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.
