Acts 27:40

Taken up the anchors. Literally, “taken away [cut loose] the anchors,” here possibly meaning simply, “weighed anchor.” Committed themselves. The word “themselves” has been supplied. Reference could be to the anchors, if they were cut loose, otherwise, probably to the ship itself. The rudder bands. That is, the ropes that lifted the rudders out of the water and secured them to the sides of the ship. Ships of that day often had two rudders, one on each side. Now, to steer the ship to the beach, the rudders are let down again into the water. Mainsail. Gr. artemon, “foresail.” It seems that the mainsail, together with its tackle, had been jettisoned (see on vs. 17, 19).