As the travelers resume their journey, the narrative shows the same detail as before (see disc. on 20:7–12). The most striking feature of this part of the story is the repeated warning of danger to Paul.

21:1 The opening words of this chapter recreate the closing scene of the last, with the travelers having to “tear themselves away” from their friends (the same verb as in 20:30). From Miletus they sailed due south to Cos (about forty miles). Probably the city is meant on the island of the same name. Here they spent the night. Cos, besides being famous for its medical school, was a center of Jewish life in the Aegean (cf. 1 Macc. 15:23; Josephus, Antiquities 14.110–118; War 1.422–425). It is most unlikely, however, that Paul made any contact with the Jews. The following day they rounded th…