It was necessary to lighten the ship so it would ride high into shallow water when the sailors beached it. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Acts 27:35-44 - Saving Paul Saved Them All
The sailors endeavored to head the vessel toward the mouth of a creek that appeared before them, but she ran aground and stuck fast. It was here that a new and unexpected peril confronted Paul and his fellow-prisoners. The soldiers proposed to kill them, lest they should swim ashore and escape; but the centurion, perhaps out of gratitude to the man to whom they all owed their lives, forbade the soldiers and ordered everyone to endeavor somehow to get to land.
It does not so much matter how we get to heaven, as that we get there. Some who trust most in ritual and ceremonies may get there on broken pieces of the ship, but happier are they who can cast themselves directly upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. It was a drenched and shivering group that stood on the shore on that chill November day. Thank God, our condition will be very different when we emerge on the shore of eternity after crossing the cold waters. And as we stand on the beach of the glassy sea, all of us will render praise to Him who has brought us safe home. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 27
1Paul shipping toward Rome, 10foretells of the danger of the voyage, 11but is not believed 14They are tossed to and fro by a storm; 41and suffer shipwreck; 44yet all come safe to land
Greek Commentary for Acts 27:38
When they had eaten enough [κορεστεντες τροπης] First aorist passive of κορεννυμι korennumi old verb to satisfy, to satiate, with the genitive. Literally, “Having been satisfied with food.” Here only in the N.T. [source]
They lightened [εκουπιζον] Inchoative imperfect active, began to lighten. Old verb from κουπος kouphos and originally to be light, but transitive to lighten, as here, from Hippocrates on. Throwing out the wheat (εκβαλλομενοι τον σιτον ekballomenoi ton siton). The cargo of wheat. The second εκβολη ekbolē (Acts 27:18) or casting out and overboard which was only partially done at first. [source]
Throwing out the wheat [εκβαλλομενοι τον σιτον] The cargo of wheat. The second εκβολη ekbolē (Acts 27:18) or casting out and overboard which was only partially done at first. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 27:38
Acts 27:6A ship of Alexandria [] Employed in the immense corn trade between Italy and Egypt. See Acts 27:38. The size of the vessel may be inferred from Acts 27:37. [source]
Acts 27:18Lightened [ἐκβολὴν ἐποιοῦντο] Lit., made a casting out. Rev., began to throw the freight overboard. Note the imperfect, began to throw. The whole cargo was not cast overboard: the wheat was reserved to the last extremity (Acts 27:38). [source]
1 Corinthians 4:8Already are ye filled? [ηδη κεκορεσμενοι εστε] Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, of κορεννυμι korennumi old Greek verb to satiate, to satisfy. The only other example in N.T. is Acts 27:38 which see. Paul may refer to Deuteronomy 31:20; Deuteronomy 32:15. But it is keen irony, even sarcasm. Westcott and Hort make it a question and the rest of the sentence also. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 27:38 mean?
Having been filledthenwith foodthey began to lightentheshipcasting outthewheatintothesea
Greek Commentary for Acts 27:38
First aorist passive of κορεννυμι korennumi old verb to satisfy, to satiate, with the genitive. Literally, “Having been satisfied with food.” Here only in the N.T. [source]
Inchoative imperfect active, began to lighten. Old verb from κουπος kouphos and originally to be light, but transitive to lighten, as here, from Hippocrates on. Throwing out the wheat (εκβαλλομενοι τον σιτον ekballomenoi ton siton). The cargo of wheat. The second εκβολη ekbolē (Acts 27:18) or casting out and overboard which was only partially done at first. [source]
The cargo of wheat. The second εκβολη ekbolē (Acts 27:18) or casting out and overboard which was only partially done at first. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 27:38
Employed in the immense corn trade between Italy and Egypt. See Acts 27:38. The size of the vessel may be inferred from Acts 27:37. [source]
Lit., made a casting out. Rev., began to throw the freight overboard. Note the imperfect, began to throw. The whole cargo was not cast overboard: the wheat was reserved to the last extremity (Acts 27:38). [source]
Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, of κορεννυμι korennumi old Greek verb to satiate, to satisfy. The only other example in N.T. is Acts 27:38 which see. Paul may refer to Deuteronomy 31:20; Deuteronomy 32:15. But it is keen irony, even sarcasm. Westcott and Hort make it a question and the rest of the sentence also. [source]