Atos 21

Atos 21

Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH Considering the fact that Acts 13 is such a strategic chapter in regard to world evangelism, take a moment and study Irving Jensen's chart at top of the page (click it to enlarge it which is what I have to do at age 72!). Notice the bold vertical line (|) at the end of Acts 12 and beginning of Acts 13 which Jensen estimates to be about year 47 (it could be a short time prior). Note the horizontal description of "Church" - Church Established in the first 13 years from Acts 1 through Acts 7, then the Church Scattered between Acts 8 through Acts 12, which occurred over a period of about 14 years (and remember all dates and times are at best approximations because Luke gives only a few events that allow us to give specific dates, such as the death of Herod in A D 44 in Acts 12:23) and lastly, beginning in Acts 13 (and until the end of this age), the Church Extended, this extension being the primarily the fruit of Paul's Three Missionary Journeys which"upset the world!" (Acts 17:6) Now, you have a good grasp of the chronological context of Acts 13. And as they say in the restaurant when your delicious meal is served "Enjoy!" The three missionary journeys are summarized below (this note will be repeated in subsequent chapters). Click links for the maps of each journey. Paul's First Missionary Journey Acts 13:4-14:28 Paul's Second Missionary Journey Acts 15:36-18:22 Paul's Third Missionary Journey Acts 18:23-21:26 Maps in table above are from the Holman Bible Atlas (Hardcover/Paperback version) copyrighted © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps as the maps also include helpful short descriptions of the events portrayed on the maps. Please do not download for use on another website. Thank you. Here is a map with all three journeys on one map. THE ITINERARY OF PAUL'S THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS FIRST SECOND THIRD Phrygia/Galatia Acts 16:6 Phrygia/Galatia Acts 18:23-28 Charles Swindoll points out that "When we study the journeys of Paul in the book of Acts, we’re not just reading the travel log of a man; we’re observing the redemptive plan of God unfolding as He promised. Through the ministry of Saul of Tarsus, God’s mission to reclaim His creation from the death grip of evil would move to its next stage. The plan of this mission was outlined in the Lord’s promise at His ascension, where He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses... In Jerusalem [Stage 1: Acts 2–7], and in all Judea and Samaria [Stage 2: Acts 8–12], and even to the remotest part of the earth [Stage 3: Acts 13–‍28].” (Acts 1:8+) John Hannah's Outline for Third Missionary Journey (see map) The third missionary journey of Paul (Acts 18:23-21:16) The ministry in Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23) The ministry in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-19:41) Instruction of Apollos (Acts 18:24-28) Instruction of some of John's followers (Acts 19:1-7) Instruction of the Ephesians (Acts 19:8-20) Instructions concerning his plans (Acts 19:21-22) The riots in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) The ministry in Macedonia and Achaia (Acts 20:1-5) The ministry in Troas (Acts 20:6-12) The ministry in Miletus (Acts 20:13-38) His journey to Miletus (Acts 20:13-16) His message to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-35) Concerning his ministry (Acts 20:17-27) Concerning the church (Acts 20:28-35) His farewell to the Ephesians (Acts 20:36-38) The ministry at Tyre (Acts 21:1-6) His journey to Tyre (Acts 21:1-3) His ministry in Tyre (Acts 21:4-6) The ministry in Caesarea (Acts 21:7-16) Agabus' prediction (Acts 21:7-12) Paul's reply (Acts 21:13-14) The journey toward Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-16) The journey of Paul to Rome (Acts 21:17-28:31) His witness in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-23:35) Paul's report to the elders (Acts 21:17-26) Paul's arrest (Acts 21:27-36) Paul's defense (Acts 21:37-23:10) His first defense (Acts 21:37-22:23) The background (Acts 21:37-40) The content (Acts 22:1-21) The result (Acts 22:22-23) His second defense (Acts 22:24-23:10) The background (Acts 22:24-29) The council (Acts 22:30) The content (Acts 23:1-9) The conflict (Acts 23:10) Paul's deliverance (Acts 23:11-35) The encouragement (Acts 23:11) The plot (Acts 23:12-16) The counterplot (Acts 23:17-24) The letter to Felix (Acts 23:25-30) The deliverance to Felix (Acts 23:31-35) His witness in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-26:32) Paul's defense before Felix (Acts 24:1-27) The setting (Acts 24:1) The accusations of Tertullus (Acts 24:2-9) The reply of Paul (Acts 24:10-21) The consequences (Acts 24:22-27) Paul's defense before Festus (Acts 25:1-12) The setting (Acts 25:1-5) The trial (Acts 25:6-11) The result (Acts 25:12) Paul's defense before Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:32) The arrival of Agrippa (Acts 25:13) Festus' presentation of Paul's case (Acts 25:14-22) Festus' presentation of Paul (Acts 25:23-27) Paul's defense before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-23) Paul's answer to Festus (Acts 26:24-26) Paul's interaction with Agrippa (Acts 26:27-29) The conclusion (Acts 26:30-32) His witness on the way to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:15) His witness aboard ship (Acts 27:1-44) His witness on Malta (Acts 28:1-15) Paul's miraculous preservation (Acts 28:1-6) Paul's healing of Publius' father (Acts 28:7-10) Paul's continued journey toward Rome (Acts 28:11-15) His witness in Rome (Acts 28:16-31) The occasion for his witness (Acts 28:16-22) The content of his witness (Acts 28:23-28) The result of his witness (Acts 28:29) The summary of Paul's witness in Rome (Acts 28:30-31) Hannah's Bible Outlines - Recommended Resource Acts 21:1 And when it came about that we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara KJV Acts 21:1 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: We had parted from them: Acts 20:37,38 1Sa 20:41,42 1Th 2:17 and had set sail: Acts 27:2,4 Lu 5:4 8:22 Acts 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Click to enlarge - from the Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover) copyright © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, Used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps. Please do not reproduce this map on any other webpage. SAILING FROM COS TO RHODES TO PATARA And when it came about that we had parted from them and had set sail - The idea is after they had at last torn themselves away! Paul’s affection for his fellow believers ran deep (Acts 20:37) making this an emotionally painful separation. Paul had sent for the Ephesian elders who traveled some 50 miles south from Ephesus to the port city of Miletus. (Acts 20:17+), this important last face to face meeting being described in detail in Acts 20:17-38+. In threading between these small islands off the eastern coast of modern day Turkey, they were traveling in a smaller vessel commonly referred to as a coasting vessel, which are not large enough for travel on the open sea (explaining why they changed ships at Patara -see Acts 21:2). Had parted (withdrawn) (645)(apospao from apó = from + spáo = to draw or pull) literally means to draw, pull or drag away from. Apospao is used literally to draw out a sword in Mt 26:51. Apospao is used figuratively Acts 20:30+ ("to draw away the disciples after them") to describe drawing someone away from "attracting" them from the Word of truth. In the present context the figurative sense is to draw away from or depart from the Ephesian elders at Miletus. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says "Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow." And for believers this is even more true for "the night is almost gone and the day is at hand" (Ro 13:12) and we shall soon all be reunited before the King of kings. Chrysostom, himself, a Greek, says the Greek word means "had torn away." (cf Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane - Lk 22:42). This sense emphasizes how the parting was indeed somewhat emotionally traumatizing even for the apostle Paul. There was a strong bond of mutual love between Paul and the elders so that this verb pictures him as having to "tear himself away!" Had set sail (put out to sea) (321)(anago) was a nautical technical term and in the passive voice meant to put (out) to sea or set sail. (cf Luke 8:22; Acts 13:13; 16:11; 18:21; 20:3, 13; 21:1, 2; 27:2, 4, 12, 21; 28:10, 11). DISTANCES Miletus to Cos - ~50 miles Cos to Rhodes - ~60 miles Rhodes to Patara - ~65 miles Patara to Tyre - ~385-400 miles We ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara - Apparently they stayed overnight at Cos (cf the next day) and most commentators assume that each segment of this trip took a day so they would have remained in each city overnight (see Ramsay's note below). (see Cos in Roman Era Cos was the name of the capital city of the island Cos). Cos was an island in the Archipelago, or Aegean Sea, one of those called the Sporades and was famous for the worship of Aesculapius and Juno. In Rhodes they would have seen the remains of the Colossus of Rhodes, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world (Paul had already seen the Temple of Diana/Artemis another wonder of the seven) (See depiction of the Seven Wonders). The Colossus (see artist's reconstruction) had crumbled at the knees about 226 BC but the impressive remains were still visible until about 654 AD. Pliny the Elder remarked that few people could wrap their arms around the fallen thumb of the Colossus and that each of its fingers was larger than most statues. Luke does not say they spent the night there. THOUGHT - It is worth noting that Luke does not even make a passing mention of the remnants of this great human achievement! It is good for God's men to not be impressed by the passing, temporal "glories" of this present evil age, lest they ensnare us and entice us (envy, covetousness, etc, etc). John describes the fate of human achievements in 1 John 2:17+ (see context 1 Jn 2:15, 2:16+) writing "The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." The corollary truth of John's words is that the glories of this passing world can attract even believers (at least for a time) and impede their doing the will of God (Read Paul's "antidote" - Col 3:2+). James 4:4+ speaks to this same danger warning "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." Is there any "Colossus of Rhodes" that is attracting you dear reader. You can rest assured that it will crumble one day and only those who do "the will of God" will live forever! There is only one Rock which is also a Redeemer! (Ps 19:14+). Sir William Ramsay explained why we can fairly confidently assume the ship remained overnight in each of the cities mentioned - The reason [the ship did not sail at night] lies in the wind, which in the Aegean during the summer generally blows from the north, beginning at a very early hour in the morning; in the late afternoon it dies away; at sunset there is a dead calm, and thereafter a gentle south wind arises and blows during the night. (See page 158 in St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen) The weather and winds explain why they would likely stop overnight at each port. "In the summer months, the wind of the Aegean Sea blows from the north, beginning very early in the morning. In the late afternoon the wind dies away. Sunset brings a dead calm, and later a gentle south breeze blows. If a ship was heading down the coast, it would typically anchor at evening and wait for the winds of the morning." (Nelson Study Bible) Larkin - Romans would have been familiar with Cos as a health resort with a salubrious climate, hot ferrous and sulfurous springs, medical school, and sanctuary of Asclepius. Emperor Claudius, influenced by his own physician, Xenophon of Cos, had recently made the port a free city and conferred immunity from taxation (A.D. 53). Its own Cassius had plundered Rhodes (43 B.C.), which was now "little more than a beautiful city with a glorious past" (Couch 1988:183). (Acts 21:1-16 To Jerusalem--By Sea to Palestine)