Paul completes the Aegean/Asia Minor leg of his journey to Jerusalem by sailing south and east on successive days to the islands of Cos and Rhodes, probably stopping at the ports of the same name, then on to Patara. Patara was a major port of Lycia and a favorite haven for large vessels traveling from the eastern Mediterranean to the Aegean. Headquarters of the Roman governor of Lycia, it was celebrated for its oracle of Apollo. Romans would have been familiar with Cos as a health resort with a salubrious climate, hot ferrous and sulfurous springs, medical school, and sanctuary of Asclepius. Emperor Claudius, influenced by his own physician, Xenophon of Cos, had recently made the port a free city and conferred immunity from taxation (A.D. 53). Its own Cassius had plundered Rhodes (43 B.C.), which was now "little more than a beautiful city with a glorious past" (Couch 1988:183).

Paul and his party change ships at this point because (1) their sailors know only the Aegean, (2) the ship is a small coastal vessel unsuited for the four-hundred-mile trans-Mediterranean route to Phoenicia or (3) it is committed to taking the slower coastal route east (Lake and Cadbury 1979:265). Two-thirds of the way into their journey, Cyprus, the site of Paul's first missionary campaign (13:4-12), comes into view. They pass it and leave it behind, literally "on the port side." After a journey of five days (so Chrysostom Homilies 45) they arrive at Phoenicia, the seacoast of central Syria between Mount Carmel on the south and the Eleutherus River on the north. They put in at Tyre, a city built on an island with its port on the south side. An earthen mole constructed by Alexander the Great connected the city to the mainland, and subsequent action of the harbor waters had left a sandy beach.

Paul's party uncovers (compare Lk 2:16) the whereabouts of a church, probably founded by Hellenistic Jewish Christians scattered in the aftermath of Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 11:19; see the positive disposition of Tyrians to Jesus' ministry, Lk 6:17; 10:13-14). Paul may have previously visited this church at least twice (12:25; 15:3). Here the party stays a week, either during the unloading and loading of their vessel (Bruce 1990:440) or until they can find another ship (Haenchen 1971:600).

The fellowship Paul enjoys at many stops on his journey illustrates Barclay's maxim "The man who is in the family of the Church has friends all over the world" (1976:154). For Paul "the church has become a countercultural, global network of communities caring for their own subversive missionaries who are now traveling to and fro throughout the Empire" (Willimon 1988:159).

As Paul said happened in every city, the Holy Spirit predicts his coming suffering. This time the disciples conclude that the prediction is not just a warning but actually a prohibition. So Luke expresses it: through the Spirit they urged (literally, "were repeatedly saying") Paul not to go on to Jerusalem (compare 20:23). Since the same Spirit has compelled Paul to go to Jerusalem (19:21; 20:22), we would be confronted with a contradiction if the prediction were actually a prohibition, but such need not be the case (see note). Paul, then, is not disobedient to the Spirit by disregarding the prohibition. As with all the Spirit's predictive warnings, it is intended simply to stiffen his determination as he once again realistically counts the cost (20:22-24).

Sometimes the counsel of friends, filtered through the grid of their fears and concerns for our safety, can be misguidance. Like Paul, we must determine to "do the right thing" even when outward circumstances and projected outcome do not appear to be stamped with the blessing of God.

As the whole church, including women and children, escorts the party to the port via the beach, they kneel in a solemn prayer of committal reminiscent of the leavetaking at Miletus (20:36-38). The bonds of Christian fellowship forged in this short week are strong, and they cannot but help give strength to the apostle as he continues down the road to certain suffering. We too should never miss an opportunity, by fellowship and prayer, to strengthen the determination of fellow Christians as they face hard tests.