8 And G1161 the next G1887 day we that were of G4012 Paul's G3972 company G4012 departed, G1831 and came G2064 G2064 unto G1519 Caesarea: G2542 and G2532 we entered G1525 into G1519 the house G3624 of Philip G5376 the evangelist, G2099 which was G5607 one of G1537 the seven; G2033 and abode G3306 with G3844 him. G846
And G2532 the saying G3056 pleased G700 G1799 the whole G3956 multitude: G4128 and G2532 they chose G1586 Stephen, G4736 a man G435 full G4134 of faith G4102 and G2532 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 Philip, G5376 and G2532 Prochorus, G4402 and G2532 Nicanor, G3527 and G2532 Timon, G5096 and G2532 Parmenas, G3937 and G2532 Nicolas G3532 a proselyte G4339 of Antioch: G491
And G1161 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 spake G2980 unto G4314 Philip, G5376 saying, G3004 Arise, G450 and G2532 go G4198 toward G2596 the south G3314 unto G1909 the way G3598 that goeth down G2597 from G575 Jerusalem G2419 unto G1519 Gaza, G1048 which G3778 is G2076 desert. G2048 And G2532 he arose G450 and went: G4198 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a man G435 of Ethiopia, G128 an eunuch G2135 of great authority G1413 under Candace G2582 queen G938 of the Ethiopians, G128 who G3739 had G2258 the charge of G1909 all G3956 her G846 treasure, G1047 and G3739 had come G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 for to worship, G4352 G5037 Was G2258 returning, G5290 and G2532 sitting G2521 in G1909 his G846 chariot G716 G2532 read G314 Esaias G2268 the prophet. G4396 Then G1161 the Spirit G4151 said G2036 unto Philip, G5376 Go near, G4334 and G2532 join thyself to G2853 this G5129 chariot. G716 And G1161 Philip G5376 ran G4370 thither to him, and heard G191 him G846 read G314 the prophet G4396 Esaias, G2268 and G2532 said, G2036 Understandest thou G687 G1065 G1097 what G3739 thou readest? G314 And G1161 he said, G2036 How G1063 G4459 can I, G302 G1410 except G3362 some man G5100 should guide G3594 me? G3165 And G5037 he desired G3870 Philip G5376 that he would come up G305 and sit G2523 with G4862 him. G846 G1161 The place G4042 of the scripture G1124 which G3739 he read G314 was G2258 this, G3778 He was led G71 as G5613 a sheep G4263 to G1909 the slaughter; G4967 and G2532 like G5613 a lamb G286 dumb G880 before G1726 his G846 shearer, G2751 so G3779 opened he G455 not G3756 his G846 mouth: G4750 In G1722 his G846 humiliation G5014 his G846 judgment G2920 was taken away: G142 and G1161 who G5101 shall declare G1334 his G846 generation? G1074 for G3754 his G846 life G2222 is taken G142 from G575 the earth. G1093 And G1161 the eunuch G2135 answered G611 Philip, G5376 and said, G2036 I pray G1189 thee, G4675 of G4012 whom G5101 speaketh G3004 the prophet G4396 this? G5124 of G4012 himself, G1438 or G2228 of G4012 some G5100 other man? G2087 Then G1161 Philip G5376 opened G455 his G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 began G756 at G575 the same G5026 scripture, G1124 and preached G2097 unto him G846 Jesus. G2424 And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 on G2596 their way, G3598 they came G2064 unto G1909 a certain G5100 water: G5204 and G2532 the eunuch G2135 said, G5346 See, G2400 here is water; G5204 what G5101 doth hinder G2967 me G3165 to be baptized? G907 And G1161 Philip G5376 said, G2036 If G1487 thou believest G4100 with G1537 all thine G3650 heart, G2588 thou mayest. G1832 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I believe G4100 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is G1511 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the chariot G716 to stand still: G2476 and G2532 they went down G2597 both G297 into G1519 the water, G5204 both G5037 Philip G5376 and G2532 the eunuch; G2135 and G2532 he baptized G907 him. G846 And G1161 when G3753 they were come up G305 out of G1537 the water, G5204 the Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 caught away G726 Philip, G5376 G2532 that the eunuch G2135 saw G1492 G3756 him G846 no more: G3765 and G1063 he went G4198 on his G846 way G3598 rejoicing. G5463 But G1161 Philip G5376 was found G2147 at G1519 Azotus: G108 and G2532 passing G1330 through he preached G2097 in all G3956 the cities, G4172 till G2193 he G846 came G2064 to G1519 Caesarea. G2542
Then G1161 Philip G5376 went down G2718 to G1519 the city G4172 of Samaria, G4540 and preached G2784 Christ G5547 unto them. G846 And G5037 the people G3793 with one accord G3661 gave heed G4337 unto those things which Philip G5376 spake, G3004 G5259 hearing G1722 G191 G846 and G2532 seeing G991 the miracles G4592 which G3739 he did. G4160 For G1063 unclean G169 spirits, G4151 crying G994 with loud G3173 voice, G5456 came out G1831 of many G4183 that were possessed G2192 with them: and G1161 many G4183 taken with palsies, G3886 and G2532 that were lame, G5560 were healed. G2323 And G2532 there was G1096 great G3173 joy G5479 in G1722 that G1565 city. G4172 But G1161 there was a certain G5100 man, G435 called G3686 Simon, G4613 which beforetime G4391 in G1722 the same city G4172 used sorcery, G3096 and G2532 bewitched G1839 the people G1484 of Samaria, G4540 giving out G3004 that himself G1438 was G1511 some G5100 great one: G3173 To whom G3739 they all G3956 gave heed, G4337 from G575 the least G3398 to G2193 the greatest, G3173 saying, G3004 This man G3778 is G2076 the great G3173 power G1411 of God. G2316 And G1161 to him G846 they had regard, G4337 because G1223 that of long G2425 time G5550 he had bewitched G1839 them G846 with sorceries. G3095 But G1161 when G3753 they believed G4100 Philip G5376 preaching G2097 the things concerning G4012 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 and G2532 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 they were baptized, G907 both G5037 men G435 and G2532 women. G1135 Then G1161 Simon G4613 himself G846 believed G4100 also: G2532 and G2532 when he was baptized, G907 he continued G2258 G4342 with Philip, G5376 and G5037 wondered, G1839 beholding G2334 the miracles G1411 and G2532 signs G4592 G3173 which were done. G1096 G1096
And G2532 he called unto G4341 him G5100 two G1417 centurions, G1543 saying, G2036 Make ready G2090 two hundred G1250 soldiers G4757 to G3704 go G4198 to G2193 Caesarea, G2542 and G2532 horsemen G2460 threescore and ten, G1440 and G2532 spearmen G1187 two hundred, G1250 at G575 the third G5154 hour G5610 of the night; G3571
And G1161 when G3753 we came G2064 to G1519 Rome, G4516 the centurion G1543 delivered G3860 the prisoners G1198 to the captain of the guard: G4759 but G1161 Paul G3972 was suffered G2010 to dwell G3306 by G2596 himself G1438 with G4862 a soldier G4757 that kept G5442 him. G846
And G1161 after G3326 three G5140 months G3376 we departed G321 in G1722 a ship G4143 of Alexandria, G222 which had wintered G3914 in G1722 the isle, G3520 whose sign G3902 was Castor and Pollux. G1359
Which when G1161 the brethren G80 knew, G1921 they brought G2609 him G846 down G2609 to G1519 Caesarea, G2542 and G2532 sent G1821 him G846 forth G1821 to G1519 Tarsus. G5019
And G1161 we G2249 went before G4281 to G1909 ship, G4143 and sailed G321 unto G1519 Assos, G789 there G1564 intending G3195 to take in G353 Paul: G3972 for G1063 so G3779 had he G2258 appointed, G1299 minding G3195 himself G846 to go afoot. G3978
And G2532 when he had landed G2718 at G1519 Caesarea, G2542 and gone up, G305 and G2532 saluted G782 the church, G1577 he went down G2597 to G1519 Antioch. G490
And G1161 it came to pass, G1096 as we G2257 went G4198 to G1519 prayer, G4335 a certain G5100 damsel G3814 possessed G2192 with a spirit G4151 of divination G4436 met G528 us, G2254 which G3748 brought G3930 her G846 masters G2962 much G4183 gain G2039 by soothsaying: G3132
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 21
Commentary on Acts 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Ac 21:1-16. Sailing from Ephesus, They Land at Tyre, and Thence Sailing to Ptolemais, They Proceed by Land to Cæsarea and Jerusalem.
1. we were gotten—"torn."
from them—expressing the difficulty and pain of the parting.
with a straight course—running before the wind, as Ac 16:11.
unto Coos—Cos, an island due south from Miletus, which they would reach in about six hours, and coming close to the mainland.
the day following unto Rhodes—another island, some fifty miles to the southeast, of brilliant classic memory and beauty.
thence unto Patara—a town on the magnificent mainland of Lycia, almost due east from Rhodes. It was the seat of a celebrated oracle of Apollo.
2. And finding a ship—their former one going no farther, probably.
to Phœnica—(See on Ac 11:19).
went abroad—One would almost think this extracted from a journal of the voyage, so graphic are its details.
3. when we … discovered—"sighted," as the phrase is.
Cyprus, we left it on the left hand—that is, steered southeast of it, leaving it on the northwest.
sailed into—"unto"
Syria, and landed at Tyre—the celebrated seat of maritime commerce for East and West. It might be reached from Patara in about two days.
there the ship was to unlade her burden—which gave the apostle time for what follows.
4-6. finding disciples—finding out the disciples, implying some search. They would expect such, from what is recorded, Ac 11:19. Perhaps they were not many; yet there were gifted ones among them.
who said to Paul … that he should not go up to Jerusalem—(See on Ac 20:23; also see on Ac 21:11-14).
5. they all brought us on our way with wives and children … and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed—(See on Ac 20:36). Observe here that the children of these Tyrian disciples not only were taken along with their parents, but must have joined in this act of solemn worship. See on Eph 6:1.
7. when we had finished our course—completing the voyage
from Tyre, we came—which they would do the same day.
to Ptolemais—anciently called Accho (Jud 1:31), now St. Jean d'Acre, or Acre.
and saluted the brethren, and abode, &c.—disciples gathered probably as at Tyre, on the occasion mentioned (Ac 11:19).
8-10. next day we that were of Paul's company departed—(The words "the were of Paul's company" are omitted in the best manuscripts. They were probably added as the connecting words at the head of some church lessons).
and came to Cæsarea—a run along the coast, southward, of some thirty miles.
Philip the evangelist—a term answering apparently very much to our missionary [Howson], by whose ministry such joy had been diffused over Samaria and the Ethiopian eunuch had been baptized (Ac 8:4-40).
one of the seven—deacons, who had "purchased to himself a good degree" (1Ti 3:13). He and Paul now meet for the first time, some twenty-five years after that time.
9. the same man had four daughters … which did prophesy—fulfilling Joe 2:28 (see Ac 2:18). This is mentioned, it would seem, merely as a high distinction divinely conferred on so devoted a servant of the Lord Jesus, and probably indicates the high tone of religion in his family.
10. tarried there many—"a good many"
days—Finding himself in good time for Pentecost at Jerusalem, he would feel it a refreshing thing to his spirit to hold Christian communion for a few days with such a family.
there came down from Judea—the news of Paul's arrival having spread.
a certain prophet … Agabus—no doubt the same as in Ac 11:28.
11-14. So shall the Jews bind the man that owneth this girdle, &c.—For though the Romans did it, it was at the Jews' instigation (Ac 21:33; Ac 28:17). Such dramatic methods of announcing important future events would bring the old prophets to remembrance. (Compare Isa 20:2, &c.; Jer 13:1, and Eze 5:1, &c.). This prediction and that at Tyre (Ac 21:4) were intended, not to prohibit him from going, but to put his courage to the test and when he stood the test, to deepen and mature it.
12. we and they at that place—the Cæsarean Christians.
besought him—even with tears, Ac 21:13.
not to go to Jerusalem.
13. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart—Beautiful union of manly resoluteness and womanly tenderness, alike removed from mawkishness and stoicism!
I am ready not to be bound only—"If that is all, let it come."
but to die, &c.—It was well he could add this, for he had that also to do.
15, 16. we took up our carriages—"our baggage."
and went up to Jerusalem—for the fifth time after his conversion, thus concluding his third missionary tour, which proved his last, so far as recorded; for though he accomplished the fourth and last part of the missionary plan sketched out (Ac 19:21)—"After I have been at Jerusalem, I must also see Rome"—it was as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ."
16. went with us … and brought with them—rather, "brought us to."
One Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, &c.—not an "aged" disciple, but probably "a disciple of old standing," perhaps one of the three thousand converted on the day of Pentecost, or, more likely still, drawn to the Saviour Himself during His lifetime. He had come, probably, with the other Cyprians (Ac 11:20), to Antioch, "preaching the Lord Jesus unto the Grecians," and now he appears settled at Jerusalem.
Ac 21:17-40. Paul Reports the Events of His Third Missionary Journey—In the Temple, Purifying Himself from a Jewish Vow, He Is Seized by a Mob and Beaten to the Danger of His Life—The Uproar Becoming Universal, the Roman Commandant Has Him Brought in Chains to the Fortress, from the Stairs of Which He Is Permitted to Address the People.
The apostle was full of anxiety about this visit to Jerusalem, from the numerous prophetic intimations of danger awaiting him, and having reason to expect the presence at this feast of the very parties from whose virulent rage he had once and again narrowly escaped with his life. Hence we find him asking the Roman Christians to wrestle with him in prayer, "for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that he might be delivered from them that believed not in Judea," as well as "that his service which he had for Jerusalem (the great collection for the poor saints there) might be accepted of the saints" (Ro 15:30, 31).
17-19. the brethren received us gladly—the disciples generally, as distinguished from the official reception recorded in Ac 21:18.
18. Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present—to "report himself" formally to the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and his associates in office. See on Ac 15:13. Had any other of the apostles been in Jerusalem on that occasion, it could hardly fail to have been noted.
19. he declared particularly—in detail.
what God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry—as on previous occasions (Ac 14:27; and see Ro 15:15); no doubt referring to the insidious and systematic efforts of the Judaizing party in a number of places to shrivel the Church of Christ into a Jewish sect, and his own counter-procedure.
20-25. they glorified the Lord, &c.—constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem.
21. they are informed … that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles—those residing in heathen countries.
to forsake Moses, &c.—This calumny of the unbelieving Jews would find easy credence among the Christian zealots for Judaism.
23. we have four men—Christian Jews, no doubt.
which have a vow—perhaps kept ready on purpose.
24. be at charges with them—that is, defray the expense of the sacrifices legally required of them, along with his own, which was deemed a mark of Jewish generosity.
25. touching the Gentiles … we have written and concluded that they observe no such things, &c.—This shows that with all their conciliation to Jewish prejudice, the Church of Jerusalem was taught to adhere to the decision of the famous council held there (Ac 15:19-29).
26. to signify—that is, announce to the priest.
the accomplishment of the days of purification, &c.—(See on Nu 6:14-21).
27-30. the Jews … of Asia—in all likelihood those of Ephesus (since they recognized Trophimus apparently as a townsman, Ac 21:29), embittered by their discomfiture (Ac 19:9, &c.).
29. Trophimus—(See on Ac 20:4).
30. took Paul, and drew him out of the temple; and forthwith the doors were shut—that the murder they meant to perpetrate might not pollute that holy place.
31. tidings came—literally, "went up," that is, to the fortress of Antonia, where the commandant resided. See on Ac 21:32. This part of the narrative is particularly graphic.
32. the chief captain—"the chiliarch," or tribune of the Roman cohort, whose full number was one thousand men.
33. commanded him to be bound with two chains—(See on Ac 12:6).
34. some cried one thing—The difficulty would be so to state his crimes as to justify their proceedings to a Roman officer.
to be carried into the castle—rather, perhaps, "the barracks," or that part of the fortress of Antonia appropriated to the soldiers. The fort was built by Herod on a high rock at the northwest corner of the great temple area, and called after Mark Antony.
35, 36. Away with him—as before of his Lord (Lu 23:18; Joh 19:15).
37-40. Art not thou that Egyptian, &c.—The form of the question implies that the answer is to be in the negative, and is matter of some surprise: "Thou art not then?" &c.
38. madest an uproar, &c.—The narrative is given in Josephus [Wars of the Jews, 2.8.6; 13.5], though his two allusions and ours seem to refer to different periods of the rebellion.
39. a citizen of no mean city—(See on Ac 16:37).
40. stood on the stairs—"What nobler spectacle than that of Paul at this moment! There he stood, bound with two chains, ready to make his defense to the people. The Roman commander sits by, to enforce order by his presence. An enraged populace look up to him from below. Yet in the midst of so many dangers, how self-possessed is he, how tranquil!" [Chrysostom (or in his name) in Hackett].
a great silence—the people awed at the permission given him by the commandant, and seeing him sitting as a listener.
in the Hebrew tongue—the Syro-Chaldaic, the vernacular tongue of the Palestine Jews since the captivity.