“And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. Acts 27:22

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A literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And now, I admonish you to be cheerful, for there will be no off-casting of soul from you, except the ship” (CG).

Paul had just noted that those on the ship should have listened to him and stayed in Crete. By doing so, they would not have incurred the damage and loss that was now being experienced. Now, having set forth that his words are worth listening to, he will provide good news to the worn-out people before him, saying, “And now, I admonish you.”

Paul uses the same word, translated as “admonish,” that Luke used to describe Paul’s words in verse 27:9 –

“And much time having elapsed, and the sailing being already dangerous – and the Fast already passed by – Paul admonished” (CG).

This is the second and last time the word is used in Scripture, paraineó. It means to exhort or advise. However, HELPS Word Studies notes that it is “to urge acknowledging what is praiseworthy, i.e. ‘recommend, advise, urge.’” It is an up close and personal form of admonishment.

One can see that when Luke penned Acts, he remembered Paul’s word and used it in verse 27:9 when giving his narrative about what Paul would say now in verse 27:22. Luke’s precision of recording events and even single words is highlighted in this. Next, Paul says for them, “to be cheerful.”

It is another new word in Scripture, euthumeó. HELPS Word Studies says it is used “to show positive passion as it proceeds from a sound disposition.” It will be used again in verse 27:25 and once in James 5:13.

The people were certainly disheartened and dejected of soul, having (as it said in verse 20) no hope of being saved. But Paul now tells them to have this positive passion and be cheery in their disposition because, as he next says, “for there will be no off-casting of soul from you, except the ship.”

And, once again, Luke uses a new word, apobolé. It comes from two words meaning “away” and “cast.” Thus, “off-casting” is an exacting translation. This word is found only one more time, in Romans 11:15 when speaking of Israel –

“For if their being cast away [apobolé] is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

As for Paul’s words to the people, the good news is that no person’s soul would be cast away. Every person aboard would survive the ordeal. However, the bad news is that the ship would be lost. This then would mean that all of the cargo would be lost as well.

Those who owned and operated the ship would receive their lives as a prize, but nothing more. It is not unlike the word of the Lord spoken to Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch –

“The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 “You said, ‘Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.’”’

4 ‘Thus you shall say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’”’” Jeremiah 45:1-5

Life application: For those who owned the ship and/or the cargo, the lesson is similar to that of Acts 27:19. What value are the things of the world in comparison to life itself? If the ship were saved, but the owner was lost, it would mean nothing to the owner that the ship was saved.

And, like those on the ship, the Lord has said that He would lose none of those who would come to Him. Difficult times have come to many, but in the end, all will safely arrive on the promised shores of His safe haven.

Should you be facing great loss in some way, remember that this is a fallen world and that difficult times are inevitable. But God promises us something better. Hold fast to that thought should things get out of control. Wonderful times of rest are ahead for the weary soul.

Heavenly Father, may we hold fast to the sure promises that Your word has given us because of Jesus. No matter how good things are at any given moment, total loss or great sadness may be just around the corner. If we can remember to fix our eyes on Jesus now, then should such things come to pass, we will already have our attention focused properly. Help us in this, O God. Amen.