Acts 21 · Verse 3

Acts 21:3

Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
Acts 21:3, King James Version

Acts 21:3 in other translations

BSBAfter sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
WEBWhen we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was there to unload her cargo.
ASVAnd when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
YLTand having discovered Cyprus, and having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria, and did land at Tyre, for there was the ship discharging the lading.
DARBYand having sighted Cyprus, and left it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and made the land at Tyre, for there the ship was to discharge her cargo.
BBEAnd when we had come in view of Cyprus, going past it on our left, we went on to Syria, and came to land at Tyre: for there the goods which were in the ship had to be taken out.
WebsterNow when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

What does Acts 21:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. when we ... discovered--"sighted," as the phrase is. Cyprus, we left it on the left hand--that is, steered southeast of it, leaving it on the northwest. sailed into--"unto" Syria, and landed at Tyre--the celebrated seat of maritime commerce for East and West. It might be reached from Patara in about two days. there the ship was to unlade her burden--which gave the apostle time for what follows.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Had discovered Cyprus. Acts 4:36.

Into Syria. Mt 4:24.

And landed at Tyre. Mt 11:21.

To unlade her burden. Her cargo. Tyre was formerly one of the most commercial cities of the world; and it is probable, that in the time of Paul its commercial importance had not entirely ceased.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Cyprus - See the note on Act 4:36, and see the track of this journey on the map. Tyre - A city of Phoenicia, one of the most celebrated maritime towns in the world. See the notes on Act 12:20; Mat 11:21 (note). There the ship was to unlade her burden - The freight that she had taken in at Ephesus she was to unlade at Tyre; to which place she was bound.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 21:1-7

Providence must be acknowledged when our affairs go on well. Wherever Paul came, he inquired what disciples were there, and found them out. Foreseeing his troubles, from love to him, and concern for the church, they wrongly thought it would be most for the glory of God that he should continue at liberty; but their earnestness to dissuade him from it, renders his pious resolution the more illustrious. He has taught…

Read the full comment on Acts 21:1-7 →

Acts 21:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀναφάναντεςanaphanantesHaving sightedG398
δὲdethenG1161
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ΚύπρονKupronCyprusG2954
καὶkaiandG2532
καταλιπόντεςkataliponteshaving leftG2641
αὐτὴνautēnitG846
εὐώνυμονeuōnumonon the leftG2176
ἐπλέομενepleomenwe were sailingG4126
εἰςeistoG1519
ΣυρίανSurianSyriaG4947
καὶkaiandG2532
κατήλθομενkatēlthomenwe disembarkedG2718
εἰςeisatG1519
Τύρον·TuronTyre;G5184
ἐκεῖσεekeiseThereG1566
γὰρgarforG1063
τὸtotheG3588
πλοῖονploionshipG4143
ἦνēnwasG1510
ἀποφορτιζόμενονapophortizomenonunloadingG670
τὸνtontheG3588
γόμον.¶gomoncargo.G1117

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 21:3

  • Acts 12:20

    And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.

  • Acts 4:36

    And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

  • Acts 27:4

    And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

  • Acts 21:16

    There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

  • Matthew 4:24

    And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

  • Acts 15:39

    And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

  • Isaiah 7:2

    And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

  • 2 Samuel 8:6

    Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

  • Acts 11:19

    Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

  • Acts 18:18

    And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

  • Luke 10:13

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

  • Acts 15:23

    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:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cyprus.
16; 4:36; 11:19; 13:4; 15:39; 27:4
Syria.
15:23,41; 18:18; Jud 10:6; 2Sa 8:6; Isa 7:2; Mt 4:24; Lu 2:2
Tyre.
12:20; Ps 45:12; 87:4; Isa 23:17,18; Mt 11:21; Lu 10:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 21:2

    And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

  • Acts 21:3

    Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

  • Acts 21:4

    And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

Read all of Acts 21

Acts 21:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y como avistamos á Cipro, dejándola á mano izquierda, navegamos á Siria, y vinimos á Tiro: porque el barco había de descargar allí su carga.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ayant découvert Chypre, et l’ayant laissée à gauche, nous avons vogué vers la Syrie et nous avons abordé à Tyr; car c’était là que le navire devait décharger sa cargaison.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Als wir aber Cyperns ansichtig wurden und es links liegen ließen, segelten wir nach Syrien und legten zu Tyrus an, denn daselbst hatte das Schiff die Ladung abzuliefern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cum apparuissemus autem Cypro, relinquentes eam ad sinistram, navigavimus in Syriam, et venimus Tyrum: ibi enim navis expositura erat onus.