Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. 'For the last fourteen days,' he said, 'you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food-you haven't eaten anything.' - As dawn approaches, Paul shifts from warning to nurture. 'Urged them to eat' (parakaleo phagō, parakaleo phagō-'exhort to eat') shows pastoral care. His reference to 'fourteen days' (tessareskaidekaēmera, tessareskaidekaēmera) and 'constant suspense' (asitia, asitia-'fasting, going without food') acknowledges their ordeal. The soldiers and sailors have not eaten from fear, exhaustion, and despair. Paul's exhortation to eat is exhortation to hope.

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