Acts 27:5

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, [a city] of Lycia.

And {G5037} when we had sailed over {G1277} the sea {G3989} of {G2596} Cilicia {G2791} and {G2532} Pamphylia {G3828}, we came {G2718} to {G1519} Myra {G3460}, a city of Lycia {G3073}.

then across the open sea along the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia; and so we reached Myra in Lycia.

And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.

And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 27:5 (KJV)

Acts 27:5 provides a concise yet important geographical detail within the narrative of Paul's momentous sea journey to Rome. It marks a significant leg of the voyage as Paul, Luke (the author), and their companions progress along the southern coast of Asia Minor.

Context

This verse is part of the detailed account of Paul's perilous journey as a prisoner to Rome, where he was to stand trial before Caesar. After being held in Caesarea for two years, as mentioned in Acts 24:27, Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar, as recorded in Acts 25:11. This appeal set in motion the voyage described in Acts chapter 27.

The journey began from Caesarea, sailing first to Sidon (Acts 27:3), and then, due to contrary winds, they sailed under the lee of Cyprus, as detailed in Acts 27:4. Verse 5 picks up from there, describing their passage along the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. Myra, a prominent city in the Roman province of Lycia, served as a crucial port where ships often transferred cargo and passengers, especially for larger vessels bound for Italy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence Amidst Human Circumstances: Even as a prisoner on a forced journey, Paul's path was ultimately guided by God's sovereign plan to bring the Gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire. This echoes God's earlier assurance to Paul in Acts 23:11 that he must bear witness in Rome.
  • Historical Accuracy and Detail: Luke, as the meticulous author of Acts, provides precise geographical details—naming regions like Cilicia, Pamphylia, and Lycia, and the city of Myra. This attention to detail underscores the historical reliability and authenticity of the Acts narrative, a hallmark of ancient travelogues.
  • The Journey as a Metaphor: This segment of the journey, with its specific stops and transfers, can be seen as a microcosm of life's spiritual journey. It highlights moments of waiting, transition, and reliance on divine guidance, even when the next step is uncertain.

Linguistic Insights

The geographical names in Acts 27:5—Cilicia, Pamphylia, Myra, and Lycia—are direct transliterations of Greek terms. These were well-known regions and a significant port city along the ancient maritime routes of the Roman Empire. Cilicia was especially significant as it was Paul's home province, containing his birth city of Tarsus.

Practical Application

Acts 27:5, though primarily a descriptive verse, offers several practical insights for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Guiding Hand: Just as Paul's journey, despite its difficulties and being under guard, was part of God's larger purpose for spreading the Gospel, we too can find assurance in God's sovereignty over our own paths. Even through periods of transition, uncertainty, or hardship, God is at work, guiding our steps toward His ultimate plan.
  • Value for Accuracy and Detail: Luke's careful recording of precise locations encourages us to value accuracy and thoroughness in our own understanding of scripture and in our daily lives. It reminds us that God's plan unfolds in real places and real time.
  • Embracing Transitions: The stop at Myra for a ship transfer illustrates that journeys often involve necessary transitions. These moments can be opportunities for new directions or to prepare for the next phase of God's work in our lives.
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Cross-References

  • Acts 6:9 (4 votes)

    Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

  • Acts 13:13 (3 votes)

    Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

  • Acts 2:10 (2 votes)

    Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

  • Acts 22:3 (2 votes)

    ¶ I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

  • Acts 15:23 (2 votes)

    And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

  • Acts 15:38 (2 votes)

    But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

  • Acts 21:39 (2 votes)

    But Paul said, I am a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.