Acts 27:35
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. 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.
Sea travel in the first century carried peculiar hardship and peril, for mariners directed their course largely by the position of the sun and stars, and when those lights did not appear and there were indications of storm, owners of vessels feared to venture into the open sea, while during a portion of the year safe navigation was almost impossible. The thanksgiving took place while Paul was enduring trying experiences as a prisoner in chains on the long and tedious voyage to Italy, with the hardship of his lot greatly lightened by the permitted companionship of Luke and Aristarchus, Aristarchus sharing his bondage by choice that he might minister to him in his afflictions.
Aboard the storm-tossed ship at the most critical hour before the shipwreck, Paul remained courageous and hopeful despite the danger and worked to strengthen and encourage everyone on board. God used this sea journey so the ship's crew could witness His power through Paul and so others could hear about Jesus and believe. After fourteen days of tarrying and fasting with nothing taken, he urged both sailors and passengers to take food for their health, assuring them that not a hair would fall from the head of any of them.
He then gave thanks to God openly in the presence of them all, broke the bread, and began to eat himself. His example moved that worn and discouraged company of two hundred and seventy-five souls, who without him would have become desperate, to join him in partaking of food and to regain courage. When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by casting the wheat into the sea. The thanksgiving was echoed after the shipwreck, when Paul and the others gave thanks to God after all aboard survived and reached the shore of Melita.