Acts 21:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Apostle’s words made a deep impression on the hearts of his hearers (Acts 20:36). All wept. All fell upon Paul’s neck. All kissed him. The travelers could hardly tear themselves from their hands (21:1). This scene was afterward repeated in Tyre, and finally in Caesarea Philippi. The nearer Paul came to Jerusalem, the more clearly and strikingly the fate awaiting him there appeared before him. In Caesarea, Agabus came to him. This was the same man who, fourteen or fifteen years earlier, had opened Paul’s way to Jerusalem with alms by his prophecy of famine. Now, meeting him again with alms, he bound the hands and feet of the benefactor himself with his own belt. This means, said the prophet, that this man will be bound in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles.

After taking leave of the Ephesian pastors, the Apostle Paul boarded the ship and set out toward Jerusalem with his companions, among whom was also the writer of Acts. Passing by the islands of Cos and Rhodes, they soon reached Patara, a large maritime trading city in the province of Lycia in Asia Minor. There they transferred to a merchant ship bound for Phoenicia. This ship brought them to Tyre, where the Apostle found Christians and stayed among them seven days. From some of them he received a new revelation of the Spirit of God, that bonds and afflictions awaited him in Jerusalem. From Tyre, through Ptolemais, a maritime city within the borders of Palestine, the Apostle and his companions sailed on and came to Caesarea. There, in the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven deacons, they remained many days.

They arrived in Ptolemais. This was the ancient maritime city of Acco, south of Phoenicia, within Palestine proper. According to the ancient division, it belonged to the tribe of Asher (Judg 1:31), a little north of Mount Carmel.

The journey from Tyre to Ptolemais was made by sea. Farther on, toward Caesarea and Jerusalem, they went on foot. Therefore it was natural for all the travelers to strengthen themselves with at least a one-day rest before the journey ahead. They also stayed with Philip the deacon in Caesarea Stratonis. Both he and his four daughters were filled with great gifts of grace. Among these, the gift of prophecy, which these maidens possessed, was then held in especially high honor (cf. Acts 11:27). "Ptolemais is the ancient maritime city of Acco, south of Phoenicia, within the borders of Palestine. According to the ancient division, it lay in the tribe of Asher (cf. Judg 1:31), somewhat north of Mount Carmel. The distance between Acco and Caesarea is no more than a day’s journey.