Acts 21:16

Brought with them one Mnason. Rather, “bringing [us] to one Mnason.” This early (rather than “old”) disciple, of whom nothing else is known, had left Cyprus and made his home either at Jerusalem or at a village on the way to Jerusalem. The name was common among the Greeks, and he may have been an early Hellenistic convert.

Should lodge. This verse indicates that some of the Caesarean believers accompanied Paul and his friends all the way to Jerusalem (64 mi.) in order to introduce Paul to their friend Mnason, an early disciple whom Paul had never met, who was to be his host. This was not Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem; he was not unknown to the church there and needed no introduction to a stranger in order to have a lodging place in Jerusalem. This apparent discrepancy in the story may be understood and harmonized by consideration of factors of geography and social custom of the day.

The 64-mi. distance from Caesarea to Jerusalem was too far for one day’s journey, but could be covered in two or three days. Hospitality customs would not have required the Caesarean believers to accompany Paul and his group all the way to Jerusalem in order merely to introduce him to their friend, who was to be his host. It is far more likely that they escorted him one day’s journey, to the home of their friend Mnason in a village on the way, where Paul and his company lodged that one night.

This proposed solution to the problem is supported by a variant textual reading. Instead of “and brought ... lodge,” there is some textual evidence (cf. p. 10) for the reading, “and these brought us to the one with whom we should lodge; and being brought to a certain village, we came to a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple.” Verse 17 logically follows this reading, indicating the progression of the journey and Paul’s reception by the brethren in Jerusalem.