Acts 21:1 - Meaning and Application

We can see here how much effort Paul had to make before he could get away from Ephesus. The chapter begins, “we had gotten from them,” meaning they were almost torn away by force. Both sides felt the pain of parting, Paul because he loved them and they because they did not want to lose him, but there was no other choice.

This kind of parting is often like what happens when good people are taken by death. They are, so to speak, taken away from their friends on earth, who would hold on to them if they could. It is a hard separation, even when it is necessary.

The voyage from there went well. They sailed directly to Coos, a well-known Greek island, then the next day to Rhodes, famous for its great Colossus statue, and from there to Patara, an important seaport in Lycia (Acts 21:1). There they found a ship going to Phoenicia, exactly the route they needed (Acts 21:2). We should recognize God’s care when things come together so well and small details help move our plans forward. We may truly say, “It is God who makes my way perfect.”

They took that ship to Phoenicia, that is, toward Tyre. On the way they saw Cyprus, the island Barnabas came from, but they passed it on the left and sailed along the coast of Syria until they reached Tyre (Acts 21:3). Tyre had once been a famous trading center, and though it had declined, it still had enough trade for the ship to unload there.

When Paul arrived at Tyre, he found disciples there, people who had accepted the gospel and openly followed Christ. Wherever Paul went, he asked where the believers were, found them, and spent time with them. People who share the same faith naturally seek one another out.

Jesus had not preached the gospel at Tyre during His earthly ministry, even though He had gone near that region at times. He had not given Tyre and Sidon the same direct opportunities He gave to Chorazin and Bethsaida, though He knew they would have responded better if they had received them (Luke 10:13-14). But after Christ’s command to carry the gospel to the nations was widened, the message reached Tyre, and disciples were there. Some think Isaiah had this in mind when he said, “Her merchandise and her pay will be holy to the Lord” (Isaiah 23:18).

Paul stayed with these disciples seven days because they urged him to remain as long as he could. He had also stayed seven days at Troas (Acts 20:6), and here again he stayed long enough to spend a Lord’s Day with them and likely preach publicly. Good people want to do good wherever they go, and when we find disciples, we may bless them and be blessed by them.

The disciples at Tyre were given spiritual insight, so they knew by the Spirit that Paul would face trouble in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit had warned of this in every city (Acts 20:23). Since this would become such a well-known event, God had it foretold beforehand so people would not stumble when it happened, but would have their faith strengthened.

They also had grace in their hearts, so out of love for Paul and concern for the churches, especially the Gentile churches that could hardly spare him, they begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. They assumed the warning was conditional, as though they were saying, “If he goes, trouble will come.” Their aim was good, because they wanted him to remain free and useful for the church. Still, they misunderstood God’s purpose, because Paul’s suffering would bring glory to God and help spread the gospel. Paul knew this, and their strong effort to stop him makes his brave, godly resolve shine even more clearly.

Though they were not Paul’s own converts, the believers at Tyre showed him great respect when he left. They had known him only seven days, yet they all came together with their wives and children to say farewell, ask for his blessing, and go with him as far as the shore allowed. We should honor not only our own pastors and teachers, but also all faithful ministers of Christ, for His sake and for the sake of their work. We should especially honor those whom God has clearly made useful to many people.

It is also good to train children to respect godly people and faithful ministers. At Tyre, the wives and children came too, which made the honor shown to Paul even greater and gave them a chance to benefit from his teaching and prayers. Just as God took notice of the children at Bethel who mocked a prophet, He surely took notice of the children at Tyre who honored an apostle, just as Christ accepted the praise of little children.

We should also use our opportunities well and make the most of them for the good of our souls. They escorted Paul so they could have more of his company and prayers. Some understand Psalm 45:12 as pointing to this kind of respect, “The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,” because it is likely they brought gifts to Paul when he left, as people often do for friends going by sea (Acts 28:10).

They ended their parting with prayer, just as Paul and the Ephesian elders had done (Acts 20:36). In this, Paul gave us an example as well as instruction, teaching us to pray always and without stopping. They knelt on the shore and prayed, so their last farewell would be made holy and sweet by prayer. Paul prayed for himself, for them, and for all the churches. He was a man of much prayer, and a man powerful in prayer.

People who are about to travel by sea should, when they leave the shore, commit themselves to God in prayer and place themselves under his care. Even when they leave solid ground, they should trust that their faith will still stand firm on God’s providence and promise.

They knelt on the shore and prayed, even though the ground may have been rough or dirty. Paul wanted people to pray everywhere, and he lived that way himself. Wherever he prayed, he bent his knees. As George Herbert said, kneeling never ruined silk stockings.

At last they said their goodbyes, with tender embraces and words full of love and sorrow (Acts 21:6). Then they boarded the ship and set off, while the others went back home. It was the kind of parting that reminds us this is a world of farewells. Notice how they each handled it: those who had to travel were glad to have a ship, and those who had no reason to travel were glad to have a home. Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar in your tents.

Paul left his blessing with those who stayed behind, and those who stayed sent their prayers after those who went to sea.

They also came to Ptolemais, not far from Tyre, and some think it was the same as Accho, a town in the tribe of Asher (Judges 1:31). Paul asked to go ashore there so he could greet the brothers, ask about their spiritual condition, and show his love to them. He could not stay long, but he did not want to pass by without paying them respect. He stayed with them one day, and it may have been the Lord’s Day. A short visit is better than no visit at all.