Acts 27 36

Acts 27:36 kjv

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

Acts 27:36 nkjv

Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.

Acts 27:36 niv

They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

Acts 27:36 esv

Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.

Acts 27:36 nlt

Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat ?

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 36 Meaning

Acts 27:36 describes the immediate positive response of everyone on board the distressed ship after Paul's confident exhortation and example. Following days of despair and fasting, all 276 individuals, including sailors, soldiers, and other prisoners, took courage and began to eat food. This act marked a critical turning point from despondency to renewed strength and a collective will to survive, fueled by Paul's faith-inspired leadership and God's prior promise of no loss of life.

Acts 27 36 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's perilous sea voyage as a prisoner en route to Rome. The ship encounters a fierce storm (a "Northeaster" or Euraquilo) that lasts for days, causing extreme distress. Hope for survival dwindles, and everyone on board, totaling 276 people, loses their appetite, fasting for a considerable time. In this context of abject despair, Paul, having received a divine revelation that no lives would be lost, steps forward to encourage everyone. He recounts the angelic visitation and God's promise, urging them to eat for their own survival. His faith-filled leadership culminates in him taking bread, giving thanks to God in front of everyone, and then eating. Verse 36 records the immediate and collective response to Paul's actions: their fear turns to renewed courage, and they all follow his example, partaking of food for physical sustenance, signifying a turning point from passive resignation to active participation in survival. This event highlights Paul's remarkable spiritual and practical authority, even as a prisoner, and God's faithfulness to His promises.

Acts 27 36 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): This Greek conjunction signifies a consequential timing, indicating that the action described directly follows and is a result of Paul's preceding words and actions (Acts 27:33-35). It marks a pivotal moment, shifting from despair to renewed hope.
• they all (πάντες - pantes): Emphasizes the universal impact of Paul's exhortation. It includes not just the few Christians or soldiers who respected Paul, but every single person aboard the ship—276 souls. This demonstrates the persuasive power of faith demonstrated through courageous leadership, transcending social distinctions (prisoners, centurion, crew, passengers).
• took courage (εὔθυμοι ἐγένοντο - euthymoi egenonto):
  • εὔθυμοι (euthymoi): meaning cheerful, courageous, in good spirits. This contrasts sharply with their previous state of hopelessness and fear, having "given up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20). Their mental and emotional state was transformed.
  • ἐγένοντο (egenonto): they became. This word indicates a definite change of condition or state. Their courage was not inherent but a newly acquired state, inspired by Paul's confident faith and the divine promise he conveyed.
• and also (καὶ αὐτοί - kai autoi): This phrase ("and they themselves") reinforces the active, personal participation of "they all." They did not just observe; they directly and individually followed Paul's lead, engaging in the necessary action.
• ate some food (προσλαβόντες τροφῆς - proslabontes trophēs):
  • προσλαβόντες (proslabontes): a participle meaning "having taken for themselves," or "having partaken of." It implies actively receiving or taking sustenance. It is more than passive eating; it is a conscious decision to partake for the sake of renewed strength.
  • τροφῆς (trophēs): means "food" or "nourishment." After days of not eating (Acts 27:21, 33), this act was crucial for their physical survival and the strength needed for the challenges still to come. It underscores the practical wisdom Paul imparted and the immediate need for physical restoration after prolonged stress and fasting.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Then they all took courage: This phrase powerfully links cause and effect. Paul's acts of faith and Thanksgiving immediately produced a widespread shift from despair to renewed mental strength across the entire group. This collective taking of courage is central to their continued survival narrative.
• and also ate some food: This demonstrates the practical manifestation of their newfound courage. Their transformed emotional state led directly to a life-sustaining physical action. It was a visible sign that Paul's words and example had broken through their paralysis of fear and brought about a unified, hopeful response necessary for their collective preservation.

Acts 27 36 Bonus section

The communal act of eating in this verse has parallels with the fellowship and "breaking of bread" practices in the early church (Acts 2:42, 46). While here it's primarily about physical sustenance in a crisis, Paul's specific actions of taking bread and giving thanks echoed practices that would be familiar to a Christian audience and carried implicit spiritual significance. His example served as a catalyst not just for physical action, but for a renewal of inner strength and purpose. The Greek word εὔθυμοι (euthymoi - courageous, cheerful) can also imply a state of cheerfulness that transcends external circumstances, often found in New Testament references to Christian resilience. This shared experience forged a temporary community of reliance, moving from self-preservation to a collective endeavor, initiated by one man's unwavering faith. This incident on the ship demonstrates how God can use His people, even those in chains, to bring hope, sanity, and even salvation (in terms of preserving life) to others who are lost and without hope.

Acts 27 36 Commentary

Acts 27:36 captures a crucial moment of spiritual and psychological recovery on board the storm-battered ship. Paul, though a prisoner, becomes the true leader, demonstrating courageous faith in God's word (Acts 27:23-25). His act of public thanksgiving for food, in the midst of extreme danger, was a profound witness. It shifted the atmosphere from desperate fatalism to hopeful action. The response of "they all took courage" highlights the contagious nature of faith and confident hope when clearly demonstrated. Their subsequent act of eating was not merely breaking a fast; it was an act of re-engagement with life, a physical embodiment of their revived spirit. This verse underscores that God often uses the courage and faithful actions of His servants to minister to others, inspiring practical steps towards survival even in dire circumstances. Paul’s leadership effectively united the disparate group—sailors, soldiers, and prisoners—under a common, divinely-inspired purpose, thereby paving the way for their eventual escape from the shipwreck. This is a timeless lesson in leadership, where faith provides both spiritual direction and practical sustenance in the face of overwhelming odds.