Atos 27
Theophylact of Ohrid
Atos 27:2
Aristarchus is profitably present and accompanies Paul, since he must report in Macedonia everything that happened to Paul. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:3
"Julius, treating Paul kindly." And it was natural to lead and support Paul, who was weighed down by chains and fear. Notice how the writer does not conceal the fact that Paul was in need of care for himself. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:6
A ship, he says, "Alexandrian, sailing to Italy." Probably they too had departed for Asia Minor to announce what had happened to Paul, as Aristarchus had for Macedonia. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:9
I think Paul is speaking here of the Jewish fast, since he had departed a long time after Pentecost, so that he arrived at the borders of Crete almost by winter. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:10
But to show that he is not prophesying, but speaking by conjecture, he expresses himself thus: "I perceive," – because they would not have immediately believed him even if he had said this as a prophet. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:11
The Evangelist says that "the centurion trusted the helmsman and the captain of the ship more." He did this on the assumption that one should rather listen to people experienced in sailing than to a passenger inexperienced in this matter. Thus, this was an error of his mind, not of fortune. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:21
After such a prolonged storm, he addresses them not with reproach, but wishes that in the future they would believe him, and presents what happened as testimony to the truth of what he had told them. Then he predicts two things, namely: that the ship will perish, but those on it will be saved, and that they will be cast upon an island. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:24
"Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you." Behold, if it were not for Paul, all who were in the ship would have had to perish. Thus, what was said by Homer is false: Homer says that it is impossible to escape the mortal fate that determines the hour of a person's death together with their birth. But consider: if all were destined to perish, then, by ordinary reckoning, Paul too should have perished, having spent so many days at sea without food! Yes, the false mind said: "Neither the brave man (that is, the valiant) nor the coward escapes fate"… Something entirely different is said in Scripture, namely: "The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead" (Prov. 11:8). Thus, God granted the souls to Paul, but the ship with everything on it perished. In this way, the ungodly are saved this time for the sake of the righteous. It also happens that the ungodly person perishes prematurely because of his own ungodliness, as Ecclesiastes says: "Do not give yourself over to sin, and do not be foolish: why should you die before your time?" (7:18). — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:32
"Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat." God arranged it so that Paul was not believed at first, but was believed after his words were tested by experience; which is what happened. Look: the centurion believes Paul to such an extent that he allows the boat to be destroyed; the sailors, however, did not yet believe, but believed afterwards, since these people were poorly educated. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:35
That Paul began to eat was so that he would not die of hunger. "Having taken bread, he gave thanks to God" for what had happened. The order of the Eucharist also teaches us to say the same thing: "We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast vouchsafed us…" — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:40
They loosened the ropes when day came; and by day the ship is also taken down, so that those on board would not perish from fear and so that they might see the fulfillment of the prophecy. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 27:42
It should be noted that they kill someone voluntarily, and fate cannot prevent the commission of murder. So then, the soldiers voluntarily decide upon the act of murder and proceed to carry it out; however, having obeyed the centurion, they again and likewise voluntarily abandon their intention. They could have disobeyed the centurion, since there were many of them and strength was on their side, but the will and free desire do what they want and do not do what they do not want. — Commentary on Acts