Acts 21:1-7 from Miletus to Ptolemais
Verses 1-3: The course to Tyre. From Miletus the ship launched out on a straight course to Coos (an island in the Aegean Sea); and next they came to Rhodes (another island, and a city by the same name),[1] and then to Patara (a port in southwestern Asia). At Patara, they found and boarded a ship sailing to Phenicia. Previously they had been on ships that made short coastal trips. They now board a ship carrying cargo across the Mediterranean from Patara to Phenicia, a distance of about 350 to 400 miles. “when we had discovered Cyprus we left it on the left hand” indicates that the ship passed by west to east, with the island of Cyprus on their left; they sailed under/south of it, came close enough to see it, but did not stop. The ship landed at Tyre, stopping there for the purpose of unloading her cargo (“unlade her burden” γομον).
Verse 4-6: In Tyre they made connection with other disciples and stayed seven days with them. “finding disciples” suggests that they expected them to be there and looked them out. They may have been part of those “scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen” (Acts 11:19; 15:3). If so, Saul (now Paul) was a major leader driving that persecution! That a somewhat large band of travelers spent an entire week in Tyre suggests a congregation of believers large enough to provide food and lodging for such a group of travelers. They possessed love for the brethren (v. 5; John 13:35) and spiritual gifts (v. 4; Romans 12:6). These disciples had a message warning Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem. “said to Paul through the Spirit” That is, by means of the Spirit, they knew what awaited Paul and did not want him to go. Nevertheless, after seven days, Paul and company set out on their way toward Jerusalem. There is no contradiction that the message they received through the Spirit caused them to believe Paul should not go while Paul was determined to go. Their continuing love and fellowship towards Paul demonstrate that they did not believe he was willfully disobeying the Spirit of God. These Tyrian disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied them out of the city. All the disciples prayed together before parting. They met on the sea shore, for the next leg of the trip would again be by ship. All said their goodbyes. The disciples of Tyre returned home, and the party of traveling disciples boarded ship. Cf. Acts 20:36-38.
Paul told the elders of the church at Ephesus “that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me” (20:23). In chapter 21 the record gives two specific instances of this, (1) in Tyre, and (2) in Cæsarea.
The stay of seven days may have been governed in part by the schedule of the cargo ship. However, if Paul had felt rushed to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost, the party probably could have found another ship. The seven-day stay in Tyre is analogous to the stay in Troas, and may have been governed more by the disciples’ gathering together than the ship’s itinerary. Paul did this also at Puteoli, Acts 28:13-14: “…Puteoli: where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days…”
Verse 7: From Tyre the party traveled to Ptolemais, about 20 miles south of Tyre, and spent one day with the brethren there before heading to the next location.
[1] In
secular history Rhodes is known for the Colossus, called one of the “Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.” The Colossus was a statue of the Greek sun god
Helios, over 100 feet tall, erected in the city of Rhodes circa 280 BC. It was
collapsed by an earthquake circa 226 BC. It did not still stand there when
Paul, Luke, and company came to Rhodes, though its ruins may have been visible.
Hippocrates, the Greek physician often called “the Father of Medicine” and who
is credited with coining the Hippocratic Oath, was born on the island of Coos
circa 460 BC.
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