Acts 21

I were gotten from them. “Had torn ourselves away from them” better expresses the force of the original.

came with a straight course, etc. That is, ran before the wind, as in xvi. 11. Coos (now called Stanco), an island forty miles south of Miletus, was celebrated for its wine, silk, and cotton; and Rhodes, about fifty miles south-east, for the huge Colossus which had stood across the harbour, but was then a ruin. Patara was a sea-port of Lycia, about sixty miles further east, where there was a remarkable oracle of Apollo. The voyage thence to Tyre, about 340 miles, would take, with a favourable wind, about forty-eight hours.

3 discovered. That is, “having sighted Cyprus”; its lofty outline lying on the left as they sailed south of it.

Tyre. Respecting Tyre, see notes on Isa. xxiii. The gospel had been brought to Phoenicia at an early period; see xi. 19; xv. 3.

4. And finding disciples. Rather, “And having found out the disciples,” who needed to be sought for.

through the Spirit, etc. The Spirit revealed to them Paul’s danger; from which it was their inference “that he should not go up to Jerusalem.” But his own conviction was the contrary: see vers. 12-14; xx. 22.

5 those days. The days of their stay at Tyre

2. G

7. And when we had finished, etc. Or, “But we, having ended our voyage, arrived from Tyre at Ptolemais.” Ptolemais, anciently Accho (Judges i. 31), now Akka, is celebrated in modern history as St. Jean d’Acre, or Acre.

8. Cæsarea. See viii. 40, and note. The journey from Ptolemais to Cæsarea seems to have been by land.

evangelist. An “evangelist” was a preacher of the gospel; particularly one who went about preaching from place to place (viii.; Eph. iv. 11; 2 Tim. iv. 5).

one of the seven. See vi. 1-7, and notes.

9 which did prophesy. Or, “preach.”

10 many (several) days. Having travelled rapidly since he left Miletus, and being now within three days’ journey of Jerusalem, Paul had a few days to spare.

11 bound his own hands and feet. For similar emblematic actions, see 1 Kings xxii. 11; Jer. xxvii. 2.

13. What mean ye, etc.? Lit., as R.V., “What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart?”

14. The will of the Lord, etc. Regarding his decision as guided by the will of God.

15 our carriages. “Our baggage” (R.V.). Sir W. Ramsay, however, translates “having equipped horses.”

16 brought [with them], etc. Or the meaning may be, “they brought us to one Mnason,” etc., “with whom we should lodge.”

old. That is, old as a disciple, an early convert.

17. Jerusalem. This was Paul’s fifth visit to Jerusalem since his conversion.

18 with us. That is, with Luke, and the messengers of the Gentile churches, who had come with Paul, bringing their contributions for the poor Christians in Judæa.

James. James, “the Lord’s brother,” chief pastor of the church in Jerusalem, mentioned in xii. 17; xv. 13.

20 thousands. Lit., “myriads”; an indefinite expression for a very large number; see 1 Cor. iv. 15; xiv. 19.

which believe. More accurately, “which have believed.”

zealous of the law. In the church at Jerusalem there were many who were “zealous for the law,” and who had been “carefully informed” (as the Greek word signifies, ver. 21) by the violent Judaisers, that Paul encouraged the converted Jews to neglect all the religious institutions of their nation. In fact, Paul does not appear to have discouraged the observance of these ordinances by Jewish converts, but rather the contrary. His practice in this matter may be learned from Rom. xiv.; 1 Cor. vii. 18; ix. 19-23.

24 be at charges with them. Rather, “defray their expenses.” When poor persons had taken a Nazirite vow (see Numb. vi. 1-21), a devout Jew would sometimes bear the expenses of their release. This Paul was advised to do, that he might show his regard for the Mosaic institutions. The advice accorded with his own principles of action (1 Cor. ix. 20), and with his attendance at the national religious festivals (xviii. 21; xx. 16).

25. As touching the Gentiles, etc. See xv. 19-21, and notes.

26 purifying himself. So as to be ceremonially clean, and thus ready to accompany them at the completion of their vow.

to signify, etc. Rather, “giving notice [to the officiating priests] of the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was presented for every one.” It seems probable that seven days’ notice (27) was given of the time when the appointed offering (Numb. vi. 13-17) would be presented, that they might be shaved and discharged from the vow.

27 the Jews which were of Asia. Who appear to have come chiefly from the capital of the province, Ephesus, where they had already persecuted Paul (xx. 19). They probably recognised Trophimus (29) as a fellow-townsman.

28 against the people, etc. A charge like that against Stephen (vi. 13).

Greeks. That is, “Gentiles”: see Rom. i. 16. this holy place. The inner court of the Temple, from which foreigners were strictly excluded.

29. Trophimus, an (the) Ephesian. See xx. 4, and note.

30 drew. R.V. “dragged”; i.e., from the Court of the Israelites to the Court of the Gentiles.

31 went about. Or, “were trying to.”

tidings came. Lit., “information went up,” i.e., to the officer in command of the Roman garrison, in the Tower of Antonia, which overlooked the Temple, communicating with it by flights of steps (“the stairs,” ver. 35). The garrison was at this time a cohort (“band”) of 1000 men; and the “chief captain,” i.e., tribune in command, was Claudius Lysias (xxiii. 26).

32 centurions. As each centurion would be accompanied by his soldiers, there would be at least 200 men. During the festivals, the garrison were constantly under arms, ready to suppress any popular outbreak: see Josephus, Wars, v. 5, § 8.

33 bound with two chains. Probably fastening each arm to a soldier.

34 cried. Lit., “were shouting.”

castle. Or, “barracks,” within the citadel.

37. Canst thou speak Greek? “Dost thou know Greek?” an exclamation of surprise; shown also by his following words, lit., “Thou art not then the Egyptian,” etc.

38 that (the) Egyptian. An Egyptian Jew, who had lately gathered together “the four thousand of the Sicarii” (murderers or assassins), who were numerous at this time. Of these some had been slain, and the rest put to flight. Josephus gives two accounts of this man, which cannot easily be reconciled with each other: see Wars, ii. 13, § 5; Antig. xx. 8, § 6.

40 the stairs. The stairs leading up from the Temple area to the Tower of Antonia; the crowd of people being immediately below.

there. The differences between the accounts are precisely such as might be looked for in two statements, on different occasions, of the same occurrence. Luke clearly regards them as perfectly harmonious.