Acts 27:38

Saturday, 25 May 2024

 

So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. Acts 27:38

 

The Greek more closely reads, “And having gorged food, they lightened the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea” (CG).

 

Paul’s words and actions encouraged all aboard the ship and so they all took food. Luke then noted that there were two hundred seventy-six on board. Having noted that, he next writes, “And having gorged food.”

 

This is a new and rare word, korennumi. It signifies to satisfy, having been fed to the full. Thus, to glut or sate. In this case, “gorged” seems to fit the situation. They had eaten so little that they hungrily gorged on what they could, filling themselves till they couldn’t eat anymore.

 

The only other use of this word is in 1 Corinthians 4:8 where Paul speaks facetiously concerning those in Corinth –

 

“You are already full [korennumi]! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!”

 

More literally, he says, “Already you are having gorged.” Those in Corinth felt they were superstars of the faith. They had filled themselves and remained in that state, or at least they thought so. As for the people on the ship, there is a reason why they gorged so heavily. It is because Luke next writes, “they lightened the ship.”

 

The word translated as “lightened” is kouphizo. It is used only here in the New Testament. It means exactly that, “to lighten.” This is just what the sailors did in Jonah 1:5, where the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the same word. In this case, however, instead of a person, they were “casting out the wheat into the sea.”

 

It is now the third time that the ship has been lightened. There is a large amount of commentary and argumentation about what Luke means by ton siton, or “the wheat.” Some argue that it is the remaining food used for the crew.

 

They hadn’t eaten much in 14 days and so it would still be of considerable weight. Others argue that they wouldn’t throw over that which was already prepared because they didn't know where they were going aground and so it might be needed for food if they landed in a barren area.

 

Some argue it is the stores of wheat that had been held in hopes of saving a portion of the cargo in order to not have a complete loss to the owners. With the boat having been filled with water from the storm, the ship would need to be lightened as much as possible in order to safely run aground.

 

No matter what is correct, this wheat was tossed over at this time. Having gorged themselves, the sailors would not be as reticent to do this as they otherwise might have been.

 

Life application: Paul, speaking in a facetious manner to those in Corinth, jested that they were gorged on the things of Christ. Obviously this wasn’t so. The church was filled with division and strife. Paul was writing to correct them and also to provide instruction to them.

 

Being Gentiles, they would have been unschooled in the Old Testament. Having only received verbal training from Paul, they would have been mere babes in understanding the things of God. And yet, they pranced around as if they were superstars of the faith.

 

Much of the writings of Paul and the other New Testament authors did not yet exist. Each letter adds to the body of knowledge that is needed to truly gorge on what God in Christ has done. As understanding all of these things, meaning both the Old and New Testaments, is necessary to fully understand what God has done, is doing, and will do, how can we claim to be superstars of the faith unless we know the word?

 

It is true that without knowing the word, many have been great missionaries or evangelists, but they cannot be considered superstars of the faith in the sense that they can then provide sound instruction to others. A superstar is someone who is fully versed in all aspects of his field and is both capable and determined to do it to the full extent of his abilities.

 

In your zeal to know the Lord, you must know the word. In your desire to share the Lord, you should know the right things to say. But after you have done so, you should be able to provide deeper instruction to those you have evangelized. These things take study and contemplation on the word. It is what God has given us to prepare us for every step of our walk in Christ. Read it carefully, prayerfully, and faithfully all the days of your life.

 

Glorious Lord God, may we never neglect a good filling each day by gorging ourselves on Your word. May we be ready to pop at the end of each time we do, having filled ourselves enough to carry us sufficiently until we return to it and dine on its sacred contents once again. May we hunger for this word each day. Amen.