Acts 27:2
in Acts 27We 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 27
Commentary
11 notes on this verseAristarchus is profitably present and accompanies Paul, since he must report in Macedonia everything that happened to Paul.
This site's exposition
we would sail for Italy
on Acts 27:1-3
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, the we of the narrative returns, as Luke boards with Paul and Aristarchus. The chapter that follows is the most detailed voyage narrative surviving from antiquity, prized by historians of seamanship.
This site's exposition
Adramyttian ship
The ship came from Adramyttium, a port of Mysia, and Albert Barnes notes that she was bound only for the ports of Asia. The centurion planned to change ships on the way. John Chrysostom sees purpose in Aristarchus coming along, since he could carry word back to Macedonia.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
See how far Aristarchus also accompanies Paul. To good and useful purpose is Aristarchus present, as he would take back the report of all to Macedonia.
The Reformation1 voice
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 (Acts 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 (Acts 20:4).
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And it is likewise an instance of Paul's fidelity. He did not go about to make his escape, which he might have easily done; but, being out upon his parole of honour, he faithfully returns to his imprisonment. If the centurion is so civil as to take his word, he is so just and honest as to keep his word.
Paul was linked with these, as Christ with the thieves that were crucified with him, and was obliged to take his lot with them in this voyage; and we find in this chapter (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Aristarchus a Thessalonian is particularly named, as being now in his company. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that Trophimus the Ephesian went off with him, but that he left him sick at Miletum ( 2 Tim. iv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And entering into a ship of Adramyttium,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
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 abbé Vertot, in his history of the Knights of Malta, says it is now called Mehedia.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 Paul’s 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 Paul’s 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.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐπιβάντες | epibantes | Having boarded | G1910 → | 6 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πλοίῳ | ploio | on a ship | G4143 → | 67 times |
| Ἀδραμυττηνῷ | adramutteno | of Adramyttium | G98 → | |
| μέλλοντι | mellonti | being about | G3195 → | 109 times |
| πλεῖν | plein | to sail | G4126 → | 6 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατὰ | kata | along | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀσίαν | asian | Asia | G773 → | 17 times |
| τόπους | topous | places | G5117 → | 94 times |
| ἀνήχθημεν | anechthemen | we set sail — | G321 → | 23 times |
| ὄντος | ontos | while was being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| Ἀριστάρχου | aristarchou | Aristarchus | G708 → | 5 times |
| Μακεδόνος | makedonos | a Macedonian | G3110 → | 5 times |
| Θεσσαλονικέως. | thessalonikeos | of Thessalonica. | G2331 → |
ἐπιβάντεςHaving boarded
epibantesG1910 →6 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
πλοίῳon a ship
ploioG4143 →67 times
Ἀδραμυττηνῷof Adramyttium
adramuttenoG98 →
μέλλοντιbeing about
mellontiG3195 →109 times
πλεῖνto sail
pleinG4126 →6 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
κατὰalong
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἈσίανAsia
asianG773 →17 times
τόπουςplaces
topousG5117 →94 times
ἀνήχθημενwe set sail —
anechthemenG321 →23 times
ὄντοςwhile was being
ontosG1510 →2333 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
ἡμῖνus
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἈριστάρχουAristarchus
aristarchouG708 →5 times
Μακεδόνοςa Macedonian
makedonosG3110 →5 times
Θεσσαλονικέως.of Thessalonica.
thessalonikeosG2331 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Philemon 1:24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:10
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 15:37–39
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:10–11
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Colossians 4:14
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- Colossians 4:10
Through
Colossians 4:10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philemon 1:24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 19:29
Through
Acts 2:9Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
- 1 Peter 1:1
Through
Acts 19:29Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
it leads to
- Acts 20:4
Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
- Acts 20:4
Where this verse is studied
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Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.