Acts 27 18

Acts 27:18 kjv

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

Acts 27:18 nkjv

And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.

Acts 27:18 niv

We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.

Acts 27:18 esv

Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.

Acts 27:18 nlt

The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 18 Meaning

As the severe storm continued to violently buffet and toss the ship, those on board were driven to take an extreme and desperate measure. On the day immediately following the initial onset of the tempest's most brutal assault, they began to lighten the vessel by casting overboard parts of its cargo or furnishings. This act was undertaken in a desperate attempt to reduce the ship's weight and thus its draft, making it more buoyant and hopefully more manageable against the crushing force of the wind and waves, in a bid to save lives and the ship itself from being engulfed or capsizing.

Acts 27 18 Context

Acts chapter 27 details the perilous sea voyage of Paul as a prisoner being transported to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Paul, despite his warnings about the danger of sailing after the Day of Atonement (mid-autumn), was disregarded by the centurion, who trusted the pilot and owner of the ship. The journey soon turned disastrous when a furious north-easterly storm, known as Euroclydon, swept down. This verse immediately follows the ship being caught and unable to head into the wind (Acts 27:15) and taking emergency measures like undergirding the ship (Acts 27:17). The phrase "exceedingly tossed with a tempest" emphasizes the immediate, unrelenting continuation of this life-threatening situation, leaving the crew and passengers in a state of extreme vulnerability and despair, far from any land. The act of jettisoning cargo on the second day signifies the grave escalation of their peril, indicating that their very survival hung by a thread, compelling them to sacrifice material possessions to increase their chances of staying afloat.

Acts 27 18 Word analysis

• And (Gr. de - δὲ): A transitional conjunction, indicating continuation or contrast, here signifying the direct consequence or progression of the preceding events. It smoothly carries the narrative forward.
• we (Gr. hēmōn - ἡμῶν, part of the participial phrase): Refers to the narrator (Luke), Paul, and the entire group on the ship, including sailors, soldiers, and other prisoners (approximately 276 people per Acts 27:37). This emphasizes a shared, collective experience of suffering.
• being exceedingly tossed (Gr. sphodrōs de cheimazomenōn - σφοδρῶς δὲ χειμαζομένων):
  • exceedingly (Gr. sphodrōs - σφοδρῶς): An adverb meaning "vehemently," "violently," "intensely," or "severely." It strongly emphasizes the extreme degree of the ship's agitation, portraying the storm's ferocity and the ship's violent movement beyond ordinary turbulent conditions.
  • tossed (Gr. cheimazomenōn - χειμαζομένων): A present passive participle from cheimazō (to suffer storm, be storm-tossed, to expose to winter). It denotes an ongoing, relentless experience of being violently driven and battered by a severe storm, often associated with winter conditions making sailing especially dangerous. It highlights the helplessness and constant struggle against the elements.
• with a tempest: Implied by cheimazomenōn. The Greek word encompasses the suffering from the storm, emphasizing the cause of the tossing.
• the next day (Gr. tē hexēs hēmerā - τῇ ἑξῆς ἡμέρᾳ): Precisely marks the time, indicating that the severity of the storm did not subside. This implies that the previous day's measures (like undergirding) were insufficient, forcing further action, showing the relentless and cumulative nature of their ordeal.
• they (Gr. epoiounto - ἐποιοῦντο, verb form): Refers to the crew members – the sailors, mariners, or those responsible for the ship's operation, as distinct from the passengers.
• lightened the ship (Gr. ekbolēn epoiounto - ἐκβολὴν ἐποιοῦντο):
  • lightened (Gr. ekbolēn epoiounto): Literally "they were making a throwing out." Ekbolē (ἔκβολή) means "a throwing out, a jettisoning, casting out."
  • the ship: The object being lightened is implicitly understood as the vessel itself, by throwing its contents overboard. This was a critical nautical procedure in ancient times to raise the ship higher in the water, reduce stress on the hull, and make it less susceptible to waves breaking over it, thus preventing sinking.
• "exceedingly tossed with a tempest": This phrase dramatically communicates the sheer violence and persistence of the storm. The passive voice ("being tossed") underscores the lack of control the people had over their fate and the ship's vulnerability to the powerful natural forces at play.
• "the next day they lightened the ship": This phrase connects the continuing severe distress with a desperate, pragmatic action taken by human hands. It highlights the progressive deterioration of their situation, leading to the sacrifice of valuable cargo for survival, marking a point of critical escalation in their struggle against the storm. The imperfect tense epoiounto (they were making / began to make) suggests an ongoing, perhaps arduous, process of throwing cargo overboard.

Acts 27 18 Bonus section

The maritime terminology used by Luke in Acts 27 is highly precise and has been noted by nautical scholars as exceptionally accurate for ancient seafaring, giving authenticity to the account. Luke, the author, being with Paul, was an eyewitness to these events, enhancing the verifiability of his narrative. The "jettisoning" was a progressive act, beginning with non-essential items like ballast, goods, and ship's stores (as hinted in this verse) and later progressing to even the ship's tackle (Acts 27:19) and even essential food/wheat (Acts 27:38). This progression of casting things overboard illustrates the deepening desperation and the continuous assessment of survival strategies, reflecting the sailors' professional expertise combined with profound human fear. This entire episode serves as a powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty over nature, the providential care for His servant Paul, and the ultimate salvation of all aboard despite human plans and efforts initially failing.

Acts 27 18 Commentary

Acts 27:18 reveals the mounting peril faced by Paul and his fellow travelers, emphasizing the escalating intensity of the storm. The phrase "exceedingly tossed" underscores the ship's uncontrolled and violent motion, portraying a scene of utmost distress where the vessel was no longer sailing but being brutally battered by the tempest. This severity prompted the crucial decision to "lighten the ship" on "the next day," indicating that their situation had not improved overnight; in fact, it necessitated more extreme measures than previously taken. The act of jettisoning cargo was a standard but desperate maritime procedure in antiquity, recognizing that human life took precedence over possessions. This decision signals a transition from merely battling the storm to actively sacrificing valuable cargo in a desperate gamble for survival, laying bare the human vulnerability and futility in the face of nature's unbridled power. For the reader, it establishes the life-threatening conditions through human action and serves as a backdrop for the unfolding divine intervention that will be revealed later in the narrative. This situation challenges one's attachments to earthly possessions, illustrating how in extreme circumstances, even the most valued goods become secondary to the preservation of life.