Acts 21:3
After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
After sighting Cyprus
This phrase indicates the journey's progress and the navigational practices of the time. Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean, was a significant landmark for ancient mariners. The Greek word for "sighting" (ἀναφαινόμενοι) suggests a visual confirmation, emphasizing the reliance on natural landmarks for navigation. Cyprus holds historical and biblical significance, being the home of Barnabas (Acts 4:36) and a place where early Christian evangelism occurred (Acts 13:4-5). This sighting would have been a moment of reassurance and direction for Paul and his companions, reminding us of God's guidance in our spiritual journeys.

and passing to the south of it
This phrase describes the specific route taken by the travelers. The decision to pass south of Cyprus indicates a strategic choice, likely influenced by prevailing winds and currents. The Greek term "παρελθόντες" (passing) suggests movement with purpose and intent. Historically, this route would have been familiar to sailors, highlighting the practical wisdom in Paul's travels. Spiritually, it reflects the idea of navigating life's challenges with discernment and trust in God's providence.

we sailed on to Syria
The destination, Syria, was a region of great importance in the early Christian church. The Greek word "πλεύσαντες" (sailed) conveys the idea of a continuous journey, underscoring the missionary zeal of Paul and his companions. Syria, with its capital at Antioch, was a hub for early Christian activity and a launching point for missionary journeys. This movement towards Syria symbolizes the spread of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

We landed at Tyre
Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city, was known for its commerce and trade. The Greek term "κατήχθημεν" (landed) indicates a deliberate arrival, marking a transition from sea to land. Tyre's historical and prophetic significance is noted in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 26-28), and its mention here highlights the interconnectedness of biblical prophecy and the early church's mission. The landing at Tyre represents a moment of rest and preparation for further ministry, reminding believers of the importance of strategic pauses in their spiritual endeavors.

where the ship was to unload its cargo
This phrase provides insight into the economic activities of the time. The Greek word "ἀποφορτίζεσθαι" (unload) suggests a necessary and routine process, reflecting the commercial nature of sea travel. The unloading of cargo at Tyre indicates the city's role as a trade center and the integration of Paul's mission with everyday life. Spiritually, this unloading can symbolize the casting off of burdens and the readiness to receive new blessings and opportunities in God's service.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Cyprus
An island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, significant in early Christian history as the home of Barnabas and a place where Paul and Barnabas preached during their first missionary journey.

2. Syria
A region in the ancient Near East, which included important cities like Antioch, a major center for early Christianity and the starting point for Paul's missionary journeys.

3. Tyre
A prominent Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast, known for its trade and commerce. In the context of Acts, it was a place where Paul and his companions stopped during their journey to Jerusalem.

4. Paul
The apostle who is traveling towards Jerusalem, continuing his mission to spread the Gospel and strengthen the early Christian communities.

5. The Ship's Cargo
Represents the commercial activity of the time, highlighting the intersection of trade routes and the spread of Christianity.
Teaching Points
The Strategic Role of Geography in Ministry
The mention of Cyprus, Syria, and Tyre highlights the strategic locations that facilitated the spread of the Gospel. Consider how God uses geographical and cultural contexts to advance His kingdom.

The Importance of Community in the Journey of Faith
Paul's journey to Tyre underscores the importance of Christian fellowship and support. Reflect on how we can support and encourage one another in our faith journeys.

The Intersection of Commerce and Mission
The unloading of the ship's cargo in Tyre illustrates the intersection of commerce and mission. Explore how our daily work and interactions can serve as opportunities for witnessing and ministry.

Faithfulness in the Face of Challenges
Paul's determination to reach Jerusalem despite potential dangers serves as a model of faithfulness. Consider how we can remain steadfast in our commitments to God's calling.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the geographical journey of Paul in Acts 21:3 reflect the strategic spread of the Gospel in the early church, and how can we apply this strategy in our local context?

2. In what ways can the Christian community today draw inspiration from the early believers in Tyre, as mentioned in Acts 21:3, to strengthen our own faith communities?

3. How can we view our workplaces and daily routines as mission fields, similar to how the ship's cargo in Tyre represents the intersection of commerce and mission?

4. What challenges do we face in our own journeys of faith, and how can Paul's example of perseverance in Acts 21:3 encourage us to remain faithful?

5. How do the connections between Acts 21:3 and other scriptures, such as Isaiah 23 and Matthew 15:21-28, enhance our understanding of God's plan for the inclusion of all peoples in His kingdom?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 11:19-20
These verses describe the spread of the Gospel to Phoenicia, including Tyre, after the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom, showing the early establishment of Christian communities in the region.

Isaiah 23
This chapter prophesies the downfall and restoration of Tyre, which can be seen as a backdrop to the city's significance in the New Testament era.

Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus' interaction with the Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon demonstrates the reach of His ministry beyond Jewish territories, foreshadowing the spread of the Gospel to Gentile regions.
Paul Going to JerusalemH. C. McCook, D. D.Acts 21:1-3
Paul Going to JerusalemS. S. TimesActs 21:1-3
Paul Going to JerusalemG. R. Leavitt.Acts 21:1-3
Paul on His Journey to JerusalemLisco.Acts 21:1-3
Paul's Journey to JerusalemW. M. Taylor, D. D.Acts 21:1-3
Paul's Last Journey to JerusalemJ. Taylor, M. A.Acts 21:1-3
Paul's VoyageD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 21:1-3
The Quiet IntervalJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 21:1-3
Miletus to Tyre: the Steadfastness of a Holy MindR.A. Redford Acts 21:1-6
Incidents by the WayE. Johnson Acts 21:1-16
Human Affection and Sacred ServiceW. Clarkson Acts 21:1-17
People
Agabus, Israelites, James, Mnason, Paul, Philip, Trophimus
Places
Asia, Caesarea, Cilicia, Cos, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Judea, Patara, Phoenicia, Ptolemais, Rhodes, Syria, Tarsus, Tyre
Topics
Burden, Cargo, Continued, Cyprus, Discharge, Discharging, Discovered, Goods, Island, Kept, Lading, Landed, Leaving, Passing, Past, Sailed, Sailing, Ship, Sight, Sighted, Sighting, South, Syria, Tyre, Unlade, Unload, View, Voyage
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 21:3

     4850   south

Acts 21:1-3

     5517   seafaring

Acts 21:1-8

     5108   Paul, life of

Library
An Old Disciple
'... One Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.'--ACTS xxi. 16. There is something that stimulates the imagination in these mere shadows of men that we meet in the New Testament story. What a strange fate that is to be made immortal by a line in this book-- immortal and yet so unknown! We do not hear another word about this host of Paul's, but his name will be familiar to men's ears till the world's end. This figure is drawn in the slightest possible outline, with a couple
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Philip the Evangelist
'... We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.'--ACTS xxi. 8. The life of this Philip, as recorded, is a very remarkable one. It is divided into two unequal halves: one full of conspicuous service, one passed in absolute obscurity. Like the moon in its second quarter, part of the disc is shining silver and the rest is invisible. Let us put together the notices of him. He bears a name which makes it probable that he was not a Palestinian Jew,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
'And it came to pass, that, after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 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. 4. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Paul in the Temple
'And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him. 28. Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Jerusalem to Rome
Acts 21:17-28:31 THIS JOURNEY Scripture, Acts 21:17-28:31 1. The speech before the Jewish mob in the temple (Acts 22:1-29) in which Paul tells the Jews how he was changed from a persecutor to a believer in Christ. He relates also the story of his conversion. 2. The speech before the Jewish council (Acts 22:30; 23:1-10) in which he creates confusion by raising the question of the resurrection. But the provocation was great for the high-priest had commanded that Paul be smitten
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

Parting.
"What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart!"--Acts 21:13 "Was macht ihr, dass ihr weinet." [32]Spitta. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1855 What mean ye by this wailing To break my bleeding heart? As if the love that binds us Could alter or depart! Our sweet and holy union Knows neither time nor place; The love that God has planted Is lasting as His grace. Ye clasp these hands at parting, As if no hope could be; While still we stand for ever In blessed unity! Ye gaze, as on a vision Ye never could
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

As Thou Wilt.
"The will of the Lord be done."--Acts 21:14. "Wie Gott will! also will ich sagen." [72]Neumeister. transl., Jane Borthwick, 1858 As Thou wilt, my God! I ever say; What Thou wilt is ever best for me; What have I to do with earthly care, Since to-morrow I may leave with Thee? Lord, Thou knowest, I am not my own, All my hope and help depend on Thee alone. As Thou wilt! still I can believe; Never did the word of promise fail. Faith can hold it fast, and feel it sure, Though temptations cloud and fears
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

The Way to the Kingdom
"The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15 These words naturally lead us to consider, First, the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God," which, saith he, "is at hand;" and, Secondly, the way thereto, which he points out in those words, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." I. 1. We are, First, to consider the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God." The same expression the great Apostle uses in his Epistle
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

India as Carey Found It
1793 Tahiti v. Bengal--Carey and Thomas appointed missionaries to Bengal--The farewell at Leicester--John Thomas, first medical missionary--Carey's letter to his father--The Company's "abominable monopoly"--The voyage--Carey's aspirations for world-wide missions--Lands at Calcutta--His description of Bengal in 1793--Contrast presented by Carey to Clive, Hastings, and Cornwallis--The spiritual founder of an Indian Empire of Christian Britain--Bengal and the famine of 1769-70--The Decennial Settlement
George Smith—The Life of William Carey

Chel. The Court of the Women.
The Court of the Gentiles compassed the Temple and the courts on every side. The same also did Chel, or the Ante-murale. "That space was ten cubits broad, divided from the Court of the Gentiles by a fence, ten hand-breadths high; in which were thirteen breaches, which the kings of Greece had made: but the Jews had again repaired them, and had appointed thirteen adorations answering to them." Maimonides writes: "Inwards" (from the Court of the Gentiles) "was a fence, that encompassed on every side,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Matthew.
Critical. Bernh. Weiss: Das Matthäusevangelium und seine Lucas-Parallelen erklärt. Halle, 1876. Exceedingly elaborate. Edw. Byron Nicholson: The Gospel according to the Hebrews. Its Fragments translated and annotated. Lond., 1879. Exegetical Commentaries on Matthew by Origen, Jerome, Chrysostom, Melanchthon (1523), Fritzsche, De Wette, Alford, Wordsworth, Schegg (R. Cath., 1856-58, 3 vols.), J. A. Alexander, Lange (trsl. and enlarged by Schaff, N. Y., 1864, etc.), James Morison (of Glasgow,
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Knox in Scotland: Lethington: Mary of Guise: 1555-1556
Meanwhile the Reformer returned to Geneva (April 1555), where Calvin was now supreme. From Geneva, "the den of mine own ease, the rest of quiet study," Knox was dragged, "maist contrarious to mine own judgement," by a summons from Mrs. Bowes. He did not like leaving his "den" to rejoin his betrothed; the lover was not so fervent as the evangelist was cautious. Knox had at that time probably little correspondence with Scotland. He knew that there was no refuge for him in England under Mary Tudor,
Andrew Lang—John Knox and the Reformation

Chrysostom Evades Election to a Bishopric, and Writes his Work on the Priesthood.
About this time several bishoprics were vacant in Syria, and frequent depositions took place with the changing fortunes of orthodoxy and Arianism, and the interference of the court. The attention of the clergy and the people turned to Chrysostom and his friend Basil as suitable candidates for the episcopal office, although they had not the canonical age of thirty. Chrysostom shrunk from the responsibilities and avoided an election by a pious fraud. He apparently assented to an agreement with Basil
St. Chrysostom—On the Priesthood

Whether Since Christ's Passion the Legal Ceremonies Can be Observed Without Committing Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that since Christ's Passion the legal ceremonies can be observed without committing mortal sin. For we must not believe that the apostles committed mortal sin after receiving the Holy Ghost: since by His fulness they were "endued with power from on high" (Lk. 24:49). But the apostles observed the legal ceremonies after the coming of the Holy Ghost: for it is stated (Acts 16:3) that Paul circumcised Timothy: and (Acts 21:26) that Paul, at the advice of James, "took the men,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Grace of the Word of Wisdom and Knowledge is Becoming to Women?
Objection 1: It would seem that the grace of the word of wisdom and knowledge is becoming even to women. For teaching is pertinent to this grace, as stated in the foregoing Article. Now it is becoming to a woman to teach; for it is written (Prov. 4:3,4): "I was an only son in the sight of my mother, and she taught me [*Vulg.: 'I was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the sight of my mother. And he taught me.']." Therefore this grace is becoming to women. Objection 2: Further, the grace
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
Acts 13-28 and all the rest of the New Testament except the epistles of John and Revelation. The Changed Situation. We have now come to a turning point in the whole situation. The center of work has shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch, the capital of the Greek province of Syria, the residence of the Roman governor of the province. We change from the study of the struggles of Christianity in the Jewish world to those it made among heathen people. We no longer study many and various persons and their
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress.
(Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 577.) To our most religious and most serene princes, Constantine and Irene his mother. Tarasius, the unworthy bishop of your God-protected royal city, new Rome, and all the holy Council which met at the good pleasure of God and upon the command of your Christ-loving majesty in the renowned metropolis of Nice, the second council to assemble in this city. Christ our God (who is the head of the Church) was glorified, most noble princes, when your heart,
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Sudden Conversions.
"By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain."--1 Cor. xv. 10. We can hardly conceive that grace, such as that given to the great Apostle who speaks in the text, would have been given in vain; that is, we should not expect that it would have been given, had it been foreseen and designed by the Almighty Giver that it would have been in vain. By which I do not mean, of course, to deny that God's gifts are oftentimes abused and wasted by man, which
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Prov. 22:06 the Duties of Parents
"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."--Prov. 22:6. I SUPPOSE that most professing Christians are acquainted with the text at the head of this page. The sound of it is probably familiar to your ears, like an old tune. It is likely you have heard it, or read it, talked of it, or quoted it, many a time. Is it not so? But, after all, how little is the substance of this text regarded! The doctrine it contains appears scarcely known, the duty it puts
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

The Epistle to the Hebrews.
I. Commentaries on Hebrews by Chrysostom (d. 407, hermeneia, in 34 Homilies publ. after his death by an Antioch. presbyter, Constantinus); Theodoret (d. 457); Oecumenius (10th cent.); Theophylact (11th cent.); Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274); Erasmus (d. 1536, Annotationes in N. T., with his Greek Test., 1516 and often, and Paraphrasis in N. T., 1522 and often); Card. Cajetanus (Epistolae Pauli, etc., 1531); Calvin (d. 1564, Com. in omnes P. Ep. atque etiam in Ep. ad Hebraeos, 1539 and often, also Halle,
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven.
By reason of this communion with God, the elect in heaven shall have four superexcellent prerogatives:-- 1. They shall have the kingdom of heaven for their inheritance (Matt. xxv.; 1 Pet. i. 4), and they shall be free denizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (Eph. ii. 19; Heb. xii. 22.) St. Paul, by being a free citizen of Rome (Acts xxi. 26), escaped whipping; but they who are once free citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, shall ever be freed from the whips of eternal torments. For this freedom was bought
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Positive Side
What is the relation of the Law (the Ten Commandments) to Christians? In our previous chapter we pointed out how that three radically different answers have been returned to this question. The first, that sinners become saints by obeying the Law. This is Legalism pure and simple. It is heresy of the most dangerous kind. All who really believe and act on it as the ground of their acceptance by God, will perish eternally. Second, others say that the Law is not binding on Christians because it has been
Arthur W. Pink—The Law and the Saint

Paul's Journeys Acts 13:1-38:31
On this third journey he was already planning to go to Rome (Acts 19:21) and wrote an epistle to the Romans announcing his coming (Rom. 1:7, 15). +The Chief City+, in which Paul spent most of his time (Acts 19:1, 8, 10), between two and three years upon this journey, was Ephesus in Asia Minor. This city situated midway between the extreme points of his former missionary journeys was a place where Ephesus has been thus described: "It had been one of the early Greek colonies, later the capital
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

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