Acts 27:19

19 And the third day with their hands they cast away the instruments of the ship.

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 And when this was taken up, they used helps, girding together the ship; and dreaded, lest they should fall into sandy places. And when the vessel was under-set, so they were borne. [The which taken up, with helps, they used girding together of the ship, dreading lest they should fall into the sandy places; the vessel under-set, so they were borne.]

18 And for we were thrown with strong tempest [Soothly us thrown with great tempest], in the day following they made casting out.

19 And the third day with their hands they cast away the instruments of the ship.

20 And when the sun neither the stars were seen by many days, and tempest not a little approached [Soothly neither sun neither stars appearing by many days, and tempest not little showing nigh], now all the hope of our health was done away.

21 And when much fasting had been, then Paul stood in the middle of them, and said, A! men, it behooved, when ye heard me, not to have taken away the ship from Crete, and get this wrong and casting out. [And when much fasting had been, then Paul standing in the middle of them said, A! men, it behooved me heard, to not take away from Crete, and to win this wrong and casting out.]