Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 27:2
And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; [one] Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
2. And entering into ( R. V. embarking in)] The verb is the technical term for “going on board.”
Adramyttium ] a seaport on the coast of that district of Asia Minor called Mysia, and in early times olis. It appears to have been in St Paul’s time a place of considerable trade, and Pliny (Act 27:30) mentions it as an assize town. The reason why the Apostle and his companions embarked on board a vessel from this port was that it was probably the easiest way of getting into the line of vessels going from Asia to the West. The isle of Lesbos lay off the gulf on which Adramyttium was situated, and to which it gave name, and the town was in close connexion with Ephesus, Miletus, Pergamos and Troas, and so was a considerable centre of commerce.
we launched, meaning to sail ] The best MSS. make the participle refer to the ship and not to the Apostle and his company. So read, with Rev. Ver. “a ship which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea.” For in a voyage of such a character they would be very likely to find, in some of the ports at which they touched, a vessel that would convey them to Italy.
Aristarchus ] Mentioned before (Act 19:29) as one of those whom the mob in Ephesus seized in their fury against St Paul. He went, as it seems, with the Apostle into Europe, for he is enumerated amongst those who accompanied St Paul (Act 20:4) on his return. After the present notice of him, we learn nothing more of his history except that from Col 4:10 and Phm 1:24 we can gather that he remained with the Apostle during his first Roman imprisonment.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A ship of Adramyttium – A maritime town of Mysia, in Asia Minor, opposite to the island of Lesbos. This was a ship which had been built there, or which sailed from that port, but which was then in the port of Caesarea. It is evident, from Act 27:6, that this ship was not expected to sail to Italy, but that the centurion expected to find some other vessel into which he could put the prisoners to take them to Rome.
We launched – We loosed from our anchorage, or we set sail. See Act 13:13.
By the coasts of Asia – Of Asia Minor. Probably the owners of the ship designed to make a coasting voyage along the southern part of Asia Minor, and to engage in traffic with the maritime towns and cities.
One Aristarchus, a Macedonian – This man is mentioned as Pauls companion in travel in Act 19:29. He afterward attended him to Macedonia, and returned with him to Asia, Act 20:4. He now appears to have attended him, not as a prisoner, but as a voluntary companion, choosing to share with him his dangers, and to enjoy the benefit of his society and friendship. He went with him to Rome, and was a fellow-prisoner with him there Col 4:10, and is mentioned Phm 1:24 as Pauls fellow-laborer. It was doubtless a great comfort to Paul to have with him two such valuable friends as Luke and Aristarchus; and it was an instance of great affection for him that they were not ashamed of his bonds, but were willing to share his dangers, and to expose themselves to peril for the sake of accompanying him to Rome.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. A ship of Adramyttium] There were several places of this name; and in different MSS. the name is variously written. The port in question appears to have been a place in Mysia, in Asia Minor. And the abb Vertot, in his history of the Knights of Malta, says it is now called Mehedia. Others think it was a city and seaport of Africa, whence the ship mentioned above had been fitted out; but it is more probable that the city and seaport here meant is that on the coast of the AEgean Sea, opposite Mitylene, and not far from Pergamos. See its situation on the map.
Aristarchus, a Macedonian] We have seen this person with St. Paul at Ephesus, during the disturbances there, Ac 19:29, where he had been seized by the mob, and was in great personal danger. He afterwards attended Paul to Macedonia, and returned with him to Asia, Ac 20:4. Now, accompanying him to Rome, he was there a fellow prisoner with him, Col 4:10, and is mentioned in St. Paul’s epistle to Philemon, Phm 1:24, who was probably their common friend.-Dodd. Luke and Aristarchus were certainly not prisoners at this time, and seem to have gone with St. Paul merely as his companions, through affection to him, and love for the cause of Christianity. How Aristarchus became his fellow prisoner, as is stated Col 4:10, we cannot tell, but it could not have been at this time.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Adramyttium; a city in Mysia, a province in the Lesser Asia, almost over against Mitylene, of a pestilent air.
Meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; the ship did belong to Adramyttium, and designed a trading voyage along the coasts of Asia.
Aristarchus; this Aristarthus seems to have been a man of some note, who accompanied St. Paul (together with Luke, the holy penman of this book, and of the Gospel so called) throughout his journey, and none else that we read of. This Aristarchus was one of them that was laid hold on in the uproar at Ephesus, Act 19:29; and having partook of Pauls afflictions in all his travels, was at last his fellow prisoner at Rome, Col 4:10.
Thessalonica; of this city mention is made, Act 17:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. a ship ofbelonging to.
Adramyttiuma port onthe northeast coast of the gean Sea. Doubtless the centurionexpected to find another ship, bound for Italy, at some of the portsof Asia Minor, without having to go with this ship all the way toAdramyttium; and in this he was not disappointed. See on Ac27:6.
meaning to sail by thecoasts“places.”
of Asiaa coastingvessel, which was to touch at the ports of proconsular Asia.
oneAristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with usrather,”Aristarchus the Macedonian,” c. The word “one”should not have been introduced here by our translators, as if thisname had not occurred before for we find him seized by the Ephesianmob as a “man of Macedonia and Paul’s companion intravel” (Ac 19:29) and asa “Thessalonian” accompanying the apostle fromEphesus on his voyage back to Palestine (Ac20:4). Here both these places are mentioned in connection withhis name. After this we find him at Rome with the apostle (Col 4:10;Phm 1:24).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And entering into a ship of Adramyttium,…. Which was in the port of Caesarea; for from thence they set sail to the place where this ship was bound, which very likely was the place here mentioned; there was a city of this name in Africa, and which was built upon the sea shore, and is sometimes called Hadrumentum g, as this is called Adramantos, in the Syriac version; and in the Alexandrian copy, and in another manuscript, “a ship of Adramyntum”; it is mentioned with Carthage, a city in Africa, by Pliny h and Solinus i; the one calls it Adrumetum, and the other Adrymeto; and the latter says, that it, as well as Carthage, was built by the people of Tyre; and so Sallust k says, that the Phoenicians built Hippo, Adrumetum, Leptis, and other cities on the sea coast; and the name seems to be a Phoenician name,
“Hadarmuth”, which signifies “the court of death”; perhaps it might be so called, either from the badness of the air in which it was, or the dangerousness of its haven: Jerom calls it Hadrumetus, and says l it is a city in Byzacium, a country in Africa; he seems to design another place, the metropolis of the Byzacian country, the most fruitful of all the parts of Africa, and which in the Phoenician language was “Hadarmeoth”; which signifies “the court of a hundred”; that is, it was a place so fruitful that it brought forth an hundred fold; and agreeably to which is what Pliny says m, they are called Libyphoenicians, who inhabit Byzacium, a country so named, in circuit two hundred and fifty miles, and of such great fruitfulness that the land returns to the husbandmen an hundred fold. The former of these is most likely to be the place here meant; and though we nowhere read of the apostle being here, nor of the Gospel being preached here in the early times of Christianity; yet in the “fourth” century there was a church in this place, and Philologus was bishop of it, who subscribed at a council held at Carthage in this century; and in the “fifth” century we read of several bishops of this place, as Aurelius, who was in the Chalcedon council, Flavianus in that at Ephesus, which was reckoned an infamous one, and Helladius, who was in the first Ephesine council, and Felix, who was banished by Gensericus n. There was another city of the same name in Aeolia, or Mysia o, and which was formerly called Pedasus, and since Landermiti, and was a seaport, and bids fair to be the place here intended; though since there was an island of Lycia called Adramitis p, now Audromety, and it was at Myra, a city of Lycia, where this ship stopped, Ac 27:5 and where the passengers changed their ship, this seems most likely to be designed:
we launched; in the said ship from Caesarea:
meaning to sail by the coast of Asia; the lesser Asia, along by Ephesus and Miletus, as they did; for in this last place, as before observed, Trophimus was left sick; the Alexandrian copy reads,
“that was about to sail”; that is, the ship of Adramyttium was about to sail, or just ready to sail by the coast of Asia, wherefore the company entered, and set forth in it on their voyage:
one Aristarchus a Macedonian, of Thessalonica, being with us; the same person that was with the apostle at Ephesus, and accompanied him into Asia, Ac 19:29 the same went through with him to Rome, and became his fellowlabourer, and fellow prisoner there, Phm 1:24 Col 4:10.
g Mela, l. 1. c. 7. h Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 34. i Polyhistor. c. 40. k Bellum Jugurth. p. 52. l De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. B. m Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 4. n Magdeburg. Eccl. Hist. cent. 4. c. 9. p. 496, 497. cent. 5. c. 10. p. 648. o Plin. l. 5. c. 30. Ptolom. l. 5. c. 2. Mela. l. 1. c. 18. Pausan. Messenica sive l. 4. p. 268. Herodot. l. 7. c. 42. p Stephanus de urbibus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In a ship of Adramyttium ( H). A boat belonging to Adramyttium, a city in Mysia in the province of Asia. Probably a small coasting vessel on its way home for the winter stopping at various places (). Julius would take his chances to catch another ship for Rome. The usual way to go to Rome was to go to Alexandria and so to Rome, but no large ship for Alexandria was at hand.
We put to sea (). First aorist passive of , usual word in Luke.
Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us ( ). Genitive absolute. Ramsay suggests that Luke and Aristarchus accompanied Paul as his slaves since they would not be allowed to go as his friends. But Luke was Paul’s physician and may have gained permission on that score.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Meaning to sail [ ] . This refers the intention to the voyagers; but the best texts read mellonti, agreeing with ploiw, ship; so that the correct rendering is, as Rev., a ship – which was about to sail.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And entering into a ship of Adramyttium (epibantes de ploio Adramutteno) “Then we went on board a ship of Adramyttium,” belonging to Adramyttium a Roman province called Mysia, located at the top of the gulf of Mysia. It was an important seaport and commercial center, the metropolis of northwest Asia under Roman rule.
2) “We launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; (mellonti plein eis tous kata ten Asian topous Anechthemen) “That was about to sail, (and) we sailed along the Asian coastline,” by important places of trade, along the southern shores of Proconsular Asia.
3) “One Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,” (Aristarchou Makedonos Thessalonikeos) “Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,” called “Paul’s companion in travel,” Act 19:29, while at Ephesus, his “fellow-prisoner” in Rome, Col 4:10, and his fellow-laborer” Phm 1:24. He with Gaius was also seized by the mob at the uproar in Ephesus, Act 19:29.
4) “Being with us.” (ontos sun humin) “There being in (closely in) fellowship with us, (Paul and me);” whether he went by Roman compulsion, as a Christian prisoner, or by Roman permission, to be with Paul is not known, but that he was identified as a friend with Paul, from Paul’s labors in Thessalonica, Ephesus, and finally in Rome is reflected in the above cited passages, He is mentioned as one of the seven with Paul, Act 20:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
−
2. And there continued with us. Luke seemeth so to commend one man’s constancy, that he nippeth the rest. For there were more which did accompany him to Jerusalem; whereof we see two only which remained with him. But because it may be that the rest were letted with some just causes, or that Paul refused to have them to minister unto him, I will say nothing either way. Neither is it an unmeet thing to say − (634) that Luke had some special reason for which he doth commend this man above the rest, albeit he was but one of many. Surely, it is likely that he was a rich man, seeing he was able to bear the charges whereat he was by the space of three years, having left his house. For we heard before ( Act 17:11) that many of the chief families in Thessalonica did receive Christ, and Luke saith, for honor’s sake, that Aristarchus and Secundus came with Paul into Asia ( Act 20:4). Therefore, let it suffice us to hold that which is certain and good to be known, that there is set before us an example of holy patience, because Aristarchus is not wearied with any trouble, but doth willingly take part with Paul in his trouble, − (635) and after that he had been in prison with him two years, he doth now cross the seas, that he may likewise minister to him at Rome, not without the reproachings of many, besides the loss of his goods at home, and so great charges. −
(634) −
“
Nec vero absurdum est,” and there is no absurdity in supposing.
(635) −
“
Sponte eandem cum Paulo fortunam subeat,” spontaneously shares in Paul’s fortunes.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Entering into a ship of Adramyttium.Better, embarking in. Adramyttium was a town on the coast of Mysia, opposite Lesbos. It lay on the Roman road from Assos and Troas to Pergamus, Ephesus, and Miletus. It was a port of considerable importance, and the Gulf of Adramyti still retains its name. There would seem to have been but little direct intercourse by sea between Csarea and Rome, and the voyage had therefore to be made, now in one ship, now in another. Changes of this kind occurred, it will be remembered, in St. Pauls journey from Philippi to Csarea. Possibly it was at first intended that the prisoners should go to Adramyttium, cross to Greece, and then proceed by land. Asia is, of course, the proconsular province so called. Looking to the fact that the fast, i.e., the Day of Atonement (falling this year on Sept. 24th), was over when St. Paul reached Crete (Act. 27:9), the date of embarkation may be fixed, with much probability, in the middle, or towards the end, of the previous August.
One Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica.It is reasonable to infer that Aristarchus, who had come with St. Paul to Jerusalem (Act. 20:4), had remained in Palestine during the two years of the Apostles imprisonment, and was now intending to return to his native city. The subsequent alteration of plan (Act. 27:6), however, led to his accompanying him to Rome, and we find him there with St. Paul in Col. 4:10, sharing his imprisonment.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Adramyttium A trading town of some note in Mysia, near the Isle of Lesbos. The ship was, doubtless, merely engaged in the coasting trade.
We launched According to Mr. Lewin’s reckoning it was on the twenty-first of August, in the year of our Lord 60, when Paul’s ship departed from Cesarea. The winds at that date are generally from the west, but not violent, and the trip to Sidon was doubtless prosperous.
The first intention probably was that Paul and his party should land at Adramyttium, and take the overland route across Northern Greece, by the Egnatian way, through Neapolis, Philippi, and the other Macedonian towns, and thence crossing the Adriatic to Brandusium, the regular route to Rome. (See note on Act 17:14-34.) The meeting an Alexandrian ship at Myra changed this plan disastrously.
One Aristarchus See note on Act 19:29.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.’
They set sail in a ship from Adramyttium, a Mysian seaport opposite Lesbos, which was travelling from Caesarea up the coast towards Asia Minor.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 27:2. Adramyttium, Was a city of Mysia, not far from Pergamos. Along with the apostle there went St. Luke, the writer of this book, and Aristarchus the Macedonian from the city of Thessalonica. Aristarchus had been with St. Paul in Ephesus at the time of the tumult there, ch. Act 19:29 where he had been seized by the mob, and exposed to great hazard. He afterwards attended him to Macedonia, and returned with him to Asia, ch. Act 20:4. Now accompanying him to Rome, he was there a fellow-prisoner with him, Col 4:10 and is mentioned in St. Paul’s epistle to Philemon, Phm 1:24 who was probably their common friend, as a valuable assistant in his ministerial work. It was, no doubt, a great comfort to the apostle to have the company of two such friends as St. Luke and Aristarchus; as it was also a great instance of their affection to him, that they would follow him when he was going as a prisoner to Rome, not being ashamed of his bonds; and especially that they would attend him at a time when they knew sailing to be dangerous. See Act 27:9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 27:2 . ] with dative , see on Act 25:1 .
.] a ship which belonged to Adramyttium , had its home there, the master of which resided there. , or (for several other modes of writing the name, see Steph. Byz. s.v. ; Poppo, ad Thuc. I. 2, p. 441 f.), was a seaport of Mysia, and is not to be confounded with Adrumetum on the north coast of Africa (Grotius, Drusius, Richard Simon), because amidst all the variations in the codd. ( , , ) the in the middle syllable is decidedly preponderant.
. . .] The ship, certainly a merchant-ship, was thus about to start on its homeward voyage. The prisoners were by this opportunity to be brought to the Asiatic coast, and sent thence by the opportunity of another vessel (Act 27:6 ) to Italy.
. ] to navigate the places situated along Asia (on the Asiatic coast). On the accusative, see Winer, p. 210 [E. T. 280]; Thuc. vi. 63. 2 : . Pausan. i. 35.
] see Act 19:29 , Act 20:4 ; Col 4:10 ; Phm 1:24 . Thus he also had from Asia (Act 20:4 ) come again to Paul; Trophimus (see on Act 21:29 ) already joined him at Jerusalem. But whether Aristarchus accompanied Paul as a fellow-prisoner (Ewald) does not follow with certainty from Col 4:10 . See in loc .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
Ver. 2. One Aristarchus, &c. ] St Paul’s fellow traveller first, and then fellow prisoner too, yea, fellow worker unto the kingdom of God, and a great comfort to him, Col 4:10-11 Act 19:29 ; Act 20:4 , Optimum solatium, sodalitium. The best comfort was his co-workers. Therefore David so bewails the loss of Jonathan. St Paul counts it a singular mercy to him that Epaphroditus recovered, Phi 2:27 . And St John found himself furthered and quickened by the graces of the elect lady, 2Jn 1:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] Adramyttium ( , – , or , and in Plin. Act 27:32 , Adramytteos) was a seaport with a harbour in Mysia, an Athenian colony. It is now a village called Eudramit. Grotius, Drusius, and others erroneously suppose Adrumetum to be meant, on the north coast of Africa (Winer, Realw.).
[ ] . ] The bracketed is in all probability an insertion to help off the harshness of the construction. But the accusative is indicative of the direction. We have , Eur. Phniss. 110. See Winer, edn. 6, 32. 1, on the accus. after neuter verbs, and Bernhardy, Syntax, pp. 114 ff., and other instances in Wetstein.
.] See ch. Act 19:29 ; Act 20:4 ; Col 4:10 ; Phm 1:24 . In Col 4:10 , Paul calls him his , but perhaps only figuratively: the same term is applied to Epaphras, Phm 1:23 , where follows , , , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 27:2 . .: a boat which belonged to Adramyttium in Mysia, in the Roman province Asia, situated at the top of the gulf Sinus Adramyttenus , to which it gives its name (Ramsay, Hastings’ B.D., sub v. ). It was of considerable importance as a seaport and commercial centre, and under Roman rule it was the metropolis of the north-west district of Asia. Not to be confounded as by Grotius and others with Adrumetum on the north coast of Africa. For the spelling see critical note. the usual route to Rome would have been by way of Alexandria, cf. the route taken by Titus from Juda to the capital, Suet., Tit. , 5. But apparently there was no ship sufficiently large at hand. From some of the great harbours of the Asian coast the centurion might have passed to Italy, or probably from Adramyttium (if the ship was going home) he intended to go to Neapolis, and take the great high road to Rome, if no ship could be found in the Asian harbours so late in the season. . . : “to sail by the coasts of Asia,” A.V.; but with after see critical note, “to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia,” R.V., cf. for the phrase, Act 11:1 , Polyb., i., 3, 6. In Act 16:3 is similarly used. See J. Smith’s note, u.s. , p. 63. ., see above on Act 13:13 ; in the preceding verse we have the corresponding nautical term , to come to land. ., cf. Act 19:39 , Act 21:4 . Perhaps the expression may mean that he was with them, but only for a time, not being actually one of them, i.e. , of Paul’s company; he may have gone in the Adramyttian ship on his way to his native home, and left Paul at Myra. On the other hand, Col 4:10 , he is named as one of Paul’s companions in Rome, and as his “fellow-prisoner,” see Salmon, Introd. , p. 383. Whether he made the journey as an actual fellow-prisoner with Paul cannot be proved, although Col., u. s. (Phm 1:24 ), may point to it, see Lightfoot, Philippians , 35, 36, Lewin, St. Paul , ii. 183; “one Aristarchus,” A.V., as if otherwise unknown; R.V. gives simply his name. Jngst refers . . to his Redactor.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
entering into = having embarked upon. Greek. epibaino. See Act 20:18.
ship. Greek. ploion. The usual word for “ship”.
Adramyttium. A city in Mysia, in the province of Asia, at the head of the gulf of that name.
launched. Greek. anago. See Act 13:13.
meaning = being about. According to the texts this does not refer to “we” but to the ship. It was on the return voyage to Adramyttium by the coasts of Asia.
sail. Greek. pleo. See Act 21:3.
by, &c. = to the places against (Greek. kata) Asia.
Aristarchus. See Act 19:29; Act 20:4. He and Luke could only have been allowed on board as Paul’s servants.
with. Greek. sun. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2. ] Adramyttium (, -, or , and in Plin. Act 27:32, Adramytteos) was a seaport with a harbour in Mysia, an Athenian colony. It is now a village called Eudramit. Grotius, Drusius, and others erroneously suppose Adrumetum to be meant, on the north coast of Africa (Winer, Realw.).
[] .] The bracketed is in all probability an insertion to help off the harshness of the construction. But the accusative is indicative of the direction. We have , Eur. Phniss. 110. See Winer, edn. 6, 32. 1, on the accus. after neuter verbs, and Bernhardy, Syntax, pp. 114 ff., and other instances in Wetstein.
.] See ch. Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Col 4:10; Phm 1:24. In Col 4:10, Paul calls him his , but perhaps only figuratively: the same term is applied to Epaphras, Phm 1:23, where follows , , , .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 27:2. ) They did not choose for the sake of prisoners to take such a ship [so large, and therefore charging dearly for passage], as that in it alone the whole voyage might be accomplished. see Act 27:6.-) Adramyttium, a town of Asia Minor, situated towards the north of Pergamos, as Raphelius observes from Xenophon, contrary to what the geographical maps represent.-) So the language appertains to the ship; with which comp. Act 27:6. is the reading of others, flowing from the rhythm .[147] -, the localities) As the sea is navigated, so the parts () of the sea are navigated.-) Aristarchus was either returning to his native country, or was on his journey to Rome.
[147] is the reading of AB Vulg. (Amiat.) both Syr. Versions, Memph. of the Rec. Text is not supported by any very old authority.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Adramyttium: Adramyttium, now Adramyti, was a maritime city of Mysia in Asia Minor, seated at the foot of Mount Ida, on a gulf of the same name, opposite the island of Lesbos.
we: Act 21:1, Luk 8:22
to sail: Act 20:15, Act 20:16, Act 21:1-3
Aristarchus: Act 19:19, Act 20:4, Col 4:10, Phm 1:24
with us: Act 16:10-13, Act 16:17, Act 20:5, Act 21:5, Act 28:2, Act 28:10, Act 28:12, Act 28:16
Reciprocal: Act 17:1 – Thessalonica Act 19:29 – Aristarchus
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Act 27:2. The first ship sailing in the desired direction was from the city of Adramyttium. This Aristarchus was the same who was with Paul in chapter 19:29.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Voyage to Myra, 2-5.
Act 27:2. A ship of Adramyttium. It is to be observed that St. Pauls voyage to Italy was accomplished in three ships. The first ship was probably merely a coasting vessel, carrying passengers and cargo, and touching at various ports. The reason why this ship of Adramyttium was used by Julius is given. The true reading is . She was bound for the ports which are in the neighbourhood of Asia. Here Reuss makes two mistakes. He says of Adramyttium that it was Ville de la cote meridionale de lAsie Mineure. Now the Asia of the New Testament is not the peninsula of Asia Minor, but merely the western portion of that peninsula; and Adramyttium is not on the southern coast of Asia Minor, but on its western coast, some considerable distance northward, opposite the island of Lesbos. As far, however, as the south-western angle of the peninsula, the course of this vessel was in the direction of Italy; and in some of the harbours at which it would touch in its way, Julius might expect to find another western-bound ship in which he and his prisoners could pursue their voyage. Even military officers in high command, on important errands, were obliged in that day to employ opportunities of that kind, and to accomplish long voyages by circuitous methods, using one ship after another, besides being dependent on the weather. A good illustration is supplied by Josephus (War, vii. 2, 1) in his account of the voyage of Vespasian himself, who went on board a merchant ship from Alexandria to Rhodes, and thence pursued his way through Greece to the Adriatic, and finally went to Rome through Italy by land.
One Axistarchus, a Macedonian, of Thessalonica. There is no reason why the word one should be prefixed in the Authorised Version. Aristarchus was one of the apostles well-known companions. He was with him at Ephesus during the earlier part of his Last Missionary Journey (Act 19:29), and he was also with him on his return in the later part (Act 20:4). In the first of these passages he is described as a Macedonian; in the second, it is said more specifically that he was from Thessalonica. It is important to add that he appears as one of St. Pauls companions in Rome at the close of this voyage. In one of the epistles written there during his imprisonment, St. Paul terms Aristarchus his fellow-prisoner (Col 4:10), and in another his fellow-worker (Phm 1:24). Thus the companionship of the two was close and prolonged. In each case, too, it is to be noted that Aristarchus and Luke are both mentioned as being with St. Paul in Rome. See Col 4:14. So far as we know, Aristarchus and Luke were his only companions on the departure from Csarea.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 1
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
2. Adramyttium is a Mysian port on the Mediterranean, one of whose ships enjoys the first honor of carrying the Rome-bound trio, Paul, Aristarchus and Luke.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 2
Adramyttium; probably in Africa.–Asia; Asia Minor.–Aristarchus; a companion of Paul, who had come to Jerusalem with him. (Acts 19:29,20:4.) He is alluded to afterwards, (Philemon 1:24,) as Paul’s fellow-laborer at Rome; and also, on another occasion, (Colossians 4:10,) as his fellow-prisoner.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Most likely Paul sailed from Caesarea. His ship originated from the port of Adramyttium just south of Troas opposite the island of Lesbos. It was a coastal vessel that docked at most ports along the northeastern Mediterranean shoreline.
Aristarchus, like Luke, seems to have stayed with Paul during his Caesarean imprisonment (cf. Act 19:29) and travelled with him all the way to Rome (Col 4:10; Phm 1:24). The presence of these companions with the apostle probably contributed to the respect that Paul received as he travelled. [Note: See Ramsay, St. Paul . . ., p. 316.]