Acts 27:38

38 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain 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 They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.

37 In all, there were 276 of us on board.

38 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

40 Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.