CRITICAL REMARKS
Acts 21:1. And it came to pass that after we had gotten from them and had launched.—Better, as well as literally, And when it came to pass that we had weighed anchor, having departed from them. The “we” certainly included Luke and, most probably, Trophimus (Acts 21:29) and Aristarchus (Acts 27:2); the others (Acts 20:4) presumably proceeded no farther. Timothy may even have returned with the elders from Miletus to Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). With a straight course shows the wind to have been favourable. Compare Acts 16:11. Coos should be Cos, an island on the south-west coast of Asia Minor, and forty miles from Miletus, a distance which could have been performed in six hours. Rhodes.—Another island lying upon the south of Asia Minor, on the coast of Caria. Patara.—A seaport of Lycia, near the left bank of the Xanthus, celebrated for its oracle of Apollo.
Acts 21:2. Finding a ship sailing over. Lit., having found a vessel crossing over. The reason for thus changing vessels may have been either that the one they left was not proceeding further, or was not fit for venturing far from the coast, or that the one they boarded was just leaving when they landed at Patara, so that by availing themselves of it they lost no time.
Acts 21:3. Discovered Cyprus.—Better, sighted Cyprus. Lit., having had it brought up to sight or made visible. A nautical expression, the opposite of which is to lose sight of land, ἀποκρύπτειν γῆν. We left (or, leaving) it on the left hand.—This shows they sailed to the southward of the island. Syria in those days included Phœnicia (Acts 21:2), of which Tyre (see Acts 12:20) was the capital. For there, etc.—Lit., for thither (i.e., having come thither), the ship was unlading her burden.
Acts 21:4. And finding disciples should be and having found out (by searching, because they were strangers) the disciples who lived there, since the gospel had been preached in Phœnicia at an early period (Acts 11:19), and the Saviour had performed some of His miracles in the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21; Mark 7:24). Seven days (compare Acts 20:6).—The time occupied in unloading the ship; during which time Paul would, without doubt, preach the gospel and consult for the welfare of the Syrian Church. Go up, ἀναβαίνειν, as in Acts 21:12.—The best text reads set foot upon, ἐπιβαίνειν.
Acts 21:5. And when we should be and when it came to pass that we had accomplished those, or the days named in Acts 21:4. The days were not spent in refitting the ship (Meyer), but in refreshing the disciples. Wives and children.—Only mention of wives and children in the Acts.
HOMILETICAL ANALYSIS.—Acts 21:1-6
Seven days at Tyre; or, Impending Danger announced
I. The voyage from Miletus to Tyre.—
1. From Miletus to Patara.
(1) The company of voyagers. Paul and his companions, now reduced to three, Trophimus, Aristarchus, and Luke, the others Sosipater, Secundus, Gaius, Timotheus, and Tychicus, having either remained behind at Miletus, or gone to their several homes, or departed to various fields of labour. “So part we in this world of care to meet again in dear Jerusalem.”
(2) The sorrowful farewell spoken on the sea-beach, with hot tears and tender embraces, and with the feeling present in every heart that never again would they all look each other in the face on earth. A presentiment which all companies may feel on breaking up.
(3) The speedy voyage. The first night the vessel anchored at Cos, famous for its wines and fabrics, for its temple of Æsculapius, or school of medicine, and for its two distinguished natives, Hippocrates the physician, and Apelles the painter. The ship had made a run of six or seven hours from Miletus, which shows it must have sailed from the latter port about noon. The next day, having rounded Cape Crio, it headed eastward, a distance of fifty miles, and lay to for the second night in Rhodes, then celebrated as being “the most beautiful spot in this perhaps the fairest portion of the world,” a current proverb saying that “the sun shone every day in Rhodes.” From the Greek period it had been renowned for its Temple of the Sun and for its Colossus, though when Paul’s ship visited the harbour the latter was in ruins, having been overthrown by an earthquake. The day following, the barque landed at Patara, a coast town of Lycia, and a place of some importance and splendour, possessing a convenient harbour (now an inland marsh) and a celebrated temple and oracle of Apollo, which almost rivalled that of Delphi (Herod., I. 182, III. 4).
2. From Patara to Tyre. Scarcely had the vessel anchored in the harbour of Patara when Paul and his companions found another ship, a merchantman, bound for Phœnicia, in the act of setting sail, and having taken out passages in it once more confronted the dangers of the deep. Whether the ship they left was not proceeding farther, or they were unwilling to wait for it, need not be curiously inquired after. It admirably served their purpose to embark on the one they found weighing anchor, and hurry to their destination. Passing by the island of Cyprus (Acts 4:36) on the left hand—i.e., keeping to its south, the Phœnician merchantman steered her course for Tyre to which she was bound with a cargo. (On the commercial importance of Tyre in Old Testament times, see Ezekiel 27) As the distance between Patara and Tyre was 340 geographical miles, several days would most likely be consumed in this part of the voyage.
II. The seven days’ stay in Tyre.—
1. The unlading of the ship. The commercial greatness of Tyre. Never was a more precious cargo discharged at her wharves than when Paul and his companions disembarked, carrying with them the unsearchable riches of salvation to proclaim to its inhabitants.
2. The search for the disciples. Paul probably knew that already the gospel had been preached and the nucleus of a Church formed there. That the Christians were not numerous in Tyre may be inferred from the circumstance that they required to be searched out. Paul’s inquiry after them arose no doubt partly from a desire of Christian fellowship in a heathen city, and partly from a wish to impart unto them some benefit by preaching among them (compare Romans 1:11).
3. The warning of Paul. Given by the disciples, who, in speaking as they did, acted as the organs and mouthpiece of the Holy Ghost, who never did, and does not yet restrict His influences or communications to official persons, but imparts them to whomsoever He will (John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:11). The tenor of their warning was that Paul should not set foot in Jerusalem, obviously because of the danger they saw impending.
If we ask, Why did the Spirit through these men warn Paul? It could not be that the Spirit did not wish Paul to visit Jerusalem, because it must already have been in the Spirit’s plan that Paul should go to Jerusalem, be apprehended there, and carried thence to Rome. The only answer possible seems to be that in this way the Spirit desired to confirm the impression already made upon Paul’s heart, that “bonds and afflictions” were waiting him (Acts 20:23), and to test if not the sincerity, at least the strength and tenacity of his faith.
III. The pathetic farewell to Tyre.—
1. The affectionate convoy. The whole body of the disciples with their wives and children, unwilling to be parted from the apostle and his companions, repeated the scene which had a few days before been witnessed in Miletus, and accompanied them on their way till they reached the outskirts of the city. A scene like this attests the strength of that spiritual affection which a true minister of Christ can inspire in the bosoms of his hearers.
2. The prayer meeting on the beach. Recalling the similar interview with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:36), and the fast of Ezra and his fellow-travellers on the Ahava (Ezra 8:21). How much more appropriate for Christians to part at a prayer meeting than at a social banquet, with supplications and tears and solemn commendations of each other to God than with songs and laughter, wine and wassail.
3. The final separation. Bidding each other good-bye, they went their several ways, Paul and his companions to their ship, the Christians of Tyre to their homes. So must all earthly unions and communions be broken up and interrupted till the heavenly union and communion arrive which will never end.
Learn.—
1. How God guides His people on their journeys, whether these be by sea or land.
2. How Christ’s disciples draw to one another, even in strange cities.
3. How the Spirit of Christ tries and tests the faith and patience of those He leads.
4. How providence assigns to each man his own particular sphere and work.
HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Acts 21:1-7. Helps and Hindrances.
I. Helps for Paul’s journey.—
1. Favourable winds—a straight course (Acts 21:1).
2. Opportune events—the crossing ship (Acts 21:2).
3. Christian companions—“we came” (Acts 21:1), “we sailed,” “we landed” (Acts 21:3).
4. Religious fellowship with the Tyrian disciples (Acts 21:4).
II. Hindrances to Paul’s journey.—
1. The prophecies of approaching evil. (Acts 21:4).
2. The tearful farewells upon the beach (Acts 21:5-6).
3. The separation from Christian friends which ensued.
Acts 21:4. Seven days in Tyre. “This peculiar period of time mentioned at Troas (Acts 20:6), and again at Puteoli (Acts 28:14), seems to tell us that St. Paul arranged to stay at each of these points where there was a Christian Church—Troas, Puteoli, and Tyre—for the purpose of attending one solemn meeting of the brethren on the Lord’s day, and partaking, once at least, with them all of the Lord’s Supper.—Spence.
Acts 21:5. Husbands, Wives, and Children.
I. All belong to the conception of an ideal home.—All, therefore, should be bound together by ties of love. All should be mutually helpful by lovingly fulfilling the duties which each owes to the other two, and which all owe to God, to the Church, to the world.
II. All have a rightful place within the Christian Church.—All belong to its communion. The Church membership of wives and children no less than of husbands and fathers is distinctly recognised in New Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 7:14).
III. All should take part together in exercises of Christian worship.—Whether in public assemblies or in private gatherings of the disciples, all should, like Cornelius’s household (Acts 10:33), be present. The modern practice of establishing separate Churches for children cannot be too severely condemned.
Children. Are—
I. The heritage of the Lord, and should be thankfully received from, and diligently trained for Him.
II. The ornament of home, and should be sincerely admired and tenderly cherished.
III. The hope of the Church, and should be carefully instructed and nourished up in the faith.
IV. The promise of the world, and should therefore be with much solicitude prepared for their future places in it.
Acts 21:1-5. The Power of Love to Jesus Christ.
I. It brings the unacquainted near (Acts 21:4).
II. It forewarns of possible danger (Acts 21:5).
III. It gladly cultivates fellowship (Acts 21:5).
IV. It humbles itself before God in mutual prayer (Acts 21:5), (Lisco, in Lange).
Acts 21:6. Christian Farewells.
I. Often take place under sorrowful circumstances.
II. Should always be accompanied with prayers as well as tears.
III. Ought not to hinder the prosecution of necessary duties.
IV. Will eventually give place to joyous reunions.