Acts 27:23

Friday, 10 May 2024

“For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, Acts 27:23

A bit more literally, it reads, “For a messenger of the God stood by me this night, whose I am and whom I serve” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul told those gathered on the ship to be of good cheer because there would be no loss of life. Only the ship would be lost. Now, to explain how he knows this, he says, “For a messenger of the God.”

The Greek word aggelos means a messenger. It can be human or divine. In this case, there is no indication which it is. One could say, “Obviously it was a non-human angel from heaven because they are on a ship at sea.” However, it could be one of the two anointed ones noted in Zechariah 4, who are surely humans. As it is, a messenger of the God came to Paul and, he says, “stood by me this night.”

The words would otherwise be incredible unless one is willing to believe in the supernatural. How could a messenger come to a person on a ship that has been lost at sea for an extended period of time, even while the sea raged and roared around them?

And yet, this is the claim Paul has made. Therefore, those gathered must decide if he is bonkers or if he is telling the truth. The fact that the messenger waited this long, however, is its own sort of validation. Why would God allow the ship to be tossed around so long and then send a messenger, unless what he says to Paul is true?

The people had, as it said already, given up all hope of being saved. And yet, there is suddenly a ray of hope shining through to them. With their physical and mental strength completely used up, this would have a much more profound effect on them. Where their works had failed them, a note of grace is extended from above, and it has come from the God, as Paul says, “whose I am and whom I serve.”

Paul is a Hebrew. The people on the ship would probably have known this. But at least those in charge were aware of it. The words are not unlike the account of Jonah. There is a difference, however. In Jonah, the remedy was to cast Jonah into the sea. That was an anticipatory type of Christ. With Paul, he is a servant of Christ Jesus.

Instead of being the instrument of the salvation of those on the ship, as Jonah was when he was cast into the sea, Paul’s God will bring about their salvation apart from any effort of, or use for, Paul. The types of the past, seen in Jonah, are no longer needed. Christ has come. Paul serves Him, and He will provide the delivery.

Life application: Notice the difference in the KJV and NKJV in these words –

KJV – the angel of God.

NKJV – an angel of the God.

In the Greek, there is no article before angel (messenger), but there is one before God. Therefore, either way, the KJV is wrong. However, the NKJV, despite having the articles right, might lead someone to a false understanding of what the intent of Paul’s words is. Look now at the difference between the placement of the words by the NKJV, the YLT, the SLT, and the CGT –

NKJV – For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.

YLT – for there stood by me this night a messenger of God -- whose I am, and whom I serve.

SLT – For the messenger of God stood by me in this night, whose I am, and whom I serve.

CGV – For a messenger of the God stood by me this night, whose I am and whom I serve.

The NKJV directly connects the words “of the God” to “to whom I belong and whom I serve. This could then lead to a false conclusion, that Paul’s God is one of many.

Regardless of the use of the article before God, the other three separate the thoughts. Thus, it separates the thought of God and man in the mind of the reader. The SLT and YLT chose not to include the word “the” before God.

This is a common way of treating the article when it is before God, especially in a verse where it is understood that there is one God. However, including the article as the CGT does is perfectly acceptable because of the separation of the God and Paul in the clauses.

As for the article before “messenger” in the SLT version, that is incorrect and should not have been included. Likewise, the word “there” in the YLT should have been italicized as it is not in the Greek. Despite this, the order of the words in the Greek is more closely matched by the YLT than the CGT.

Here is the exact order of the Greek: 

παρέστη γάρ μοι τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ οὗ εἰμι ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω

(Stood by) for me the night this messenger the God whose (I am) whom and (I serve).

Now it is your turn to look at the words and see how you would make them fit both the intent and the English so that it is understandable. Test at 9. Be ready...

Lord God Almighty, may we carefully and respectfully contemplate Your word. There is intent in how it is presented, but there is also a need for it to be understandable to us. Help us to have the two match in our minds so that our thoughts about You are correct. We want to know You and Your word intimately. So be with us in our time in fellowship with You through Your word. Amen.