat, reassuring them that they will survive, providing motivation. Οὐδὲ γὰρ (oude gar) intensifies the "for not one," reinforcing the certainty. Οὐδενὸς ὑμῶν (oudenos hymōn) means "of not one of you."

• shall lose a hair from his head (θρὶξ ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς...ἀπολεῖται - thrix apo tēs kephalēs...apoleitai): This is an ancient idiomatic expression and proverb (similar to Lk 12:7; Mt 10:30; 1 Sam 14:45) signifying total and complete preservation without the slightest damage or loss. The "hair" is the most insignificant part of the body, yet even this is divinely safeguarded. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and meticulous nature of God's promised protection for every single person. Ἀπολεῖται (apoleitai) is from ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), meaning "to destroy, perish, lose." Here in the passive future, it implies "will be lost."

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore I urge you to take some food": This grouping demonstrates Paul's blending of divine revelation with practical, compassionate leadership. His "urging" stems from God's guaranteed safety, but his care extends to their physical and psychological state, recognizing their weariness and hunger. It’s an exercise of spiritual authority applied to a very human need.
  • "for this is for your health": This clause directly links the physical act of eating to their 'survival' or 'preservation.' It underscores the pragmatic aspect of Paul's faith—trust in God doesn't negate human responsibility for self-care. Eating provides the necessary strength to execute whatever actions might be required for the promised preservation to come to fruition (e.g., swimming to shore, helping to secure the ship).
  • "for not one of you shall lose a hair from his head": This powerful promise serves as both an ultimate guarantee and an encouragement for immediate action. It reiterates the certainty of divine protection (referencing God's sovereign knowledge and care) and provides an unassailable reason for them to set aside their fear and partake of food, knowing their effort to survive will not be in vain. It assures total, meticulous preservation, bolstering their courage.

Acts 27 34 Bonus section

The communal breaking of bread (v. 35) immediately following Paul's urging holds significance beyond mere physical nourishment. For a Jew and a Christian like Paul, the act of "breaking bread" often carried sacred overtones, echoing meals shared with Christ or early Christian fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46; Acts 20:7). While not explicitly a communion service, Paul giving thanks to God before breaking bread in front of all, even the pagan sailors and Roman soldiers, likely conveyed his deep faith and may have prefigured for them a meal of grace or even a salvific encounter through his example. It served as a visible testimony to God's providence. This leadership move by Paul also established a moment of peace and trust amidst chaos, solidifying his authoritative presence among a diverse and desperate group of people. The act unified the diverse crew and passengers, regardless of their background or previous lack of hope, around a shared, essential, life-sustaining activity.

Acts 27 34 Commentary

Acts 27:34 reveals Paul as an exemplar of faith under pressure and a leader acutely sensitive to both spiritual truth and practical needs. After receiving an unequivocal divine promise of safety for all aboard, he doesn't merely rest in the revelation; he acts. Recognizing the passengers' and crew's physical and psychological exhaustion after fourteen days without eating, he wisely links God's promise to their need for sustenance. His "urging" (παραιτῶμαι) isn't a legalistic command but a compassionate appeal based on divine authority and loving concern, calling them to an act of faith through obedience.

The "health" (σωτηρία) he refers to is their physical preservation, essential for them to endure what is yet to come, and thus participate in their own deliverance. The promise of "not a hair... shall be lost" (a familiar idiom in both Old and New Testaments, denoting complete, meticulous preservation) is designed to alleviate their despair and instill confidence, allowing them to eat without fear or anxiety. This passage showcases that divine promises often require human cooperation—here, the simple act of eating to maintain strength. Paul's actions highlight that faith is not passive waiting but active, obedient trust, engaging with physical realities while anchored in spiritual assurances. This act of breaking bread, given Paul's spiritual identity, might even carry echoes of spiritual communion, demonstrating care for physical and spiritual aspects of life.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • In a personal crisis, taking care of one's physical health (eating, sleeping) while trusting in God's promises.
  • Leaders, in ministry or secular settings, attending to the holistic well-being of those under their charge—addressing immediate practical needs alongside spiritual encouragement.
  • Responding to an assurance from God (or through His Word) by taking necessary, wise actions that align with the promise.