And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
ημεν δε εν τω πλοιω αι πασαι ψυχαι διακοσιαι εβδομηκοντα εξ
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
How was it known that so many people were sailing? Probably they were questioned as to why each one was sailing, and so everyone was counted. Of them Paul said, "Not one soul among you will perish." One had to possess perfect assurance to say that they would be saved.
Yet Paul's words inspired trust in him and encouragement in only a few on the ship, and least of all in the sailors. Therefore, after fourteen days of stormy sailing, signs appeared that the ship was approaching some shore.
They then wanted to escape from the ship by means of the boat. They hoped that if the ship were broken against the shore, they would not perish with the others.
Pretending that they wanted to cast anchors from the bow, they began to lower the boat into the sea. But Paul perceived their intention and told the centurion that, if the ship were left without sailors, salvation would be impossible.
Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat. After this it fell away and was driven by the waves from the ship.
Paul began to encourage and calm everyone with the assurance that not even a hair would perish from anyone's head. He urged them to take care to strengthen themselves with food.
After fourteen days of constant, desperate fear, which made them entirely forget food, this was absolutely necessary for everyone. This time Paul's words and example had their effect. All took courage and, following him, received food.
Giving an example to all, after prayer he began to eat, and everyone followed him, encouraged. Having been strengthened by food, they again set to work lightening the ship.
They did this so that they could bring it as close as possible to the supposed shore. This was all the more necessary because they now had no boat in which to approach the shore if the ship remained somewhat away, beyond the shallows.
"Throwing the wheat into the sea": probably not provisions, but cargo, although the Greek word is also used in the sense of provisions. "Two hundred seventy souls": cf. Acts 27:6.
Paul's example in eating bread stirred others to do the same. Before eating, the Apostle gave thanks aloud to God for granting the possibility of eating. Then, having broken the bread, he ate.
"See," says St. John Chrysostom, "how the thanksgiving which Paul offered to God for what had happened not only strengthened them, but also encouraged them. 'And we were in all,' he says, 'two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.'
How was it known that so many people were sailing? Probably they were questioned about why each was sailing, and they learned everything. One had to possess complete certainty in order to say that they would be saved.
"Do you see what good came from the storm? Therefore the storm was not the result of God's abandonment. But how did they endure it without food, tasting nothing?
Fear had seized them and did not allow them to feel the need for food, because they were in extreme danger. What happened came about because of the season.
Yet here the miracle is all the greater, because at such a time Paul himself was saved from the threatening danger, and so were the others through him. According to the natural order of things they could have perished, but God did not permit this."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS