Acts 21:7-14
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day.
8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And he came to us and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
From Tyre to Ptolemais
Arriving in Ptolemais
Paul is now on his journey to Jerusalem. “When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais.” The journey from Tyre to Ptolemais was a sea voyage of approximately 25 miles (40 km) southward. (a) Ptolemais (Ptolemaios) was a Roman colonial city. (b) In Old Testament times, this city was called Acco. Judges 1:31 states, “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or of Rehob.” The Acco mentioned here is the same as Ptolemais in the New Testament time. (c) Today, this city is called Akko (in Hebrew). It is the southernmost port city of Phoenicia and was once a hub for trade in the eastern Mediterranean. After Israel’s independence in 1948, a significant number of Palestinians continued to reside there, making up about one-third of the population. The Old City was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. It features various Ottoman-era buildings and Crusader-era remains preserved underground. (d) The Bible does not record any visits by Jesus to Akko. As a result, the city is relatively unfamiliar to many Christians.
Fellowship in the Lord
“And after greeting the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day.” (1) The stay in Ptolemais was only one day. Likely, unloading and loading the cargo did not take much time. (2) Paul and his companions sought out believers in Ptolemais as well. The church in this city is thought to have been born as a result of persecution, similar to the church in Tyre. This persecution occurred following the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 11:19). (3) There were two purposes for seeking out believers when visiting a new location: (a) Fellowship with others in the Lord. (b) Securing a safe and reliable place to stay. Paul and his companions were warmly welcomed by the churches in each place they visited on their way to Jerusalem. We have already seen: (1) a week in Troas (Acts 20:7-12), (b) a week in Tyre (Acts 21:4-6). Here, we learned about: (3) a day in Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). And next comes: (d) A few days in Caesarea (Acts 21:8-14). How wonderful is the fellowship within God’s family! “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
Today's prayer
Gracious Father God, the family of God is also a blessing You have given us. I thank You for the joy and wonder of this fellowship. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.