Acts 27:38

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

Acts 27:38 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 27:38

And when they had eaten enough
] Were satisfied, having eaten a full meal:

they lightened the ship;
of its burden, that it might the better carry them to the shore, and that by the following method:

and cast out the wheat into the sea;
which seems to have been part of the ship's provision; or one part of their lading, which they brought from Egypt, and were carrying to Italy: they had cast out some of the goods of the ship before, and also the tackling of the ship, and now, last of all, the wheat; for what was eatable they reserved till last, not knowing to what extremity they might be reduced.

Acts 27:38 In-Context

36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.
37 (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship.)
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to bring the ship ashore.
40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders; then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.