Acts 21 7

Acts 21:7 kjv

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

Acts 21:7 nkjv

And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

Acts 21:7 niv

We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.

Acts 21:7 esv

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.

Acts 21:7 nlt

The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day.

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 7 Meaning

Acts 21:7 describes a specific segment of Paul's third missionary journey, indicating the arrival of Paul and his companions (including Luke, the author) by sea from Tyre to the city of Ptolemais. Upon disembarking, they sought out and greeted the local Christian community ("the brothers") in Ptolemais, staying with them for a single day. This verse highlights the continued travel of Paul towards Jerusalem, the widespread fellowship among early believers, and the practice of hospitality within the nascent Christian network, even during brief stopovers.

Acts 21 7 Context

Acts chapter 21 chronicles Paul's final, premonition-filled journey to Jerusalem, despite numerous warnings from believers and prophecies about the afflictions awaiting him. This particular verse details a short stop along the Phoenician coast, after Paul and his company had spent a week in Tyre, where believers had prophetically urged him not to proceed to Jerusalem. Their brief stop in Ptolemais is part of this inexorable progression towards Jerusalem, demonstrating Paul's unwavering determination to fulfill his perceived divine calling. Historically, Ptolemais (ancient Akko/Acre) was a significant port city on the Mediterranean, serving as a natural stopover for maritime travel along the Levantine coast. This journey segment illustrates the practicalities of ancient travel and the existing network of Christian communities along trade routes, even in cities that were not major centers of Paul's earlier missionary work.

Acts 21 7 Word analysis

• And when we had finished our voyage: (καὶ ἀναφανέντες τὸν πλοῦν, kai anaphanentes ton ploun)

  • καὶ (kai): "And." A common conjunction linking narrative points, indicating continuity in the journey.
  • ἀναφανέντες (anaphanentes): "Having put to sea and appeared." This participle, derived from anaphaino, specifically refers to completing a sea journey and having land or a port "come into sight" or "appear again" after being at sea. It describes the culmination of their maritime travel, making visible what was previously out of sight.
  • τὸν πλοῦν (ton ploun): "The voyage." From plous, signifying the act of sailing or the journey by sea. The definite article emphasizes that this was the specific leg of their ongoing journey.
  • Significance: It precisely details the nature of their transit—a sea voyage completed with a successful arrival at their next visible point.

• from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, (ἀπὸ Τύρου, καταντήσαντες εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, apo Tyrou, katantesantes eis Ptolemaida)

  • ἀπὸ Τύρου (apo Tyrou): "From Tyre." Identifies their point of departure, tying back to the previous verses where they had departed Tyre. Tyre was a significant maritime hub and a city where a strong Christian community existed (Acts 21:3-6).
  • καταντήσαντες (katantesantes): "Having arrived at." From katantao, it denotes reaching a specific destination after a journey. It conveys the successful conclusion of that segment of travel.
  • εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα (eis Ptolemaida): "To Ptolemais." Pinpoints their precise destination. Ptolemais, an important port city north of Caesarea, was known by its Hellenistic name given in honor of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, before it later reverted to Akko. Its strategic location on the coast made it a logical stopover.
  • Significance: Locates the specific stage of their journey, demonstrating Luke's precise geographical knowledge and meticulous recording.

• and greeted the brothers, (ἀσπασάμενοι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, aspasamenoi tous adelphous)

  • ἀσπασάμενοι (aspasamenoi): "Having greeted." From aspazomai, a common Greek verb meaning to salute, welcome, or bid farewell. In the context of early Christian communities, it signified mutual recognition, warmth, and affirmation of fellowship.
  • τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς (tous adelphous): "The brothers." This term (from adelphos) invariably refers to fellow Christians, members of the same spiritual family, bound by faith in Christ. It underscores the pervasive presence of Christian communities even in this coastal city and Paul's established practice of connecting with them.
  • Significance: This is not merely a polite social custom but a key expression of Christian identity and connection, showing that Paul and his company consistently sought out fellow believers, reinforcing the unity of the early church.

• and stayed with them one day. (καὶ ἐμείναμεν ἡμέραν μίαν. kai emeinamen hemeran mian)

  • ἐμείναμεν (emeinamen): "We remained/stayed." From meno, implying a brief halt or lodging. The "we" directly includes Luke in this shared experience.
  • ἡμέραν μίαν (hemeran mian): "One day." Specifies the duration of their stopover.
  • Significance: The brevity of the stay suggests an efficient, purposeful journey but also emphasizes the importance of fellowship and refreshment, even if for a short period. It also likely means there was not time for extended ministry or deep engagement, yet connection was still prioritized.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais": This phrase captures the logistical aspect of Paul's mission. The transition from one port to another reflects the ongoing, determined nature of the apostolic work, undeterred by the physical demands or prior warnings. It's a testament to the methodical and arduous travel of early missionaries.
  • "and greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day": This segment underscores the deep social and spiritual network of early Christianity. Even with limited time, Paul prioritized fellowship. It exemplifies the practical outworking of Christian brotherhood and hospitality (Rom 12:13, Heb 13:2) that characterized the dispersed church, recognizing shared identity in Christ regardless of geographic location.

Acts 21 7 Bonus section

The consistent use of the "we" pronoun (ἀναφανέντες, καταντήσαντες, ἀσπασάμενοι, ἐμείναμεν) throughout this passage confirms Luke's presence as an eyewitness to these events. These "we-sections" in Acts are strong internal evidence for Luke's direct participation in Paul's journeys, lending considerable credibility and detail to the narrative. The very fact that this detail of a brief stopover is recorded emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Luke's historiography, not just focusing on grand sermons or miraculous events, but also on the everyday practicalities of missionary travel and fellowship. This single day stop, while not marked by dramatic events, is essential in demonstrating the mundane yet vital aspects of the early Christian mission: travel, arrival, connection, and brief communal refreshment, all against the backdrop of an unwavering divine purpose leading to Jerusalem.

Acts 21 7 Commentary

Acts 21:7 is a brief, yet revealing, narrative marker in Luke's account of Paul's journey. It moves the geographical needle for Paul and his companions further south towards Jerusalem, highlighting the constant forward motion despite the known dangers ahead. More significantly, it offers a glimpse into the thriving, interconnected Christian network. Even in a place like Ptolemais, not a major focus of Paul's earlier ministries, there existed a discernible community of "brothers" with whom the travelling apostles could find immediate fellowship and temporary lodging. The brevity of their "one day" stay signifies a mission-driven efficiency, yet the very act of seeking out and greeting these believers reinforces that fellowship was integral to the apostolic pattern, serving as both spiritual refreshment and a recognition of shared faith across diverse locales. It paints a picture of practical Christian community where believers provided support and identity to one another.