After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it, and began to eat.
- KJV And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
- NKJV And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
- NASB Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat.
- NLT Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul takes bread, gives thanks to God before all, breaks it, and begins to eat.
Overview
Paul openly thanks God for the food in front of the pagan crew, a public act of worship and witness. His calm gratitude amid danger testifies to his faith and encourages the frightened men. While reminiscent of table customs, the gesture here is a heartfelt thanksgiving that points others to the God who provides and saves.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Matt 15:36Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
- 1 Tim 4:3–4They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- 2 Tim 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Cor 10:30–31If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
- John 6:23However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
- Rom 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- John 6:11Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
- Matt 14:19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
- 1 Pet 4:16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- Luke 24:30While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
- Mark 8:6And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.
- Ps 119:46I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
- 1 Sam 9:13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”
- Acts 2:46–47With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
- Rom 14:6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 27:35 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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