Acts 21:2

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:1-7 Providence must be acknowledged when our affairs go on well. Wherever Paul came, he inquired what disciples were there, and found them out. Foreseeing his troubles, from love to him, and concern for the church, they wrongly thought it would be most for the glory of God that he should continue at liberty; but their earnestness to dissuade him from it, renders his pious resolution the more illustrious. He has taught us by example, as well as by rule, to pray always, to pray without ceasing. Their last farewell was sweetened with prayer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Unto Phenicia - See the notes on Acts 11:19. Phoenicia was on their way to Jerusalem.

Set forth - Sailed.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. And finding a ship—their former one going no farther, probably.

to Phœnica—(See on [2079]Ac 11:19).

went abroad—One would almost think this extracted from a journal of the voyage, so graphic are its details.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Sailing over unto Phenicia; whose master and mariners intended such a voyage.

Phenicia; a country in Syria, situate nigh the sea, and bordering upon Palestine, whose chief city was Tyre.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia,.... For it seems that the ship they went aboard at Assos, Acts 20:13 went no further, at least in the way the apostle was going, than Patara; but lighting on another ship, which was bound for Phoenicia, for the city of Tyre, which bordered on the land of Israel, and indeed originally belonged to Canaan; see Acts 11:19.

we went aboard; the said ship:

and set forth; on the voyage.

Geneva Study Bible

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 21:2. They went at Patara on board a ship about to start on the direct Syrian course, ἐπιβ., cf. Acts 20:18.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia] Rev. Ver. literally, “having found a ship crossing, &c.” Phœnicia was the country on the coast of the Levant, north of Palestine. It contained the important cities of Tyre and Sidon.

we went aboard, and set forth] Rev. Ver. “set sail.”

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Having found a ship crossing for finding a ship sailing, A.V.; Phoenieia for Phenicia, A.V.; set sail for set forth, A.V. Having found a ship. The ship in which St. Paul and his companions had hitherto sailed was probably a coasting-vessel, intending to continue its course all along the south coast of Asia Minor. But at Patara they found a ship on the point of sailing across the open sea direct to Tyre, by which the voyage would be shortened many days. They accordingly immediately took their passage by it, and put out to sea (ἀνήχθημεν, ver. 1, note). A glance at the map will show what a great corner was thus cut off. A straight line from Patara to Tyro leaves Cyprus just on the left. Acts 21:2

Vincent's Word Studies

Set forth (ἀνήχθημεν)

Or set sail. See on Luke 8:22; and Luke 5:3.