And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
Acts 27:38 belongs to Paul's voyage to Rome in the first century of the Christian era, when traveling by sea involved peculiar hardship and peril. Mariners directed their course largely by the position of the sun and stars, and when these did not appear and there were signs of storm, owners of vessels feared to venture into the open sea, and during a portion of the year safe navigation was almost impossible. After those aboard had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by casting the wheat cargo into the sea because the cargo could not be saved while the ship was breaking apart. During the wreck Paul gave orders that helped preserve everyone aboard. The sea journey served God's purpose, with the ship's crew witnessing God's power through Paul and the people aboard hearing the name of Jesus, and many were converted through his teaching and the miracles performed.
Acts 27:38 belongs to Paul's voyage to Rome in the first century of the Christian era, when traveling by sea involved peculiar hardship and peril. Mariners directed their course largely by the position of the sun and stars, and when these did not appear and there were signs of storm, owners of vessels feared to venture into the open sea, and during a portion of the year safe navigation was almost impossible. After those aboard had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by casting the wheat cargo into the sea because the cargo could not be saved while the ship was breaking apart. During the wreck Paul gave orders that helped preserve everyone aboard. The sea journey served God's purpose, with the ship's crew witnessing God's power through Paul and the people aboard hearing the name of Jesus, and many were converted through his teaching and the miracles performed.