Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 27:18

"And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the [the freight] overboard;" — Acts 27:18 (ASV)

The next day they lightened the ship.—St. Luke uses the technical term for throwing the bulk of the cargo overboard. They effected, in this way, the relief of the ship from the imminent danger of sinking. The act shows that, in spite of the undergirding, leakage was still going on. The cargo, as coming from Alexandria, probably consisted largely of corn; but see Note on Acts 27:38.