Acts 27:19

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

…and on the third day they cast away the tackle of the ship with their own hands.

Latin

…et tertia die suis manibus armamenta navis projecerunt.

Greek

English

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

The violent and persistent storm forced the crew to throw the cargo over the side of the boat (compare Jonah 1:5). The crew had lost hope.

The graphic language describing sailing in the story of Paul's journey to Rome provides one of the best accounts of an ancient sea journey.
This is the last "we" section in Acts (see also 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18). During Paul's two years of imprisonment, Luke probably researched his gospel throughout Judea and Galilee. Here, as part of Paul's sailing group, he had a personal witness of the dangers at sea.

Theme notes and profiles

Job 2:4
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
Luke 9:24–25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Mark 8:35–37
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
Jonah 1:5
The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.