Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Acts 27:33-37

33-37. while day was coming on--"until it should be day"; that is, in the interval between the cutting off of the boat and the approach of day, which all were "anxiously looking for" (Ac 27:29).

Paul--now looked up to by all the passengers as the man to direct them.

besought them all to take meat--"partake of a meal."

saying, This is the fourteenth day ye have tarried--"waited for a breathing time."

having eaten nothing--that is, taken no regular meal. The impossibility of cooking, the occupation of all hands to keep down leakage, &c., sufficiently explain this, which is indeed a common occurrence in such cases.