Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 21

CHAPTER 21

After we were gotten from them. After we had left the elders at Miletus (Acts 20:38). They were on their way to Jerusalem.

Unto Coos. This was a small island in the Grecian Archipelago, a short distance from the south-western point of Asia Minor. It is now called Stan-co. It was celebrated for its fertility, and for the wine and silk-worms which it produced.

Unto Rhodes. This was an island in the Levant. On the island was a city of the same name, principally distinguished for its brazen Colossus, built by Chares of Lyndus. It stood across the mouth of the harbour and was so high that vessels could pass between its legs.

The Colossus stood for fifty-six years and was then thrown down by an earthquake. It was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. When the Saracens took possession of this island, they sold this prostrate image to a Jew, who loaded 900 camels with its brass. This occurred in A.D. 600, about 900 years after it had been thrown down.

The ancient name of the island was Asteria. Its name Rhodes was given because of the great quantity of roses it produced.

Unto Patara. This was a maritime city of Lycia, in Asia Minor, opposite Rhodes.

Unto Phenicia. See Barnes' notes on Acts 11:19.

Phenicia was on their way to Jerusalem.

Set forth. Sailed.

The term can also be rendered "sailed" or "loosed."

Had discovered Cyprus. (See Barnes on Acts 4:36).

Into Syria. (See Barnes on Matthew 4:24).

And landed at Tyre. (See Barnes on Matthew 11:21).

To unlade her burden. Her cargo. Tyre was formerly one of the most commercial cities of the world; and it is probable, that in the time of Paul its commercial importance had not entirely ceased.

And finding disciples. Christians. This is the first mention of Christians being at Tyre; however, there is no improbability in supposing that the gospel had been preached there, even though it is not expressly recorded by Luke.

Who said to Paul. . Their deep interest in his welfare, and their apprehension of his danger, was the reason they admonished him not to go.

Through the Spirit. There is some difficulty in understanding this. In solving this difficulty, we may remark:

1. It is evident that the Holy Spirit is meant, and that Luke means to say that this was spoken by His inspiration. The Holy Spirit was bestowed on Christians at that time in large measure, and many appear to have been under His inspiring guidance.

2. It was not understood by Paul as a positive command that he should not go up to Jerusalem—for, had it been, it would not have been disobeyed. Paul evidently understood it as expressive of their earnest wish that he should not go, as apprising him of danger, and as a kind expression regarding his own welfare and safety. . Paul was in a better position to understand this than we are, and his interpretation was doubtless correct.

3. It is to be understood, therefore, simply as an inspired prophetic warning that if he went, he went at the risk of his life—a prophetic warning joined with their individual personal wishes that he would not expose himself to this danger. The meaning evidently is that, by inspiration of the Spirit, they said he should not go unless he was willing to encounter danger and the consequent risk to his life, for they foresaw that the journey would be attended with this risk.

   Grotius renders it, "that he should not go, unless he was willing to be bound." Michaelis and Stolzius state, "They gave him prophetic warning, that he should not go to Jerusalem." Doddridge says, "If he valued his own liberty and safety, not to go up to Jerusalem, since it would certainly expose him to very great risk." The inspiration in this case was that of admonition and warning, not of positive command.

Paul was simply apprised of the danger and then left to the free determination of his own will. He chose to encounter the danger of which he was thus apprised. He did not despise the intimations of the Spirit, but he judged that his duty to God thus called him to encounter the risks of the journey.

We may be warned of danger in a certain course, either by our friends or by the word of God, and still, it may be our duty to meet it. Our duty is not to be measured by the fact that we shall experience dangers, however that may be made known to us. It consists in following the will of God and encountering whatever trials may be in our way.

Had accomplished those days. When those days were passed.

They all brought us on our way. They accompanied us. (Romans 15:24; 1 Corinthians 16:6 and 11; 3 John 1:6).

This was an expression of tender attachment, and of a deep interest in the welfare of Paul and his fellow travelers.

We kneeled down. .

On the shore. Any place is suitable for prayer . God is everywhere and can as easily hear the prayer of the humble on the seashore as in the most magnificent temple.

This is an instance, like that in Acts 20:36, where the apostle evidently prayed with the church without a form of prayer. No one can believe that he thus poured out the desires of his heart at parting, and commended them to God, in a prescribed form of words.

Besides this, there is not the least evidence that such a form was then used in the Christian church: scenes like this demonstrate more clearly than abstract arguments could, that such a form was not needed and would not be used.

Paul and his fellow Christians, on the sand of the seashore, would pour forth the gushing emotions of their souls in language their circumstances would suggest and such a scene would demand. Indeed, it is presumed impossible for anyone to read this narrative dispassionately without believing that they offered an extempore prayer.