Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 27:19

"and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship." — Acts 27:19 (ASV)

For fourteen days and nights (cf. v.27), the ship was in the grip of the northeaster. The crew tried to lighten the ship by throwing overboard all the deck cargo (v.18), then by disposing of the ship’s tackle (v.19). In the darkness of the storm they could not take their bearings from the sun or stars. All hope of being saved had vanished.