The term describes a period of going without food, not as a chosen spiritual exercise but as the result of circumstances so pressing that normal eating is set aside. It highlights physical depletion and suspense during crises and stands in contrast to voluntary fasting practiced for worship or penitence.

Occurrence in Scripture

Acts 27:21 records the sole New Testament use: “After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have followed my advice…’ ” (Berean Standard Bible). The same scene notes fourteen days of continuous stress without nourishment (Acts 27:33).

Historical Setting of Acts 27

Paul, under Roman guard, is sailing toward Italy at the perilous end of the Mediterranean season. A violent nor’easter drives the vessel helplessly for two weeks, stripping the crew of time, appetite, and hope. Ancient mariners commonly fasted during storms, partly from fear and partly because seasickness and unrelenting labor suppressed all desire for food. Such involuntary abstinence magnifies the tension before God’s deliverance.

Paul’s Leadership amid Crisis

Though a prisoner, Paul becomes the moral center of the ship.
• Admonition: He recalls his earlier warning (Acts 27:10–11) and interprets the disaster as a lesson in heeding godly counsel.
• Encouragement: “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost” (Acts 27:22). His assurance rests on a direct angelic message (Acts 27:23–24), underscoring prophetic authority even in secular settings.
• Practical care: He later breaks bread, gives thanks to God publicly, and urges all to eat (Acts 27:33–36), joining spiritual confidence with practical wisdom.

Theological Reflections

1. Providence in Physical Weakness: Scripture often pairs human frailty with divine intervention (Exodus 16:2–4; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Here, emptiness of stomach parallels utter dependence on God.
2. Obedience and Deliverance: The sailors’ initial neglect of Paul’s counsel leads to hardship, yet God’s mercy preserves them once they submit (Acts 27:31–32).
3. Witness under Trial: Paul models Christlike service; his thanksgiving meal anticipates communion themes—sustenance provided in the midst of danger.

Connections with Fasting in Scripture

Voluntary fasts (Ezra 8:21; Matthew 6:16; Acts 13:2–3) seek spiritual focus, whereas the abstinence in Acts 27 is involuntary. Both, however, accent the truth that “man shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). The episode illustrates how even unplanned deprivation can become a context for divine revelation and renewed faith.

Practical and Pastoral Applications

• Crisis Chaplaincy: Believers serving in disasters can echo Paul by combining practical help with gospel assurance.
• Encouragement to the Anxious: Lengthy seasons of stress often rob appetite; Acts 27 validates the experience and directs attention to God’s sustaining promises (Philippians 4:6–7).
• Leadership Under Pressure: Spiritual authority is confirmed not by position but by faith, courage, and sacrificial service.

Related Words and Distinctions

Greek 3521 refers to intentional fasting; Greek 3523 to hunger as a condition. Strong’s Greek 776 uniquely captures enforced abstinence during danger, emphasizing severity rather than piety.

Summary

The single New Testament appearance of this term crystallizes a moment when physical depletion sets the stage for divine reassurance and exemplary leadership. It reminds the church that God often speaks most clearly when natural supports fail, turning enforced hunger into a testimony of providence, courage, and ultimate rescue.