Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

20:38 As Paul prepared to depart, the Ephesian elders were sorrowful most of all that they would not see him again (see v. 25). Though Paul was in frequent conflict with hostile unbelievers and with false teachers in the churches, this verse shows that Paul's churches had deep affection for him; no doubt many thought of him primarily as a kind and gentle pastor (cf. 1 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:24; Titus 3:2). They probably supplied him with provisions for his voyage.

21:1 Paul's ship was probably a "coasting vessel"--one that traveled close to shore. Each of the places mentioned probably represents a day's journey and the stopping place for the night. Cos and Rhodes are both islands, with port cities of the same name. Paul and his companions boarded a sturdier vessel at Patara for the 400-mile (644-km) open-sea voyage to Tyre. Patara was the main port city in Lycia; its immense harbor is now filled up with silt.

21:3 Tyre was in Phoenicia (see note on 11:19).

21:4 through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. This apparently indicates some prophecies given by the Christians at Tyre. But what these disciples told Paul was wrong, because the narrative clearly shows that Paul was being guided by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem (see 19:21; 20:22-24; 21:14). Interpreters differ over how much of what these disciples told Paul was actually part of their prophesying (or speaking "through the Spirit"): (1) Some hold that this incident shows that there are two potential kinds of problems with early Christian prophecies: first that there could be mistakes in the prophecies themselves, and second that there could be mistakes in the prophet's own interpretation. This then would be an example of why Paul commands that prophecies must be tested, that is, to guard against both (a) possible mistakes in the prophecy itself, and (b) possible mistakes in the interpretation of the prophecy (see notes on 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20-21). (2) Other interpreters hold that, although such prophecies themselves are completely accurate (because they come "through the Spirit"), there still could be mistakes in the interpretation of the prophecy. Thus, even though the prophecy is accurate, such prophecies still need to be tested. In the first case, both the prophecy and the interpretation may be wrong; in the second case only the interpretation may be wrong. In either case, all prophecies would need to be tested, as Paul commands.

21:7 Ptolemais is the Roman name of the modern city of Acco.

21:8-9 Caesarea was the closest port to Jerusalem. four unmarried daughters. The gift of prophecy was promised to women as well as men in Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28-29), which was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18).

21:10-11 Agabus had earlier prophesied a coming famine (11:28). OT prophets often acted out their prophecies (e.g., Isa. 8:1-4; 20:1-4; Jer. 13:1-11; 19:1-13; 27:1-22).

21:13 Paul, as a disciple of Jesus, is willing to follow in Jesus' steps (1 Pet. 2:21) and to die in Jerusalem as Jesus did (Luke 9:51; 18:31-33).

21:15 The distance from Jerusalem to Caesarea was approximately 62 miles (100 km) by road. Paul probably arrived there in the spring of a.d. 57.