Acts 27:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you see? They were only persuaded to take food, yet they so entrusted themselves to Paul in everything that they even threw out the wheat.

Yet Paul's words inspired trust in him and encouragement in only a few on the ship, and least of all in the sailors. Therefore, after fourteen days of stormy sailing, signs appeared that the ship was approaching some shore.

They then wanted to escape from the ship by means of the boat. They hoped that if the ship were broken against the shore, they would not perish with the others.

Pretending that they wanted to cast anchors from the bow, they began to lower the boat into the sea. But Paul perceived their intention and told the centurion that, if the ship were left without sailors, salvation would be impossible.

Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the boat. After this it fell away and was driven by the waves from the ship.

Giving an example to all, after prayer he began to eat, and everyone followed him, encouraged. Having been strengthened by food, they again set to work lightening the ship.

They did this so that they could bring it as close as possible to the supposed shore. This was all the more necessary because they now had no boat in which to approach the shore if the ship remained somewhat away, beyond the shallows.

"Throwing the wheat into the sea": probably not provisions, but cargo, although the Greek word is also used in the sense of provisions. "Two hundred seventy souls": cf. Acts 27:6.

Having been strengthened by food, all began to lighten the ship as much as possible, throwing overboard the remaining cargo of wheat. When day came, they noticed a gently sloping shore and began to steer toward it.

For this purpose they cast off the anchors and raised a small sail. With its help they brought the bow to the shore, to a sandbank projecting into the sea. The waves began to strike the stern of the ship, and it began to break apart.

"Paul's prediction was being fulfilled, but those who saw their salvation were not fully instructed by it. The ship breaks apart by day, so that they would not die from fear, and so that you too might see the fulfillment of the prophecy.