Ships from Alexandria on their way to Rome generally went by way of Myra, because of the winds in the late summer. It was not too difficult to sail from Alexandria to Myra, and from there to Sicily, and then on up to Puteoli, though it was very difficult to make the voyage straight from Alexandria to Sicily at this time of year.

Since at this point Paul and others had to change ships, it may be necessary to indicate that “they got off one ship and were put aboard another,” or it may be better to stipulate in verse 5 that “we came to the city of Myra in the province of Lycia where we disembarked.” Otherwise the last clause of verse 6 may seem strange.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .