Acts 21:1

Were gotten from them. The Greek verb suggests parting with an effort, and the phrase may be translated “having torn ourselves away from them.”

Straight course. Evidently with a favoring wind and tide.

Coos. Rather, Cos, a small island off the coast of Asia Minor, at the entrance to the Greek Archipelago (see Paul’s Third Missionary Tour). Anciently there was on the island a temple to Aesculapius, with a medical school. It was noted too for its wine, silk production, and fabrics.

The day following. Luke, with his evident interest in sea travel, is careful to keep note concerning the days required for the journey (cf. ch. 20:6, 7, 15).

Rhodes. The noted island at the southwest corner of Asia Minor (see Paul’s Third Missionary Tour) which became famous during the Peloponnesian War. An ancient name of the island was Asteria, the place of stars. The name Rhodes was acquired because of the profusion of roses that grew on the island. Its timber, useful for shipbuilding, enabled its citizens to develop a strong navy. A crossroads point, important commercially and for military purposes, it also had a great sun temple, and its coinage bore the head of Apollo as the sun-god. A huge metal statue of Helios, the sun-god, more than 100 ft. high, was known as the Colossus of Rhodes and was called one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Erected by Chares about the year 280 B.C., it was thrown down by an earthquake in 224 B.C., and lay supine for nearly 900 years. In the 7th century A.D. it was sold by the conquering Saracens to a Jew, who is reported to have used 900 camels in hauling it away piecemeal.

Patara. There is slight textual evidence (cf. p. 10) for the addition of “and Myra,” perhaps by transference from Paul’s voyage to Rome (ch. 27:5). Patara was a city on the coast of the province of Lycia (see Paul’s Third Missionary Tour), and was noted for the worship of Apollo. Lying near the mouth of the river Xanthus, it was the port for the city of that name. Here Paul and his company transferred from the coastal vessel to a ship bound for Phoenicia.