Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 21:3
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.
3. Now when we had discovered Cyprus ] Rev. Ver. “And when we had come in sight of.” “Discover” has now acquired the special sense of “finding for the first time.” On Cyprus, see notes on Act 13:4 seqq.
we Syria ] This was the general name for the whole district lying along the Mediterranean from Cilicia down to Egypt.
Tyre ] One of the chief ports of Phnicia, and a city of very great antiquity. It was built partly on the mainland and partly on an island, and is often mentioned both in Scripture and in profane literature. It is noticed as a strongly fortified city as early as Jos 19:29. We read of its fame in the time of Solomon in connexion with the building of the temple, and Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, was the daughter of Ethbaal, called King of the Sidonians in Scripture, but in Josephus ( Ant. viii. 13, 2) King of Tyre. The city was besieged by Shalmaneser and afterwards by Nebuchadnezzar, and was captured by Alexander the Great.
Christ went on one of his journeys from Galilee into the neighbourhood of Tyre, if not to the city itself, which was about 30 miles from Nazareth, and it must have been then in much the same condition as at this visit of St Paul.
there the ship, &c.] And so most probably the further voyage to Ptolemais was made in a different vessel, this one going no farther.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Had discovered Cyprus – See the notes on Act 4:36.
Into Syria – See the notes on Mat 4:24.
And landed at Tyre – See the notes on Mat 11:21.
To unlade her burden – Her cargo. Tyre was formerly one of the most commercial cities of the world; and it is probable that in the time of Paul its commercial importance had not entirely ceased.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Cyprus] See Clarke on Ac 4:36, and see the track of this journey on the map.
Tyre] A city of Phoenicia, one of the most celebrated maritime towns in the world. See Clarke on Ac 12:20; and See Clarke on Mt 11:21.
There the ship was to unlade her burden.] The freight that she had taken in at Ephesus she was to unlade at Tyre; to which place she was bound.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Cyprus; another island in the Mediterranean.
Unlade her burden; of goods and merchandise which she had taken in at Ephesus.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. when we . . .discovered“sighted,” as the phrase is.
Cyprus, we left it on theleft handthat is, steered southeast of it, leaving it on thenorthwest.
sailed into“unto”
Syria, and landed at Tyrethecelebrated seat of maritime commerce for East and West. It might bereached from Patara in about two days.
there the ship was to unladeher burdenwhich gave the apostle time for what follows.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Now when we had discovered Cyprus,…. An island, as the Syriac version here calls it, which lay between Syria and Cilicia;
[See comments on Ac 4:36]; and was, according to R. Benjamin l, four days sail from Rhodes, before mentioned:
we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria; that part of it called Phoenicia:
and landed at Tyre; the chief city of Phoenicia, famous for navigation and commerce: it stood about four furlongs distant from the shore, and was joined to the continent by Alexander the great m. The account Jerom n gives of it is this,
“Tyre, the metropolis of Phoenicia, in the tribe of Nephthalim, is near twenty miles from Caesarea Philippi; this was formerly an island, but made continent land by Alexander:–its chief excellency lies in shell fish and purple.”
It was a very ancient city, though it seems not so ancient as Sidon, from whence it was distant about two hundred furlongs. Herodotus o says, that in his time it had been inhabited two thousand three hundred years; Hiram was king of it in Solomon’s time; yea, mention is made of it in Joshua’s time, if the text in Jos 19:29 is rightly translated: some say it was built seventy six years before the destruction of Troy. It is to be distinguished into old Tyre, which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and the island of Tyre, which was conquered by Alexander, and new Tyre annexed, by him to the continent. In the Hebrew language it is called , “Tzur”, or “Tzor”, which signifies a “rock”, being built on one; though some think it has its name from , “Tzehor”, which signifies “brightness”; it is now called Sur or Suri, and is quite desolate, being only a receptacle of thieves and robbers: though R. Benjamin says, in his time, new Tyre was a very good city, and had a port within it, into which ships go between two towers; and that there were in it four hundred Jews, and some of them skilful in the Talmud; –who further observes, that if anyone ascended the walls of new Tyre, he might see Tyre the crowning city, Isa 23:8 which was a stone’s cast from the new; but if a man would go in a boat on the sea, he might see towers, streets, and palaces in the bottom p:
for there the ship was to unlade her burden; which she had taken in, in the ports where she had been, but where is not certain; for that she had been at Ephesus, and took in her lading there, as Grotius thinks, does not appear; since this was not the ship the apostle and his company sailed in from Miletus, but which they went aboard at Patara, Ac 21:1.
l Itinerar. p. 30. m Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. Mela, l. 1. c. 12. n De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. K. o Euterpe, l. 2. c. 44. p ltinerar. p. 35, 36.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When we had come in sight of Cyprus ( ). First aorist active participle of (Doric form – rather than the Attic –), old verb to make appear, bring to light, to manifest. Having made Cyprus visible or rise up out of the sea. Nautical terms. In the N.T. only here and Lu 19:11 which see.
On the left hand (). Compound feminine adjective like masculine. They sailed south of Cyprus.
We sailed (). Imperfect active of common verb , kept on sailing till we came to Syria.
Landed at Tyre ( ). Came down to Tyre. Then a free city of Syria in honour of its former greatness (cf. the long siege by Alexander the Great).
There (). Thither, literally. Only one other instance in N.T., 22:5 which may be pertinent = (there).
Was to unlade ( ). Periphrastic imperfect middle of , late verb from and , load, but here only in the N.T. Literally, “For thither the boat was unloading her cargo,” a sort of “customary” or “progressive” imperfect (Robertson, Grammar, p. 884).
Burden (). Cargo, old word, from , to be full. Only here and Re 18:11f. in N.T. Probably a grain or fruit ship. It took seven days here to unload and reload.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Discovered [] . Better, sighted. A nautical phrase. The verb literally means to bring to light : and its use here is analogous to the English marine phrase, to raise the land.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Now when we had discovered Cyprus,” (anaphanates de ten Kupron) “Then sighting Cyprus,” the large island of Cyprus, “When we had come in sight of, sailed close by Cyprus,” perhaps near the city port of Paphos on the southeast of the island.
2) “We left it on the left hand, and sailed to Syria,” (kai katalipontes auten euonumon epleomen eis Surian) “And leaving it on the left we sailed into Syria,” a Roman province of prominence in that day. Tyre in Syria, also known as ancient Phoenecia, was some 340 miles southeast from Patara.
3) “And landed at Tyre” (kai katelthomen eis Tyron) “And came down to Tyre,” an ancient city of greatness in Phoenecia, a city of commerce and greatness even in the time of Solomon, still well known today for its fabrics and architecture, a city of some ten thousand people, mostly Jews, Arabs, (Mohammedans) and a few Christians.
4) “For there the ship was to unload her burden.” (ekeise gar to ploion en apophortizomenon ton gomon) “For the ship was to unload the cargo there,” at her main port of destination. The city was called “a strong city” in 1444 B.C., Jos 19:29. It was an international marine center, a fortified city known especially for her shipbuilding and merchandising, and eventual judgement for her sins, Mat 11:20-21; Eze 27:1-17. Our Lord visited Tyre and Sidon coasts and there healed the daughter of a Syrophenician woman, Mat 15:21-28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
17.
IN THE SIGHT OF CYPRUS ON THE LEFT. Act. 21:3 a.
Act. 21:3 a
And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand,
Act. 21:3 a The writer has found words of Conybeare and Howson so expressive on this point that we reproduce them here:
The distance between these two points is three hundred and forty geographical miles; (between Patara and Tyre) and if we bear in mind that the northwesterly winds in April often blow like monsoons in the Levant, and that the rig of ancient sailing vessels was peculiarly favorable to a quick run before the wind, we come at once to the conclusion that the voyage might easily be accomplished in forty-eight hours. Everything in Lukes account gives a strong impression that the weather was in the highest degree favorable; and there is one picturesque phrase employed by the narrator which sets vividly before us some of the phenomena of a rapid voyage. That which is said in the English version concerning the discovering of Cyprus and leaving it on the left hand is the original for a nautical expression implying that the land appeared to rise quickly as they sailed past it to the southward. It would be in the course of the second day (probably in the evening that the high blue eastern land appeared. The highest mountain of Cyprus is a rounded summit, and there would be snow upon it at that season of the year. After the second night the first land in sight would be the high range of Lebanon in Syria (Act. 21:3), and they would easily arrive at Tyre before the evening. (Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul, pages 532533).
816.
How did providence intervene at Patara?
817.
How could the 340 miles between Patara and Tyre be covered in only 48 hours?
818.
What picturesque phrase sets forth the nautical note in this trip from Patara to Tyre?
18.
AT TYRE. Act. 21:3 b Act. 21:6.
Act. 21:3 b
we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
Act. 21:4
And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
Act. 21:5
And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;
Act. 21:6
and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again.
Act. 21:3 b Act. 21:4 While the ship was tarrying here, unloading her cargo Paul found the followers of the Way in the town and met with them for seven days; this must have included a Lords Day. He probably carried on a one week revival here as he had in the same length of time at Troas.
There were prophets among the saints in Tyre, and these through the revelation of the Holy Spirit besought Paul not to go to Jerusalem. No word is given by Luke of Pauls response to this divine suggestion, but Pauls actions speak louder than his unrecorded words. When the days of the ships stop were fulfilled they pressed on, even as Someone Else, steadfastly toward Jerusalem.
819.
How long a stop at Tyre and what did Paul do?
820.
What warning was given at Tyre? Pauls response?
Act. 21:5-6 But not without the tenderest of partings, the disciples of Tyre followed the servants of God out of the city, down to the beach. It would seem that following the final gathering with Paul and the brethren that the whole congregation, women, children, and men all walked with the preachers down to see them off.
What a touching scene of farewell ensued. What words of trust and love were exchanged. And then I can read into the closing words of Luke a certain loneliness that he must have felt . . . but they returned home again.
821.
How can we see a touch of loneliness in the words but they returned home again?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(3) When we had discovered Cyprus . . .The use of a technical term here is specially characteristic of St. Luke. Here the meaning is that, as soon as they sighted Cyprus, they stood to the southeast, and so had it on their left as they continued their voyage to Syria. At Tyre they had again to change their ship. On the position and history of Tyre, see Note on Mat. 11:21.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Cyprus Through whose length Paul with Barnabas had preached Christianity.
Left hand From Patara they emerged from all the insular straits and launched “O’er the glad waters of the dark blue sea.” In these fresh days of spring, the snows still lingered on the rounded summits of Cyprus, but the shores were clad in rich verdure. The breeze was evidently fair and strong, and their sail now by night as well as by day, through a voyage of three hundred and forty miles, at a rate a little more than seven knots an hour, would land them on Monday, the thirtieth day of April, at Tyre.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo.’
Soon they passed by Cyprus on their left, and then continued on to Syria, landing at Tyre because it was there that the ship was to unload its cargo. We are here reminded that much of what happened on the voyage had been partly determined by the ships’ schedules. Compare Act 15:3 for a previous visit to the area.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 21:3. Tyre, The metropolis of Phoenicia, Act 21:2 and the most famous mart of the East. See the notes on Isaiah 23.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 21:3 . .] but when we had sighted Cyprus . The expression is formed analogously to the well-known construction and the like. Winer, p. 244[E. T. 326]; Buttmann, neut . Gr. p. 164 [E. T. 189].
] an adjective to . See Khner, 685, and examples in Wetstein.
] towards Syria . See on Gal 1:21 .
, to run in, to land , the opposite of (Act 21:1-2 ), Act 27:2 , Act 28:12 ; Luk 5:11 ; often with Greek writers since the time of Homer.
] for thither the ship unladed its freight ; denotes the direction (toward the city) which they had in view in the unlading (in the harbour).
.] does not stand pro futuro (in opposition to Grotius, Valckenaer, Kuinoel, and others), but . means: it was in the act of its unlading . Comp. Winer, p. 328 [E. T. 439].
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
3 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.
Ver. 3. Now when he had discovered Cyprus ] Vox nautica, a mariner’s term; so is , 1Co 7:29 . St Paul was a great trader of Christ both by land and sea; and had terms ready for both. See Trapp on “ 1Co 7:29 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
3. ] for the construction, see reff. and Winer, edn. 6, 39. 1: having been shewn Cyprus , literally. Wetst. cites from Theophanes, p. 392, , , . ‘The graphic language of an eyewitness, and of one familiar with the phraseology of seamen, who, in their own language, appear to raise the land in approaching it.’ Smith, Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul. But would not this remark rather apply to the active participle? Compare ‘aerias Phacum abscondimus arces,’ n. iii. 291.
] sc. , i.e. to the E. This would be the straight course from Patara to Tyre.
. ., we held our course , steered, for Syria.
.] we came down to, the result of having borne down upon.
] This city, so well known for its commercial importance and pride, and so often mentioned in the O. T. prophets, was now a free town (Jos. Ant. xv. 41. Strabo, xvi. 2, , ) of the province of Syria.
] If this is an adv. of motion as generally, the reference may be to the carrying and depositing the cargo in the town (De Wette), or to the thitherward direction of the voyage (Meyer): but in the only other place where occurs (ref. [see also ref. Job]) it simply = , so that perhaps no motion is included.
.] The pres. part. indicates the intention, as before.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 21:3 . .: “when we had come in sight of,” R.V., Doric form of 1st aorist active, Winer-Schmiedel, p. 112, here a technical word (only in Luke, cf. Luk 19:11 , but in a different sense), i.e. , after we had rendered Cyprus visible (to us) = facere ut appareat (Blass); Virgil, neid , iii., 275, 291, see also Rendall’s note in loco (for the opposite idiom, , cf. Thuc., v., 65). .: sailing southeast they would have passed close to Paphos in Cyprus. : “imperf. cursum, aorist. finem denotat” (Blass). : now a free town of the R. province of Syria, Strabo, xvi., 2, in honour of its ancient greatness; it is still a place of considerable commerce and consequence, still famous for its fabrics and its architecture. At present it numbers amongst its five thousand inhabitants a few Jews, the rest being Mohammedans and Christians. Besides O.T. references, see 1Ma 11:59 , 2Ma 4:18 ; 2Ma 4:44 , and further for its history, C. H., small edit., p. 563, Hamburger, Real-Encyclopdie des Judentums , i., 7, 998, Schaff-Herzog, Encyclopdia , iv., “Tyre”. : the adverb may be used here with something of its proper force, but in Act 22:5 , the only other place in which it occurs in N.T., simply = , Simcox, Language of the New Testament , p. 179. Page ( in loco ) renders “for there the ship was unlading her cargo,” being used because of the idea of movement and carrying into the town contained in the “unloading”. .: taken sometimes as the present for the future, Burton, p. 59, but see also Winer-Moulton, xlv., 5, and Wendt (1888) in loco (Philo, De Prm, et Pn. , 5; and Athenus, ii., 5, of lightening a ship in a storm). ( ): so in classical Greek, Herod., Dem., etc., in LXX of the load of a beast of burden, Exo 23:5 , 2Ki 5:17 ; in N.T. only elsewhere in Rev 18:11 , of any merchandise.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
discovered = sighted. Greek. anaphainomai. App-106. Only here and Luk 19:11.
Cyprus. The Kittim of the O.T. See Num 24:24. Isa 23:1, Isa 23:12. Jer 2:10. Eze 27:6. Dan 11:30. Compare Act 4:36; Act 13:4-12.
sailed. Greek. pleo. Only here, Act 27:2, Act 27:6, Act 27:24. Luk 8:23.
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
landed. Greek. katago. Literally bring down. Occurs elsewhere Act 9:30; Act 22:30; Act 23:15, Act 23:20, Act 23:28; Act 27:3; Act 28:12. Luk 5:11. Rom 10:6.
at = into. Greek. eis.
Tyre. See Mat 11:21.
there. Greek. ekeise. Only here and Act 22:5.
unlade = unload. Greek. apophorlizomai. Only here.
burden. Greek. gomos. Only here and Rev 18:11, Rev 18:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
3. ] for the construction, see reff. and Winer, edn. 6, 39. 1: having been shewn Cyprus, literally. Wetst. cites from Theophanes, p. 392, , , . The graphic language of an eyewitness, and of one familiar with the phraseology of seamen, who, in their own language, appear to raise the land in approaching it. Smith, Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul. But would not this remark rather apply to the active participle? Compare aerias Phacum abscondimus arces, n. iii. 291.
] sc. , i.e. to the E. This would be the straight course from Patara to Tyre.
. .,-we held our course, steered, for Syria.
.] we came down to, the result of having borne down upon.
] This city, so well known for its commercial importance and pride, and so often mentioned in the O. T. prophets, was now a free town (Jos. Ant. xv. 41. Strabo, xvi. 2, , ) of the province of Syria.
] If this is an adv. of motion as generally, the reference may be to the carrying and depositing the cargo in the town (De Wette), or to the thitherward direction of the voyage (Meyer): but in the only other place where occurs (ref. [see also ref. Job]) it simply = , so that perhaps no motion is included.
.] The pres. part. indicates the intention, as before.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 21:3. , Tyre) Where it was foretold in Psa 87:4. Comp. with that psalm, concerning the people of Philistia and the Ethiopians, Act 8:40, Act 21:27.-[ , her burden) So frequently does the kingdom of GOD accommodate itself to the external opportunities of (i.e. afforded by) the world: but GOD directs worldly things by a secret influence to further the progress of His kingdom.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Cyprus: Act 21:16, Act 4:36, Act 11:19, Act 13:4, Act 15:39, Act 27:4
Syria: Act 15:23, Act 15:41, Act 18:18, Jdg 10:6, 2Sa 8:6, Isa 7:2, Mat 4:24, Luk 2:2
Tyre: Act 12:20, Psa 45:12, Psa 87:4, Isa 23:17, Isa 23:18, Mat 11:21, Luk 10:13
Reciprocal: Act 20:3 – sail Gal 1:21 – I came
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Act 21:3. Discovered Cyprus means they came in sight of that island, but passing it on their left they sailed on into Syria, the larger territory of which Phenicia was a small part. The ship landed at Tyre, an important seaport of the last named country. Here the ship was to unload its cargo which made a delay in the journey of seven days.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 21:3. Now when we had discovered Cyprus. The Greek word here rendered when we had discovered, is a nautical expression such as an eye-witness, familiar with the language of sea-Suing men, would have used; literally, having had (Cyprus) brought up to sight, made visible to us above the horizon. There are many such-like phrases in the Acts which taste, so to speak, of the salt sea. It seems more than probable that Luke the physician, the compiler of these apostolic memoirs, had in some portion of his life been connected with some of the great trading ships of the Levant; very likely he had been employed on board in a professional capacity. The ship of Paul, we read, passed Cyprus, the island he knew so well, the home probably still of his old friend Barnabas, on the left, as they sailed by it to the southward.
And sailed into Syria. The geographical name Syria is here employed in the Roman sense, according to which Phoenicia and Palestine were considered parts of the province of Syria. The distance between Patara and Tyre was 340 geographical miles.
And landed at Tyre. In St. Pauls days the glory of Tyre, as described in the prophecies of Isaiah and Ezekiel, had long since faded. Its merchants were no more princes. The modern cities of Antioch and Csarea had proved successful rivals to the old capital of Phoenicia. In honour of its ancient grandeur, the Roman Empire gave it the privilege of a free city. It retained a considerable position among cities, however, until the close of the thirteenth century, when it was taken and destroyed by the Saracens. It has never risen since that awful ruin above the condition of a wretched village. It now, indeed, fulfils the old prophecy, and is literally, with its shapeless ruins by the sea, only a place to spread nets upon (Eze 26:14). Writing of Tyre, Dr. Hackett says: Its most important ruins lie at present beneath the sea; it was with melancholy interest that I looked down upon them through the calm waters, in the long twilight which closed the 10th of May 1852.
For there the ship was to unlade her burden. Literally, for thither ( ). For having come thither, the ship was unlading, etc.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The divine providence is not more signally discovered in governing the motions of the clouds, than it is in ordering the spirits and motions of his ministers. The motion of the clouds is not spontaneous and from themselves, but they move as they are moved by the wind; neither can the ministers of Christ choose their own stations, and govern their own motions, but must go when and whither the Spirit and providence of God directs and guides them; as evidently appears by St. Paul’s present voyage to Jerusalem; though the journey was full of danger, yet his spirit was fully bent and set upon it: I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem.
It was happy for the apostle, and his great advantage, that the will of God was so plainly revealed to him, touching this his journey to Jerusalem; for no sooner did he prepare himself to obey the call of God, and to undertake the journey, but he is presently assaulted by many strong temptations to decline it. The first rub he met with in his way, was from the disciples at Tyre, who spake by the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
But did not the Spirit of God then contradict itself, in bidding the apostle go, and then speaking to him by those disciples not to go?
Not at all; St. Paul by extraordinary revelation was commanded to go to Jerusalem; these disciples by a spirit of prophecy, only foretold the difficulties and dangers that would attend him in his journey, and so, through kindness and human affection, they dissuaded him from undertaking it.
We must distinguish between the prediction of trouble, and the counsel of safety.
The prediction of trouble; so they said through the Spirit, that it would be dangerous for Paul to go to Jerusalem.
The counsel of safety proceeded from their private love and affection to him; whereby they dissuaded him from going to Jerusalem.
Learn from hence, 1. That divine precept, and not providence, is to rule our way to duty.
Learn, 2. That no discouragements or hindrances whatsoever will justify our neglect of a commanded duty. Whatever difficulties or discouragements lay in the way of the apostle’s duty, he overcame them all with an heroic and truly Christian resolution, saying, ver. 13. I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of Jesus.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
See notes on verse 1