Acts 27:38
in Acts 27After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
KJV
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
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This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThey lightened the ship - They hoped that, by casting out the lading, the ship would draw less water; in consequence of which, they could get nearer the shore.
This site's exposition
kept urging them all to eat
on Acts 27:33-38
Paul urged them to eat after fourteen days without food, since not a single hair of your head will be lost. He took bread and gave thanks to God, a Jewish grace before pagan sailors and soldiers.
This site's exposition
throwing the grain into the sea
Albert Barnes and Adam Clarke explain the purpose: a lighter ship draws less water and can be run closer to the shore. The grain was the cargo loaded at Alexandria for Rome. Paul's warning in verse 10 of loss to ship and cargo was now coming true.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:98%@v33-34
And when they had eaten enough,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
They lightened the ship - By casting the wheat into the sea. As they had no hope of saving the cargo, and had no further use for it, they hoped that by throwing the wheat overboard the ship would draw less water, and that thus they would be able to run the vessel on the shore.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κορεσθέντες | koresthentes | Having been filled | G2880 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τροφῆς | trophes | with food | G5160 → | 16 times |
| ἐκούφιζον | ekouphizon | they were lightening | G2893 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλοῖον | ploion | ship | G4143 → | 67 times |
| ἐκβαλλόμενοι | ekballomenoi | casting out | G1544 → | 79 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σῖτον | siton | wheat | G4621 → | |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θάλασσαν. | thalassan | sea. | G2281 → | 90 times |
κορεσθέντεςHaving been filled
koresthentesG2880 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τροφῆςwith food
trophesG5160 →16 times
ἐκούφιζονthey were lightening
ekouphizonG2893 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πλοῖονship
ploionG4143 →67 times
ἐκβαλλόμενοιcasting out
ekballomenoiG1544 →79 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
σῖτονwheat
sitonG4621 →
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
θάλασσαν.sea.
thalassanG2281 →90 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set…
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
- Hebrews 10:35–39
So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- 2 Timothy 4:7
Through
Matthew 6:25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more…
it leads to
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
- Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Philippians 4:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.