Lexical Summary apophortizomai: To unload, to discharge Original Word: ἀποφορτίζομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unloadFrom apo and the middle voice of phortizo; to unload -- unlade. see GREEK apo see GREEK phortizo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and phortizó Definition to discharge a cargo NASB Translation unload (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 670: ἀποφορτίζομαιἀποφορτίζομαι; (φορτίζω to load; φόρτος a load), to disburden oneself; τί, to lay down a load, unlade, discharge: τόν γόμον, of a ship, Acts 21:3; cf. Meyer and DeWette at the passage; Winers Grammar, 349f (328f). (Elsewhere also used of sailors lightening ship during a storm in order to avoid shipwreck: Philo de praem. et poen. § 5 κυβερνήτης, χειμωνων ἀπιγινομενων, ἀποφορτίζεται; Athen. 2, 5, p. 37 c. and following, where it occurs twice.) Topical Lexicon Maritime setting and everyday meaning In classical and koine usage the verb pictures a ship being lightened as crewmen take off the cargo at the dock. In the bustling ports of the eastern Mediterranean this act marked the successful completion of a voyage and the transition of goods from sea to land trade. It was an unmistakable picture to first-century readers: the vessel has fulfilled its commission, its load is safely transferred, and the sailors are free to move on to the next assignment. Biblical occurrence Acts 21:3 records the only New Testament use: “After sighting Cyprus and passing to its south, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo” (Berean Standard Bible). Luke, a seasoned traveler and careful historian, chooses a technical maritime term that fits his eye-witness style and signals the reliability of his account. Paul’s vessel had completed the long open-sea leg from Patara, and Tyre’s spacious harbors made it the logical point for discharging the freight. Historical background of Tyre as a port Tyre stood on the Phoenician coast about one hundred miles north of Caesarea. Since at least the time of King Hiram’s alliance with Solomon (1 Kings 5:1–12), Tyre had been renowned for seafaring expertise and vibrant trade. By the first century its southern harbor (Herod’s Harbour) could shelter large grain ships from Alexandria and commercial vessels out of Asia Minor. Unloading was labor-intensive, typically lasting several days—precisely the window the local believers used to host Paul and his companions (Acts 21:4–6). Strategic significance in Luke’s travel narrative The verb underscores Luke’s recurring theme of providential timing. Because the cargo had to be removed, Paul remained in Tyre long enough to locate disciples and receive Spirit-led warnings about the trials awaiting him in Jerusalem. A nautical necessity became an ordained pause for fellowship, prayer, and farewell—themes echoing earlier scenes at Miletus (Acts 20:17–38). The Spirit governs not only miracles and sermons but the mundane details of shipping schedules. Symbolic resonance: the relief of burdens Scripture frequently links the imagery of weight and release to spiritual truths. Jesus calls the weary to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28–30). Believers are exhorted to cast all anxiety on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7) and to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). The unloading of a ship graphically mirrors these invitations: the weight that once pressed down is lifted off, and the vessel is freed for further service. Thus Acts 21:3, while historically concrete, also points to the larger redemptive pattern—Christ removes the crushing cargo of sin and guilt, enabling His people to voyage onward. Lessons for Christian ministry 1. God directs through ordinary circumstances. Port regulations and cargo contracts arranged the stay at Tyre, yet divine purpose permeated the interruption. Related themes and cross-references • Maritime travel in Acts: Acts 13:4; Acts 16:11; Acts 27:1–44 Strong’s 670 therefore enriches the narrative with both historical precision and theological depth, reminding readers that the Sovereign Lord rules the waves, the cargo holds, and the human heart. Forms and Transliterations απέφραξε απέχυνε αποφορτιζομενον αποφορτιζόμενον ἀποφορτιζόμενον αποφυσώμενος αποχεείς apophortizomenon apophortizómenonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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