Acts 21:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 21:4-11

The Spirit in Paul, and the Spirit in others. The narrative given of the apostle's progress toward Jerusalem suggests some serious and difficult questions. We now consider one of them. Once and again it appears as if the Divine Spirit sent messages which should have stopped the apostle, and prevented his going on to the holy city; and St. Paul evidently resisted these attempted hindrances. Then was he right in so doing? If he was right, how can we explain his conduct? The circumstances may... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 21:4

And finding disciples - Christians. This is the first mention of there being Christians at Tyre, but there is no improbability in supposing that the gospel had been preached there, though it is not expressly recorded by Luke.Who said to Paul - Compare Acts 21:12. Their deep interest in his welfare, and their apprehension of his danger, was the reason why they admonished him not to go.Through the Spirit - There is some difficulty in understanding this. In solving this difficulty, we may... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 21:4-6

Acts 21:4-6. Finding disciples, we tarried there seven days In order to spend a sabbath with them. Who said to Paul, through the inspiration of the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem The meaning seems to be, that these disciples foreseeing, through the spirit of prophecy, the troubles which Paul would meet with in Jerusalem, if he went thither, themselves advised him not to go. It is necessary to understand the words thus, to account for Paul’s conduct; for had the Spirit... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 21:1-16

To Jerusalem with the offering (20:13-21:16)From Troas Paul went by land to Assos, where he rejoined the rest of the party and sailed to Miletus (13-16). Since Miletus was only about fifty kilometres from Ephesus, Paul took the opportunity to call the elders of the Ephesian church to come and meet him. He wanted to give them some final encouragement and pass on helpful warnings (17).Paul’s opponents in Asia had probably been trying to turn the Christians against him. Therefore, he reminded the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 21:4

flnding = having found. Greek. aneurisko, to find by searching. Only here and Luke 2:16 . disciples = the disciples. Probably few. He no longer seeks the synagogue. tarried . Greek. epimeno. See note on Acts 10:48 . through . Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 21:1 . the Spirit = the Holy Spirit. App-101 . Compare verses: Acts 21:11-14 and Acts 1:2 . go up . Greek. anabaino, but the texts read epibaino, as in Acts 21:2 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 21:4

And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said unto Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.Wesley was correct in saying that the presence of Christians in Tyre "was foretold";[9] for Psalms 87:4 has this: "Among them that know me, behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia."Having found ... would seem to indicate some little search before the company of believers (perhaps small) was located.This sail to Tyre was a distance of 340 miles; but... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 21:4

Acts 21:4. That he should not go up to Jerusalem— That is, if he tendered his own liberty and safety. It is necessary to take it with this limitation; for had the Spirit forbidden his journey to Jerusalem, we may be sure he would have desisted from it. This verse might be rendered better, And we tarried there seven days, meeting with some disciples, who said, &c. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 21:4

4-6. finding disciples—finding out the disciples, implying some search. They would expect such, from what is recorded, Acts 11:19. Perhaps they were not many; yet there were gifted ones among them. who said to Paul . . . that he should not go up to Jerusalem—(See on Acts 11:19- :; also see on Acts 11:19- :). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 21:1-6

The trip from Miletus to Tyre 21:1-6The third "we" section of Acts (Acts 21:1-18) is of theological importance because it focuses on Paul’s recapitulation of Jesus’ passion. Note the similarities between Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem and Paul’s. Both stories involve a plot by the Jews and handing over to the Gentiles. There were triple predictions along the way of suffering in Jerusalem in both cases. Both Jesus and Paul steadfastly resolved to go there despite opposition, and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 21:4

Refugees from the persecution that followed Stephen’s martyrdom had evangelized Phoenicia (Acts 11:19). Paul and his companions stayed in Tyre for seven days fellowshipping with the Christians."Sea journeys in the ancient world depended on finding shipping available, and accepting delays arising from loading and unloading. It is therefore not inconsistent that Paul was in haste to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost, yet had stopped for a week at Troas, and now spends a week at Tyre; he would have no... read more

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