Acts 27:34

Act 27:34. Σωτηρίας, for your safety) that ye may be the stronger (the better able) for swimming to land.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act_27:34. ΙΙρὸς τῆς ὑμετ. σωτ.] on the side of your deliverance, e salute vestra, i.e. corresponding, conducing to your deliverance. Comp. Thuc. iii. 59. 1, v. 105. 3; Plat. Gorg. p. 459 C; Arr. An. vii. 16. 9. See on this use of πρός with the genitive (only found here in the N.T.), Bernhardy, p. 264; Winer, p. 350 [E. T. 467 f.]. Observe the emphatic ὑμετέρας; your benefit I have in view.

οὐδενὸς γὰρ κ.τ.λ.] assigns the reason for the previous πρὸς τ. ὑμετέρ. σωτηρίας. For your deliverance, I say, for, etc. In this case their own exertions and the bodily strengthening necessary for this purpose are conceived as conditioning the issue.

On the proverbial expression itself, which denotes their being kept utterly exempt from harm, comp. Luk_21:18; 1Sa_14:45; 2Sa_14:11; 1Ki_1:52.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 27:34 . διὸ : so that they might be ready for the work which would be necessary. προσλαβεῖν , see critical note. πρὸς : here only with genitive in N.T., cf. Blass, Gram. , p. 136; i.e. , stands, so to speak, on the side of our deliverance, Latin a parte, cf. Thuc., ii. 86; iii. 59; Plat., p. 459 C; Winer-Moulton, xlviii. f. ὑμετ ., emphatic. σωτ .: “safety,” R.V., only used here and in Heb 11:7 of the preservation of physical life, safety, so in classical Greek and in Greek medical writers, see on Act 16:17 ; “health,” A.V., not limited formerly as now to the condition of body and mind, cf. Luk 1:77 , “science of health” Wycliffe = “knowledge of salvation,” and cf. also Psa 67:2 , “thy saving health,” literally “thy salvation” (Humphry). Effort on their part was necessary, and yet no hair of their heads should perish; what a significant union of faith in God and self-help! (Bethge.) οὐδενὸς γὰρ … πεσεῖται , see Act 27:22 , cf. Luk 21:18 , nowhere else in N.T., but the proverbial phrase, as it apparently was, is found in 1Sa 14:45 , 2Sa 14:11 , 1Ki 1:52 ( cf. Mat 10:29 ), see critical note, and cf. Shakespeare, Tempest , Act 1 Scene 2.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

This is a proverb which the Hebrews use, whereby is meant, that they shall be safe, and not one of them perish.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health, for there shall not a hair fall from . . . any of you--On this beautiful union of confidence in the divine pledge and care for the whole ship's health and safety see on Act 27:31.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 34. A hair fall from the head] A proverbial expression for, ye shall neither lose your lives nor suffer any hurt in your bodies, if ye follow my advice.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(34) This is for your health.—Better, safety, or preservation. The Greek word is not that commonly translated “health,” and the translators seem to have used it in the wider sense which it had in older English. So, for example, in Wiclif’s version, “the knowledge of salvation” in Luk_1:77 appears as “the science of health.” Wiclif has “health” here also, and is followed by all the chief English versions, except the Geneva, which has “safe-guard.” What St. Paul means is that the preservation of his fellow-passengers depended on their keeping up their strength. The gracious assurance that followed was, as before, not independent of their co-operation.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

34. to take some meat] “Meat” in the older English was used for any kind of food, which is what the Greek signifies, “nourishment.” Therefore in these verses the R. V. has everywhere “food.”

this is for your health] [R. V. safety.] The R. V. is the better rendering of the Greek, and agrees with what has been said on Act_27:32. The men when they had eaten would be able to do more towards their own preservation.

there shall not a hair fall, &c.] The best MSS. have “perish” instead of “fall,” and so R. V. The phrase is a proverbial one to express complete deliverance. Cp. 1Sa_14:45; 2Sa_14:11; 1Ki_1:52; Luk_21:18.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And when he had thus spoken he took bread,.... A piece of bread, of common bread, into his hands; for this could never be the eucharist, or Lord's supper, which the apostle now celebrated, as some have suggested, but such sort of bread that seafaring men commonly eat: mention is before made of "meat" or "food", which the apostle entreated them to take, which includes every sort of sea provisions they had with them; and which, with the ancients, were usually the following: it is certain they used to carry bread corn along with them, either crude, or ground, or baked; the former when they went long voyages, the last when shorter ones; and it is plain that they had wheat in this ship, which after they had eaten they cast out, Act 27:38 and corn ground, or meal, they had used to eat moistened with water, and sometimes with oil, and sometimes with oil and wine; and they had a sort of food they called "maza" which was made of meat and milk; likewise they used to carry onions and garlic, which the rowers usually ate, and were thought to be good against change of places and water; and they were wont to make a sort of soup of cheese, onions and eggs, which the Greeks call "muttootos", and the Latins "mosetum"; and they had also bread which was of a red colour, being hard baked and scorched in the oven, yea it was "biscoctus", twice baked (x); as our modern sea biscuit is, and which has its name from hence, and which for long voyages is four times baked, and prepared six months before the voyage is entered on; and such sort of red bread or biscuit very probably was this, which the apostle now took into his hands, and did with it as follows:

and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and for them all, as Christ did at ordinary meals, Mat 14:19.

and when he had broken it he began to eat: which was all agreeably to the custom and manner of the Jews, who first gave thanks, and then said "Amen", at giving of thanks; when he that gave thanks brake and ate first: for he that brake the bread might not break it until the "Amen" was finished by all that answered by it, at giving of thanks; and no one might eat anything until he that brake, first tasted and ate (y).

(x) Vid. Scheffer. de Militia Navali Veterum, l. 4. c. 1. p. 252, 253, 254. (y) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 47. 1. Zohar in Num. fol. 100. 3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

34 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.

Ver. 34. Not an hair] A proverbial speech, Luk 21:18. See Mat 10:30. {See Trapp on "Mat 10:30"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Not a hair fall from the head ... - A proverbial expression, denoting “that they would be preserved safe; that none of them would be lost, and that “in their persons they should not experience the least damage,” 1Ki 1:52; 1Sa 14:45.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

This is for your health; that they might be stronger to endure that pain and perform that labour which was necessary towards their escape; for God would have them to use all means for their deliverance.

For there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you; a proverbial speech used by the Jews, as 1Ki 1:52, signifying that they should not suffer the least detriment in their bodies, much less the loss of their lives. Thus God numbereth our hairs, and his providence extendeth over every one of them, as Mat 10:30; Luk 21:18.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

34. Not a hair fall—Little as the sailors deserved such mercy, and little worthy as the soldiers would prove.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Beseech for pray, A.V.; food for meat, A.V.; safety for health, A.V.; a hair for a hair, A.V.; perish for fall, A.V. and T.R.. Take; here in the R.T. metalabein instead of proslabein of the T.R. Your safety; or, health; i. e. for the preservation of your lives in the impending struggle. Not a hair perish; or, according to the T.R., fall. It is uncertain whether ajpoleitai (R.T.) or peseitai (T.R.) is the right reading. The Hebrew proverb, as contained in 1Sa_14:45; 2Sa_14:11 1Ki_1:52, is, "fall to the earth" or "ground:" Eij peseitai trico (or, ajpov or twn tricwn) thv kefalhv aujtou ejpi thn ghn (LXX) in Luk_21:18, it is Qrix ejk thv kefalhv uJmwn ouj mhlhtai. (Luk_12:7) Absolute and complete safety is meant. He still speaks as a prophet.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

This is for your preservation - That ye may be the better able to swim to shore.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

See notes on verse 33

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

34. τοῦτο γὰρ πρὸς τῆς ὑμετέρας σωτηρίας ὑπάρχει, for this is for your safety; because the men when they had been strengthened by a proper meal would be able to do more towards their own preservation.

For πρός with a genitive, meaning ‘in the interest of,’ ‘to the advantage of,’ cf. Thuc. II. 86, ἡ ἐν στενῷ ναυμαχία πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίων ἐστίν.

οὐδενὸς γὰρ ὑμῶν θρὶξ ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἀπολεῖται, for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you. The phrase (with a variation between πεσεῖται and ἀπολεῖται) is a proverbial one to express complete deliverance. See LXX. 1Sa 14:45, ζῇ κύριος, εἰ πεσεῖται τριχὸς τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν. So 2Sa 14:11; 1Ki 1:52; and Luk 21:18.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.