But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
But after long abstinence. A large ship loaded with wheat could not have been in want of provisions during such a voyage, even for such a number as it had on board. But the impossibility of cooking, and the constant occupation and engrossment of all hands, would put regular meals out of thought. 'The hardships (says Mr. Smith) which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from labouring at the pumps, and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described.'
Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me - not meaning by this to reflect on them for the past, but only to claim their confidence for the future.
And not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss - `and so have been spared this turmoil and damage.' To 'gain a loss' is, in Greek and Latin, to avoid it (as Humphry says). The word "harm" here [hubris (G5196 )] seems to refer, not to actual injuries done either to the persons or the ship, but to the tear and wear of mind and body occasioned by the violence of the storm; while "loss" [ zeemia (G2209)] points to the damage and loss which the ship and its cargo had sustained.