John Calvin Commentary Acts 21:7

"And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day." — Acts 21:7 (ASV)

Luke briefly declares that Paul was also received at Ptolemais by the brothers. This is a city of Phoenicia, situated on the sea-coast, not far from the borders of Judea, from which Paul and his companions did not have a long journey to Caesarea. But if readers wish to know more concerning the location of these regions, they should consult geographers.

Furthermore, he says that when he came to Caesarea, they lodged with Philip, whom he calls an Evangelist, though he was one of the seven deacons, as we may see in the sixth chapter (Acts 6:5). From this we can easily gather that that deaconship was an office which continued only for a time, because it would not otherwise have been lawful for Philip to forsake Jerusalem and go to Caesarea.

And here he is presented to us, not as one who voluntarily forsook his office, but as one to whom a greater and more excellent charge was committed. The evangelists, in my judgment, were midway between apostles and teachers. For their function was next to that of the apostles: to preach the gospel in all places and not to have any fixed place of residence; only their degree of honor was lower.

For when Paul describes the order of the Church (Ephesians 4:11), he places them after the apostles in such a way that he shows they have more scope to teach than the pastors, who are bound to specific places. Therefore, Philip exercised the office of a deacon at Jerusalem for a time, whom the Church afterward considered to be a suitable man to whom the treasure of the gospel should be entrusted.