Acts 21:1

Acts 21:1 says, And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:  Paul and his group sailed to the island Coos, then to Rhodes, and then to Patara.   We are not told that they stayed long at any of these places.  Verse two add, And finding a ship sailing unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.  We must remember that Paul could not go to a travel agent and set up his itinerary for travel.  He was dependent on finding a ship sailing in the direction he was going.  He could not say that the ship needed to stop at a particular port.  They were moving steadily toward their destination.  Too often today, if it seems that if we are going to have trouble or be uncomfortable in going where the Lord wants us to go, we decide that God must not have wanted us to go.  We are not called to private plane travel and the most expensive hotels.  We are called to follow no matter the cost.  If we begin to think we deserve so much more than those we are called to witness to, then, in my understanding of God's calling, we are missing the real purpose of the gospel.  Paul travelled as he found passage and stayed with the people.  Verse three continues, 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.  At Patara, they found a ship sailing to Phenicia, passed Cyprus without stopping, and came to Syria, landing at Tyre.  The ship was to be unladen there, but Paul was still on schedule. Verse four states, And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.  He had time to visit with the disciples there.  The gospel was spreading, and this group of disciples were not some Paul had witnessed to.  We are never alone in our work for God, yet we should all be working together.  They were there for seven days, and the Holy Spirit revealed to the disciples there the trouble that awaited Paul and they tried to persuade him not to go.  We must never attempt to keep people from going where God is sending them, even if God reveals to us that trouble awaits them.  Verse five adds, And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.  Still, the next day, when Paul was to depart, these disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied him to the ship. They knelt down on the shore and prayed together.  Even if we know that someone is going to a place where trouble awaits them, we may warn them, but ultimately, we must support and pray for them.  Verse six continues, And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.  Paul said that after this, they took their leave and returned home again.  We need to go where God sends us, but we also need to be ready to return home when our time is complete.  Verse seven concludes, And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.  Paul and his group sailed to Ptolemais, where they saluted the brethren for one day.  The disciples at Tyre had returned home after seeing Paul off. They were not called to Jerusalem but had a ministry at home.  We must serve where God sends us, even if it is to just go home and continue to witness there.