Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Acts 21:1

in Acts 21

After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

KJV

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:

⋯

This verse in Acts 21

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

Luke uses a strong expression, saying "having parted from them" ("torn away from them"). And this is quite expressive, because after the tearing away they could not put out to sea. What does "we came with a straight course" mean? It means that they passed …

This site's exposition

straight course unto Coos

on Acts 21:1-3

After we were gotten from them, the company launched and made a straight course unto Coos, then Rhodes, then Patara, favorable winds this time in contrast to the beating against contrary weather three chapters later. Luke’s itinerary again reads as a sailor’s log, exact enough that historians of the ancient Aegean have traced the route port by port. The pace itself carries meaning, since Paul is hurrying toward Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, the goal named at the end of chapter twenty.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 45 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"And they accompanied them," it says, "unto the ship. And it came to pass, that after we had torn ourselves from them" - so much did they love him, such was their affection towards him - "and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara." Methinks Paul also wept. "Having torn ourselves away," he says: he shows the violence of it by saying, "having torn ourselves away from them." And with reason: otherwise they could never have got to sea. What means, "We came with a straight course unto Coos?" Instead of saying, "we did not go round nor make stay in other places." See how he hastes on.

A commentator

Cassiodorus

Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles · Written before 585.

proposed

"And when it came to pass that, being parted from them, we set sail, we came with a straight course to Coos." Then, as though violently parted from them, they came to Coos; and moving on to Rhodes and Patara, passing through Phenice and Cyprus, …

The Reformation1 voice

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

Whereas he saith that they were drawn and pulled away, it is not simply referred unto the distance of places; but because the brethren stood on the shore, so long as they could see the ship wherein Paul and his companions were carried.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And it came to pass, that after we had gotten from them,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

After we were gotten from them - After we had left the elders at Miletus, Act 20:38. They were on their way to Jerusalem. Unto Coos - This was a small island in the Grecian Archipelago, a short distance from the southwestern point of Asia Minor. It is now called “Stan-co.” It was celebrated for its fertility, and for the wine and silk-worms which it produced. It was about 40 miles south of Miletus. Unto Rhodes - This was also an island in the Grecian Archipelago.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Came with a straight course - Having had, as is necessarily implied, wind and tide in their favor. Coos - An island in the Archipelago, or Aegean Sea, one of those called the Sporades. It was famous for the worship of Aesculapius and Juno; and for being the birthplace of Hippocrates, the most eminent of physicians, and Apelles, the most celebrated of painters. Rhodes - Another island in the same sea, celebrated for its Colossus, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. This was a brazen statue of Apollo, so high that ships in full sail could pass between its legs. It was the work of Chares, a pupil of Lysippus, who spent twelve years in making it. It was 106 feet high, and so great that few people could fathom its thumb. It was thrown down by an earthquake about 224 years before Christ, after having stood sixty-six years. When the Saracens took possession of this island, they sold this prostrate image to a Jew, who loaded 900 camels with the brass of it; this was about a.d. 660, nearly 900 years after it had been thrown down. Patara - One of the chief seaport towns of Syria.

The words behind it

22 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Thessalonians 2:17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.4 worksLuke 5:4When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”3 worksActs 16:11We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.3 works1 Samuel 20:41–42When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.2 worksActs 20:37–38They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.2 worksActs 27:2We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 16:10–11As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.2 worksLuke 8:22One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.2 worksActs 27:4After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Luke 5:4

    When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

    it leads to

    • John 21:6

      He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the…

    • Matthew 17:27

      “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take…

  • Through

    1 Thessalonians 2:17

    Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.

    it leads to

    • Colossians 2:5

      For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

    • 1 Corinthians 5:3

      Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.

    • 1 Thessalonians 3:6

      But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to…

    • 1 Thessalonians 3:10–11

      Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.

    • Romans 1:13

      I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among…

  • Through

    Acts 27:2

    We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

    it leads to

    • Acts 19:29

      Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 21 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 45; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 21 →