Acts 27:18

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next [day] they lightened the ship;

And {G1161} we {G2257} being exceedingly {G4971} tossed with a tempest {G5492}, the next {G1836} day they lightened the ship {G1546}{G4160};

But because we were fighting such heavy weather, the next day they began to jettison non-essentials;

We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.

And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the freight overboard;

Acts 27:18 describes a perilous moment during the apostle Paul's sea voyage to Rome as a prisoner. The ship, caught in a violent tempest, was forced to take drastic measures to survive.

Context

This verse is part of the dramatic account of Paul's journey from Caesarea to Rome, detailed in Acts chapter 27. Despite Paul's earlier warnings about the dangers of continuing the voyage at that time of year, the centurion in charge chose to listen to the ship's owner and master instead. Consequently, they encountered a fierce northeasterly gale, identified as "Euroclydon" in verse 14. This storm, characteristic of the Mediterranean in late autumn, was so severe that it pushed the ship violently, threatening to break it apart. The act of "lightening the ship" on the second day signifies the crew's escalating desperation to keep the vessel afloat and prevent it from sinking or capsizing.

Key Themes

  • Human Vulnerability: The verse vividly portrays the powerlessness of humans and their vessels against the overwhelming force of nature. Despite experienced sailors, they were "exceedingly tossed," highlighting their complete lack of control.
  • Desperate Measures for Survival: The decision to "lighten the ship" by throwing cargo overboard was a last resort, indicating the extreme danger they faced. This act underscores the instinct for self-preservation and the willingness to sacrifice possessions for life.
  • Divine Providence Amidst Peril: Even in this life-threatening situation, God's overarching plan for Paul to reach Rome and testify before Caesar remained firm. Though they faced immense hardship, God had promised Paul he would bear witness in Rome, and this storm, while terrifying, would not thwart that purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "exceedingly tossed with a tempest" comes from the Greek sphodrōs cheimazomenōn (σφοδρῶς χειμαζομένων). Sphodrōs means "exceedingly" or "violently," emphasizing the extreme degree of the storm. Cheimazomenōn refers to being "storm-tossed" or "battered by wintery weather," painting a picture of relentless and severe conditions. The phrase "they lightened the ship" is from ekbolēn epoiounto (ἐκβολὴν ἐποιοῦντο), which literally means "they made a jettisoning." This was a common maritime term for throwing cargo overboard to reduce the ship's weight and increase its buoyancy and stability during a storm.

Practical Application

Acts 27:18 offers several insights for believers today. Life often presents its own "tempests" – periods of intense difficulty, crisis, or uncertainty that can feel overwhelming. Like the crew in the storm, we may find ourselves "exceedingly tossed" and out of control. This verse reminds us:

  • To acknowledge our limitations and vulnerability when facing life's "storms."
  • That sometimes, to navigate through a crisis, we must be willing to "lighten the ship" – to let go of non-essentials, burdens, or even cherished possessions that are weighing us down or hindering our progress. This might mean sacrificing comfort, material goods, or even certain plans.
  • To trust in God's sovereign hand, even when circumstances seem dire. Just as God preserved Paul for His purposes, He works through our trials, often using them to refine us and bring about His will.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jonah 1:5

    Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

  • Acts 27:38

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

  • Hebrews 12:1

    ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

  • Acts 27:19

    And the third [day] we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

  • Philippians 3:7

    But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

  • Philippians 3:8

    Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

  • Matthew 16:26

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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