Acts 27:19

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

And {G2532} the third {G5154} day we cast out {G4496} with our own hands {G849} the tackling {G4631} of the ship {G4143}.

and the third day, they threw the ship’s sailing equipment overboard with their own hands.

On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.

Acts 27:19 describes a critical moment during Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome, where the crew and passengers, including Paul, took desperate measures to survive a raging storm. This verse highlights the escalating efforts to save the ship from sinking, reflecting the dire circumstances they faced.

Context

This verse is part of the extensive narrative in Acts chapter 27, detailing Paul's journey as a prisoner under Roman custody. Having disregarded Paul's earlier warning about the dangers of continuing the voyage (Acts 27:10), the ship was caught in a violent, tempestuous wind known as Euroclydon. The previous day, the crew had already begun to lighten the ship by casting out the cargo (Acts 27:18). Verse 19 marks the third day of the storm, indicating that the situation had only worsened, necessitating even more drastic action.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperate Measures for Survival: The act of casting out the ship's "tackling" demonstrates the extreme and escalating measures taken by the crew and passengers to lighten the ship and prevent it from being overwhelmed by the storm. It underscores the severity of their predicament and their fight for survival.
  • Human Effort in Crisis: Despite the overwhelming forces of nature and the eventual divine assurance that would come through Paul, this verse highlights the continuous, strenuous human effort. Everyone on board, including Paul and Luke (the narrator, implied by "we"), was actively involved in trying to save the ship.
  • Progressive Loss: The sequence of events – first the cargo, then the tackling – illustrates a progressive shedding of valuable assets. This gradual loss emphasizes the ship's deteriorating condition and the growing sense of hopelessness among the crew and soldiers before Paul's encouraging words later in the chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The term "tackling" in the King James Version translates the Greek word skeuē (σκευή). This word generally refers to equipment, gear, or apparatus. In a maritime context, it would encompass the ship's rigging, spare sails, ropes, masts, and possibly any non-essential parts of its internal structure or furniture that contributed to its weight or might hinder its stability in the violent seas. The phrase "with our own hands" emphasizes the direct, manual, and laborious effort involved in this act, indicating a collective and personal struggle for survival.

Practical Application

The experience described in Acts 27:19 offers several lessons for modern life:

  • Shedding Non-Essentials in Life's Storms: Just as the crew had to jettison valuable items to save the ship, we often face "storms" in life (crises, challenges, hardships) that require us to let go of non-essential things – whether possessions, habits, or even certain expectations – to navigate successfully. Prioritization becomes crucial when facing overwhelming circumstances.
  • Active Participation in Our Deliverance: While we trust in God's providence and guidance, this verse reminds us that faith does not negate human responsibility and effort. We are called to actively engage in solving problems, working diligently, and using the resources at hand, even when the situation seems dire. Paul himself participated in these desperate measures before receiving divine reassurance (Acts 27:25).
  • Resilience and Perseverance: The crew's persistent efforts over three days, despite immense danger and dwindling hope, speak to the human spirit's capacity for resilience. It encourages us to persevere through difficult times, even when conditions seem to worsen, continuously seeking solutions and taking necessary actions.

Reflection

Acts 27:19 paints a vivid picture of extreme peril and human desperation. It sets the stage for the miraculous intervention and divine assurance that Paul would soon deliver, ultimately leading to the safe arrival of all on board. This verse reminds us that even when we are doing everything in our power to survive life's fiercest storms, God's overarching plan of preservation and purpose is at work, guiding us through even the most challenging passages.

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.

  • 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.

  • Luke 9:24

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

  • Luke 9:25

    For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

  • 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.

  • Mark 8:35

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

  • Mark 8:37

    Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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