The crew, being greatly exhausted by severe exertion and want of food, were the more willing to listen to the Apostle when he came to the front with his wise counsels and good cheer. They had previously ignored His advice, but were glad and wise enough to take it on this second occasion.
How calm faith makes us! We can sleep soundly amid the roar of the storm and dream of angels when our hearts are stayed on God. His messengers can cleave their way through the murkiest skies and most drenching storms, to succor those who need their help. What a beautiful confession that was: Whose I am and whom I serve! Can we all appropriate it? The first clause is literally true of us all. We belong to Christ by creation and redemption. But do we acknowledge His ownership and place our all in His service?
In the midst of the excitement, Paul was able to give thanks. Let not the good habit of grace before meals drop out of our practice or homes. What a magnificent sentence is this also-I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Yes, there is no peace outside of that faith. And it shall be, O believer, your happy experience! [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 27:18
As we laboured exceedingly with the storm [σποδρως χειμαζομενων ημων] Genitive absolute with present passive participle of χειμαζω cheimazō old verb to afflict with a tempest (χειμα cheima stormy weather), to toss upon the waves, here alone in N.T. [source]
They began to throw overboard [εκβαλην εποιουντο] Literally, “They began to make (inchoative imperfect middle of ποιεω poieō) a casting out” Cf. Latin jacturam facere. This to lighten the ship by throwing overboard the cargo. The grain in the ship would shift and make it list and so added to the danger. They cast out (εριπσαν eripsan). Third person plural aorist active of ριπτω riptō not εριπσαμεν eripsamen as Textus Receptus. With their own hands Old word The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [source]
They cast out [εριπσαν] Third person plural aorist active of ριπτω riptō not εριπσαμεν eripsamen as Textus Receptus. [source]
With their own hands [αυτοχειρες] Old word The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [source]
The tackling [tēn skeuēn)] The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [source]
Lightened [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]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 27:18
Acts 27:38They 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]
Acts 27:38Throwing 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]
What do the individual words in Acts 27:18 mean?
Violentlynowbeing storm-tossedof uson thenext [day]a jettison of cargothey began to make
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: χειμάζω
Sense: to afflict with a tempest, to toss about upon the waves.
Greek Commentary for Acts 27:18
Genitive absolute with present passive participle of χειμαζω cheimazō old verb to afflict with a tempest (χειμα cheima stormy weather), to toss upon the waves, here alone in N.T. [source]
Literally, “They began to make (inchoative imperfect middle of ποιεω poieō) a casting out” Cf. Latin jacturam facere. This to lighten the ship by throwing overboard the cargo. The grain in the ship would shift and make it list and so added to the danger. They cast out (εριπσαν eripsan). Third person plural aorist active of ριπτω riptō not εριπσαμεν eripsamen as Textus Receptus. With their own hands Old word The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [source]
Third person plural aorist active of ριπτω riptō not εριπσαμεν eripsamen as Textus Receptus. [source]
Old word The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [source]
The furniture of the ship that could be spared. It was becoming desperate. [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]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 27:18
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]