Paul's Adherence to His Resolution to Visit Jerusalem; Acts 21:1-16 Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

It is quite noticeable how difficult it was for Paul to separate himself from his friends from Ephesus. It was difficult for both sides; Paul did not want to leave them, and they did not want to part with him, and yet there was no remedy, but so it must be. And so it was.

What a prosperous voyage they had. Without any difficulty, they came with a straight course, by direct sailing, to Coos, a famous Grecian island, the next day to Rhodes, talked of for the Colossus there, then to Patara, a famous port, the metropolis of Lycia; here they very happily found a ship sailing over into Phenicia, the very course they were looking for. This ship that was bound for Phenicia (that is, Tyre) they took advantage of, went on board, and set sail for Tyre. In this voyage they discovered Cyprus, the island that Barnabas was part of, and which he took care of, and therefore Paul did not visit it, but we left it on the left hand, sailed upon the coast of Syria, and at length landed at Tyre, that celebrated mart of the nations, so it had been, but was now reduced; yet something of a trade it had still, for there the ship was to unlade her burden, and did so.
When Paul had arrived at Tyre, he found that he was along the coast of the land of Israel, and realized now that he could complete the remainder of his journey within the time frame he had originally planned. At Tyre he found disciples, some that had embraced the gospel, and professed the Christian faith. Paul, finding those disciples at Tyre, remained there seven days. They urged him to stay with them as long as he could. He had staid seven days at Troas and here so many days at Tyre, that he might be sure to spend one Lord's day with them, and so he might have an opportunity to preach publicly among them.
The disciples at Tyre were endowed with such gifts that they could by the Spirit foretell the troubles Paul would meet with at Jerusalem; for the Holy Spirit witnessed it in every city. This was something that would become a hot topic amongst the people when it came to pass. For this reason God saw fit to have most of it prophesied of before. In order that people's faith, instead of being offended, might be confirmed. With their ability to foresee his troubles, and out of love to him and concern for the church, especially the churches of the Gentiles, that could ill afford to lose him, they begged him not go to Jerusalem.