Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
Now when we had discovered, [anafanentes ( G398) - passive for active; not anafanantes (G398), which has next to no support] - the nautical phrase is, 'having sighted'
Cyprus, we left it on the left hand - that is, steered southeast of it, leaving it on the northwest,
And, sailed into Syria, х eis (G1519) Surian (G4947 )] - rather, 'for Syria.' The term "Syria" is here used in its Roman acceptation, as the province to which Phoenicia and Palestine belonged.
And landed at Tyre - the celebrated ancient seat of maritime commerce for both east and west. It might be reached from Patara in about two days.
For there the ship was to unlade her burden - to discharge her cargo: it was this that gave the apostle time for what follows. Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
And finding disciples, [aneurontes ( G429) tous ( G3588) matheetas (G3101 )]. The proper rendering is, 'And finding up,' or, as we say, 'finding out the disciples.' For, from what is recorded in Acts 11:19 (on which see), they probably expected to find such; and the word implies some search. Probably they were not many, but we shall see that they included some gifted persons.
We tarried there seven days - no doubt for the same reason as at Acts 20:6-7 (see there); but of course the ship's movements not only admitted of this stay, but necessitated it. And thus did outward providences minister to what was far higher-as in so many other cases.
Who said to Paul through the Spirit (that is, through prophetic utterance on the part of some of these "disciples"),
That he should not go up to Jerusalem - (see the note at Acts 20:23 , and at Acts 21:11-14.) The prophetic gift in this case (says Chrysostom) was the gift of knowledge, not the gift of wisdom; for while the knowledge of sad things to befall the apostle at Jerusalem was of the Spirit, the entreaty not to go there was of themselves.