Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 21
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Acts 21
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Acts 21
"And when it came to pass that were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:" — Acts 21:1 (ASV)
After the emotional farewell, Paul and his party (including Luke) continued by boat to Cos. The next day they sailed to Rhodes, the capital of the large Dodecanese island of Rhodes just twelve miles off the mainland of Asia Minor. The next stop was Patara, a Lycian city on the southwest coast of Asia Minor with a fine harbor. There Paul and his party boarded a large merchant ship bound nonstop for Tyre, for they desired to travel quickly.
"and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail." — Acts 21:2 (ASV)
After the emotional farewell, Paul and his party (including Luke) continued by boat to Cos. The next day they sailed to Rhodes, the capital of the large Dodecanese island of Rhodes just twelve miles off the mainland of Asia Minor. The next stop was Patara, a Lycian city on the southwest coast of Asia Minor with a fine harbor. There Paul and his party boarded a large merchant ship bound nonstop for Tyre, for they desired to travel quickly.
"And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden." — Acts 21:3 (ASV)
Paul and company sailed the four hundred miles from Patara to Tyre, the famous Phoenician seaport of Syria. A church had been established at Tyre through the witness of the Christian Hellenists forced to leave Jerusalem at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom (cf. 11:19). While the ship was unloading, Paul had fellowship with the believers there for a week, who tried to dissuade him “through the Spirit” from going on to Jerusalem. This phrase most likely means that the Spirit’s message, given through a Christian prophet, was the occasion for the believers’ concern because they knew what lay in store for him (cf. vv.10– 15).
"And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem." — Acts 21:4 (ASV)
Paul and company sailed the four hundred miles from Patara to Tyre, the famous Phoenician seaport of Syria. A church had been established at Tyre through the witness of the Christian Hellenists forced to leave Jerusalem at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom (cf. 11:19). While the ship was unloading, Paul had fellowship with the believers there for a week, who tried to dissuade him “through the Spirit” from going on to Jerusalem. This phrase most likely means that the Spirit’s message, given through a Christian prophet, was the occasion for the believers’ concern because they knew what lay in store for him (cf. vv.10– 15).
"And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;" — Acts 21:5 (ASV)
After a scene reminiscent of the parting with the Ephesian elders (cf. 20:36– 37), Paul and his companions sailed from Tyre. The ship went on to Ptolemais, another ancient Phoenician seaport south of Tyre. There it made harbor for a day, undoubtedly again to unload cargo. Once more Paul met with the believers of the city. Probably Christianity at Ptolemais also stemmed from the witness of the Hellenistic Christians (cf. 11:19).
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