Acts 27:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this hopeless situation, Paul alone remains firm in spirit and calmly faces the danger they are undergoing. After gently reproaching them for not following his advice to remain at Crete, he encourages everyone. He urges them to be calm and to strengthen themselves with food. He assures them that not one soul on the ship will perish. Only the ship will be lost, while the people will be cast upon some island, for this had been revealed to him by an angel of God.

That the travelers had to be cast upon some island was either another revelation to Paul through the angel, though without indicating where they would be cast ashore, or a conclusion drawn by the Apostle from the angel's words. Or, finally, it was his own surmise. In any case, his word was fulfilled.

The encouragement given by the Apostle Paul to all his companions had to affect them especially now. He revealed that during the night there had appeared to him a messenger of the God whom he served.

It had been said that he, Paul, must appear before the emperor. For his sake God was sparing the others sailing with him, as though granting their lives to him. Paul fully believed this and urged everyone to take courage. He added that they all had to be cast upon an island.

After such a clear, firm, and definite assurance, it seems they should have believed the Apostle. This was especially so in view of his earlier exhortation, which they had not fulfilled, and for which all had suffered so much.