Acts 27 19

Acts 27:19 kjv

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

Acts 27:19 nkjv

On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.

Acts 27:19 niv

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

Acts 27:19 esv

And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.

Acts 27:19 nlt

The following day they even took some of the ship's gear and threw it overboard.

Acts 27 verses

Acts 27 19 Meaning

The verse describes the severe and ongoing distress faced by Paul and the crew aboard the ship. On the third consecutive day of the tempestuous storm, driven by desperation and the urgent need to lighten the vessel further, they took collective and personal action to jettison essential "ship's tackle" or equipment overboard. This act underscores the extreme peril and the human effort to survive after abandoning less crucial cargo in the preceding days, signifying a deeper level of crisis and the diminishing hope for salvage.

Acts 27 19 Context

Acts chapter 27 details Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome as a prisoner, during which he consistently warns the centurion and crew about impending dangers. Despite his warnings, the ship attempts to reach Phoenix for winter, but is caught in a violent, named northeastern storm called Euroclydon. This tempest lasts for days, making celestial navigation impossible and driving the ship helplessly. Having already taken severe measures like undergirding the ship, lowering the heavy gear, and jettisoning initial cargo (verse 18), verse 19 describes the crew's escalating efforts. They were nearing their physical and emotional limits, losing hope for survival (verse 20), leading to this desperate act of throwing overboard even the "ship's tackle."

Acts 27 19 Word analysis

• And the third day (Τῇ τε τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ - Tē te tritē hēmera): "Third day" indicates a sustained period of extreme difficulty. In biblical narrative, "third day" often holds significant meaning, pointing to a climax, a turning point, or a time of divine intervention, resurrection, or renewed hope after a period of despair. Here, it highlights the continued, unrelieved intensity of the storm and their suffering, pressing them to extreme measures.
• we threw out (ἐκβολὴν ἐποιοῦντο - ekbolēn epoiounto): Literally "they were making a throwing out." Ekbolēn (throwing out, jettisoning) is a strong word, suggesting a forceful, definitive discarding. The imperfect tense of epoiounto (they were doing/making) implies a continuous or repeated action, suggesting it wasn't a single item but a range of items thrown over a period. It emphasizes the desperation and the active human response to an overwhelming natural force.
• with our own hands (αὐτόχειρες - autocheires): This Greek term explicitly means "with our own hands" or "personally," "by ourselves." It signifies direct, strenuous, and unassisted involvement of everyone available—crew, soldiers, and perhaps even some passengers, including Paul. This wasn't delegated; it was a communal act of dire necessity, underscoring the severity of the crisis and the shared struggle for survival.
• the ship's tackle (τὴν σκευὴν τοῦ πλοίου - tēn skeuen tou ploiou): Skeuē is a comprehensive term for equipment, gear, implements, or furnishings. It's distinct from the phortion (cargo/freight) mentioned in Acts 27:18. This "tackle" likely refers to less critical but still important operational parts of the ship, such as spare rigging, sails not currently in use, a ship’s boat that may have become too waterlogged or dangerous, spare timbers, or other internal fittings that contributed weight but weren't absolutely vital for basic navigation or stability at this stage of the disaster. Abandoning these indicated a deep level of crisis and an acknowledgment of a possible total loss of the ship.
• "the third day... we threw out... the ship's tackle": This phrase emphasizes the escalating nature of the peril. First, their general cargo (v.18), now vital operational equipment. The sequence of actions—from prudent measures to increasingly desperate ones—illustrates the crew's deteriorating situation and their mounting sense of helplessness in the face of the storm.

Acts 27 19 Bonus section

Ancient Mediterranean sailors regarded storms with immense fear, often attributing them to divine displeasure or the whims of sea gods. Their actions, though pragmatic, were often accompanied by deep religious awe or terror. Throwing equipment overboard was a last-ditch effort, symbolizing the surrender of their professional capability and, potentially, their very livelihood. In a practical sense, it was not merely about weight but also reducing the "windage" or the area exposed to the force of the wind and waves, making the vessel less prone to capsizing or being torn apart. The act, carried out "with their own hands," also suggests a loss of command structure or the formality of procedure, giving way to the primal urge for survival, where every hand, regardless of rank, was vital in a collective struggle against overwhelming odds. This shared labor also highlights a momentary unity born of sheer terror, a break from the usual social hierarchies, as all were equal in the face of the raging storm.

Acts 27 19 Commentary

Acts 27:19 marks a grim turning point in the ordeal at sea. After days of ceaseless tempest, the ship's occupants, exhausted and without hope of seeing sun or stars (v.20), resorted to the drastic measure of jettisoning the "ship's tackle." This was not just a calculated move; it was an act of raw desperation. Having already thrown valuable cargo overboard the day before, this act signals the stripping down of the ship to its barest essentials, demonstrating the crew's utter defeat in controlling the situation. It highlights the stark reality of human limitations when confronted with overwhelming natural forces, paving the way for God's divine intervention and promise of safety through Paul, despite the inevitable loss of the ship itself. It shows that sometimes, everything of material value must be cast aside in the struggle for life, pointing to a spiritual truth that we must sometimes shed earthly attachments to preserve what is truly important or to fully rely on divine provision.