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The Shipwreck
…37In all, there were 276 of us on board.38Afterthe men had eaten their fill,they lightenedtheshipby throwingthegrainintothesea.39When 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.…

Treasury of Scripture

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

they lightened.

Acts 27:18,19
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the nextday they lightened the ship; …

Job 2:4
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Jonah 1:5
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares thatwere in the ship into the sea, to lightenit of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

The wheat.

CastEatenEatingEnoughFoodForthGrainHeartyLightenedLighteningMealNourishmentOverboardSatisfiedSeaShipSufficientThemselvesThrowingTurningWantedWeightWheatCastEatenEatingEnoughFoodForthGrainHeartyLightenedLighteningMealNourishmentOverboardSatisfiedSeaShipSufficientThemselvesThrowingTurningWantedWeightWheat1.Paul shipping toward Rome,
10.foretells of the danger of the voyage,
11.but is not believed.
14.They are tossed to and fro by a storm;
41.and suffer shipwreck;
44.yet all come safe to land.

After the men had eaten their fill
This phrase indicates a moment of physical sustenance and relief during a perilous journey. In the context ofActs 27, Paul and his companions are on a ship caught in a violent storm. The act of eating signifies a temporary reprieve and a moment of hope amidst despair. In biblical times, sharing a meal often symbolized fellowship and unity, which is significant here as it reflects the communal spirit among those on the ship. This moment can be seen as a fulfillment of Paul's earlier assurance that they would survive (Acts 27:22-25), demonstrating God's provision and care.

they lightened the ship
The act of lightening the ship was a common practice in ancient maritime travel during storms, aimed at making the vessel more buoyant and easier to control. This practical measure reflects the desperate situation and the crew's efforts to save themselves. In a broader biblical context, this can be seen as a metaphor for casting off burdens, akin toHebrews 12:1, which encourages believers to lay aside every weight that hinders their spiritual journey. It also highlights the human tendency to rely on practical solutions in times of crisis, even as divine intervention is at work.

by throwing the grain into the sea
Grain was a valuable commodity, often transported from Egypt to Rome, and its loss would have been economically significant. This act underscores the severity of the storm and the crew's willingness to sacrifice material wealth for survival. Theologically, this can be seen as a parallel to the call to prioritize spiritual over material wealth, as Jesus taught inMatthew 6:19-21. The grain, representing sustenance and life, being cast into the sea, also echoes themes of surrender and trust in God's provision, reminiscent of the Israelites' reliance on manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).

1.Paul
The apostle who is being transported to Rome as a prisoner. He plays a crucial role in encouraging and advising the crew and passengers during the storm.

2.The Ship's Crew
The sailors responsible for navigating the ship. They are in a desperate situation due to the storm and take drastic measures to save the ship.

3.The Passengers
Includes Paul, other prisoners, and Roman soldiers. They are all affected by the decisions made during the storm.

4.The Storm
A severe storm that has been battering the ship, leading to the decision to lighten the load by throwing the grain overboard.

5.The Sea
Represents both a physical and metaphorical challenge, as it is the force threatening their lives and the means by which they must trust God for deliverance.Trust in God's Provision
Even in dire circumstances, we are called to trust that God will provide for our needs. The act of throwing the grain overboard symbolizes a release of reliance on material security.

Faith in Action
Paul’s calm demeanor and leadership during the storm demonstrate how faith can guide us to make wise decisions in crisis situations.

Letting Go of Earthly Attachments
The decision to throw the grain into the sea serves as a metaphor for letting go of earthly attachments that hinder our spiritual journey.

Community and Cooperation
The survival of all aboard the ship required cooperation and trust among diverse groups of people, illustrating the importance of unity in facing challenges.

God's Sovereignty in Trials
The storm and subsequent actions show that God is sovereign over all circumstances, and His plans will prevail despite human fears and uncertainties.1.What is the meaning of Acts 27:38?

2.How does Acts 27:38 demonstrate trust in God's provision during adversity?

3.What can we learn from the sailors' actions about faith and obedience?

4.How does Acts 27:38 connect with Jesus' teachings on God's provision?

5.In what ways can we "lighten the ship" in our spiritual lives today?

6.How does this verse encourage reliance on God during life's storms?

7.What is the significance of throwing the wheat into the sea in Acts 27:38?

8.How does Acts 27:38 illustrate faith in divine provision during crisis?

9.What historical evidence supports the events described in Acts 27:38?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 27?

11.What events occurred during Paul's voyage to Rome?

12.In Acts 27:9-10, how could Paul, with no maritime expertise, accurately predict the ship's disaster when seasoned sailors disagreed?

13.In Acts 27:22-26, do Paul's assurances of safety contradict typical maritime fatalities in storms of that era?

14.Acts 27:39 states they did not recognize the land, yet Malta was a known port; how could experienced sailors fail to identify it?After the men

“After the men…” reminds us that Luke is recording a real, historical event involving specific people—Paul, his companions, the ship’s crew, soldiers, and other prisoners (Acts 27:1, 37).

• God’s providence extends to everyone on board, fulfilling His promise that “not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” (Acts 27:34).

• The fact that “all 276 of us” (Acts 27:37) survived ties to earlier assurances given to Paul by an angel (Acts 27:23-24) and echoes God’s care for Noah’s family during the flood (Genesis 7:1, 23).

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had eaten their fill

Paul urged them to eat “for your survival” (Acts 27:34), demonstrating practical faith:

• Trust in God never dismisses common sense; nourishment strengthened them for what lay ahead, just as Elijah was strengthened by food for his journey (1 Kings 19:5-8).

• Sharing bread together suggests fellowship and unity, reminiscent of Jesus feeding the multitudes (Matthew 14:19-20) and instituting the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19).

• Physical provision follows spiritual assurance—God cares for body and soul (Philippians 4:19).

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they lightened the ship

Lightening the ship signals decisive action in response to God’s promise:

• Faith leads to obedience. After hearing God’s word through Paul, they did what was necessary, paralleling Jehoshaphat’s army acting on prophetic assurance (2 Chronicles 20:20).

• Casting off weight echoesHebrews 12:1: “let us lay aside every weight,” a call to remove hindrances once God has spoken.

• It also mirrors the sailors earlier throwing cargo overboard (Acts 27:18-19), showing a progression from fear-driven to faith-informed action.

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by throwing the grain into the sea

The grain was the very cargo that gave the voyage its commercial purpose (Acts 27:6). Letting it go underscores:

• A willingness to sacrifice earthly profit for the sake of life—aligning with Jesus’ teaching, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul?” (Mark 8:36).

• Confidence that future provision rests with God, not with stored resources, echoing Elijah’s widow who used her last flour and oil yet never ran out (1 Kings 17:12-16).

• Divine timing: only after eating do they discard the grain, illustrating orderly dependence on God (1 Corinthians 14:33).

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summary

Acts 27:38 pictures a faith-shaped response to God’s promise of preservation. Once everyone is fed and strengthened, they release their last earthly security—valuable grain—showing they now trust God alone to deliver them. The verse teaches us to receive God’s provision gratefully, act wisely, and hold material things loosely, confident that the Lord who saves also supplies every need.

(38)And when they had eaten enough . . .--More accurately,when they were filled with food. The words describe a full and hearty meal. The first effect of this was seen in renewed activity for work. In spite of all that had been done before (Acts 27:18-19), the ship still needed to be lightened. The tense implies a process of some continuance. The "wheat" which they now cast out may have been part of the cargo which had been reserved by way of provisions. As it was clear that they could no longer continue in the ship, this was no longer required, and the one essential point was to keep her floating till they reached the shore.

Verse 38.- Throwing out forand cast out, A.V.They lightened the ship;ἐκούφισαν, only here in the New Testament; but it is the technical word for lightening a ship so as to keep her afloat. So in Polybius, 1:39,Ἐκρίψαντες ἐκ τῶν πλοίων πάντα τὰ βάρημόλις ἐκούφισαν τὰς ναῦς: andJonah 1:5, "They cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them (τοῦκουφισθῆναι ἀπ αὐτῶν (see ver. 18, note).Κουφίσαι τὴν ναῦν is one of the technical expressions for taking cargo out of a ship, given by Julius Pollux (Smith),The wheat (τὸν σῖτον). There is a difference of opinion as to what St. Luke here means byτὸνσῖτον. Meyer and others think it was merely "the ship's provision," and that, considering the number of persons in the ship, and the little consumption during the last fortnight, the weight of what was left would be considerable. They add that the cargo had been already thrown overboard in ver. 18. Others, as Howson, following Smith and Penroso, Farrar, Lewin, and many older commentators, with more reason, understand "the wheat" to mean the ship's cargo from Alexandria to Rome; they think it had been impossible to get at it while the ship was drifting; and that, even had it been possible, it was the last thing they would have recourse to. But now, when it was impossible to save the ship, and the only chance of saving their lives was to run her on the beach, it was an absolute necessity to lighten the ship as much as possible. They therefore cast her freight of Alexandrian corn into the sea, and waited for daylight (see note to ver. 18).

Parallel Commentaries ...


[After]
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[the men] had eaten their fill,
κορεσθέντες(koresthentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2880:To fill, sate, glut, feed full, satisfy. A primary verb; to cram, i.e. Glut or sate.

they lightened
ἐκούφιζον(ekouphizon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2893:To lighten, make light. From kouphos; to unload.

the
τὸ(to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ship
πλοῖον(ploion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4143:A ship, vessel, boat. From pleo; a sailer, i.e. Vessel.

by throwing
ἐκβαλλόμενοι(ekballomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1544:To throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce. From ek and ballo; to eject.

the
τὸν(ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

grain
σῖτον(siton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4621:Wheat, grain. Also plural irregular neuter sita of uncertain derivation; grain, especially wheat.

into
εἰς(eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν(tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sea.
θάλασσαν(thalassan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2281:Probably prolonged from hals; the sea.


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NT Apostles: Acts 27:38 When they had eaten enough they lightened (Acts of the Apostles Ac)