Translation commentary on Acts 27:2

The province of Asia is literally “Asia.” The reference may be either to the province of Asia, or more precisely to the seaports along the western coast of Asia, of which Ephesus was the center. The New English Bible is also explicit in speaking of “the province of Asia.” The ship which they boarded had its home harbor in Adramyttium, which was southeast of Troas.

Aristarchus is mentioned in 19.29; 20.4; Philemon 24; and also in Colossians 4.10, where he is called “a fellow prisoner.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:2

27:2a

We boarded…ship: This clause refers to going onto a ship. Other ways to translate this clause are:

We went aboard a ship (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
We got on a ship (New Century Version)

Adramyttian: This name refers to a city that was on the coast of the province of Asia (now western Turkey) under Roman rule.

27:2b

to sail: The verb sail refers to traveling by ship. At that time ships used sails and the wind to move forward. In some languages a more general verb will indicate the correct meaning. For example:

leave (Good News Translation)
-or-
to go

ports: The word ports refers to cities on the shore with places for ships to stop. These cities were in various places along the coast.

the coast of Asia: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase coast of to indicate that these places were along the edge of the sea. Some English versions add the phrase “province of” to distinguish this region from the region of the world that includes the country of China. In the time of the Bible, the name Asia referred to a region in what is now the western part of the country of Turkey. See how you translated this phrase in 2:9 or 24:18.

27:2c

we put out to sea: This refers to leaving the place where the ship was tied and begin traveling on the sea. Other ways to translate this clause are:

we sailed away (Good News Translation)
-or-
set sail (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

sea: This refers to a large body of water. The land on the other side of a sea is usually too far away to be seen.

27:2d

a Macedonian from Thessalonica: The word Macedonian refers to a person from the province of Macedonia. The city of Thessalonica was in Macedonia. It was the home town of Aristarchus. But this phrase indicates that being a Macedonian was more important than being from Thessalonica.

a man from ⌊the province of⌋ Macedonia and ⌊whose hometown was⌋ Thessalonica

Macedonian: Macedonia was a province of Greek cities and land ruled by Romans. See how you spelled this name in 16:9.

Thessalonica: Thessalonica was a large city for that time. See how you spelled this name in 17:1.

was with us: Aristarchus joined Paul and Luke some time before the ship left Caesarea. This phrase indicates that Aristarchus was with Paul and Luke when the ship left. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

was with us ⌊when the ship left⌋
-or-
joined us ⌊before the ship left⌋

General Comment on 27:2a–d

Aristarchus joined Paul and Luke before the ship left Caesarea. The phrase “was with us” may indicate that he joined them before they boarded the ship. In some languages it is more natural to have 27:2d before 27:2c or 27:2a. For example:

2aWe boarded an Adramyttium ship 2babout to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia. 2dAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 2cWe put out to sea.
-or-

2dAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was/joined with us. 2aWe boarded an Adramyttium ship 2babout to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and 2cwe put out to sea.

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