The Greek apophorizomai (ἀποφορτίζομαι) means 'to unload' or 'to discharge cargo from a ship.' Combining apo (from, away) and phortizo (to load, to burden), it describes the act of removing freight from a vessel. It appears in Acts 21:3 describing Paul's ship unloading its cargo at Tyre.
The single occurrence of apophorizomai in Acts 21:3 is embedded in one of Scripture's most tender travel narratives. While the ship unloaded its cargo at Tyre, Paul and his companions found the disciples there — and spent seven days with them. The mundane act of cargo unloading became the occasion for profound Christian fellowship. The disciples, moved by the Spirit, urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul's journey to Jerusalem — like Christ's — was a willing entry into suffering for others. Even in commercial port logistics, God was orchestrating moments of community, warning, and preparation. The Spirit works in the spaces between our scheduled stops.