Acts 27:19

19 and on the third day with their own hands they cast away the ship furniture.

Acts 27:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:19

And the third day
From the time this storm began, and this tempestuous weather held:

we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship;
by which seems to be meant their naval stores and instruments, as sails, ropes, cables, anchors and yet we afterwards read of their anchors and main sail: it may be rendered, "the furniture of the ship"; and yet it cannot design the ship's provisions, at least all were not cast away; for afterwards mention is made of casting out the wheat into the sea: many versions render it, "the armament of the ship"; and the Ethiopic version adds, "and arms"; the soldiers' arms, and others which belonged to the ship, which were brought with them to defend themselves against an enemy: these, the historian says, "we cast out"; the Apostle Paul's company, Luke and others; but not without the leave and order of the centurion and governor of the ship: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, "they cast out": which seems most probable.

Acts 27:19 In-Context

17 which having hoisted up, they used helps, frapping the ship; and fearing lest they should run into Syrtis and run aground, and having lowered the gear they were so driven.
18 But the storm being extremely violent on us, on the next day they threw cargo overboard,
19 and on the third day with their own hands they cast away the ship furniture.
20 And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no small storm lying on us, in the end all hope of our being saved was taken away.
21 And when they had been a long while without taking food, Paul then standing up in the midst of them said, Ye ought, O men, to have hearkened to me, and not have made sail from Crete and have gained this disaster and loss.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.