Acts 27:3 - Exposition

Treated Paul kindly for courteously entreated Paul, A.V.; leave for liberty, A.V.; and refresh for to refresh, A.V. We touched ; κατήχθημεν (as Luke 5:11 ; Acts 21:3 ; Acts 28:12 ) of coming from the sea to land, contrasted with ἀνήχθημεν in Acts 27:2 and Acts 27:4 ( ἀναχθέντες ) of going out to sea (as Luke 8:22 ; Acts 13:13 ; Acts 16:11 ; Acts 18:21 ; Acts 21:1 , Acts 21:2 ; and frequently in this chapter). At Sidon ; where doubtless there were disciples, as well as at Tyre ( Acts 21:4 ), though there is no special mention of such. Paul was glad to have an opportunity of visiting them while the ship was stopping there to unload, and set down and take up passengers; and Julius, perhaps by the orders of Festus and Agrippa, and also from the influence Paul's character and conduct had on him (comp. Daniel 1:9 ), courteously gave him leave to land, probably accompanied by a soldier. And refresh himself ; literally, to meet with care. ἐπιμελεία occurs only here in the New Testament, but is found in 1 Mace. Acts 16:14 ; Acts 2:1-47 Mace. Acts 11:23 , and is frequent in Xenophon and other classical writers, by whom it is used with τυχεῖν , as here. Luke also uses the verb ἐπιμελέομαι ( Luke 10:34 , Luke 10:35 ); and ἐπιμελῶς ( Luke 15:8 ). It is in very common use among medical writers for the care and attention required by the sick. It is very probable that St. Paul was suffering from his long confinement at Caesarea, and that the ἐπιμελία here mentioned has reference to his invalid state.