Acts 18:20

18:18-23 While Paul found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. Our times are in God's hand; we purpose, but he disposes; therefore we must make all promises with submission to the will of God; not only if providence permits, but if God does not otherwise direct our motions. A very good refreshment it is to a faithful minister, to have for awhile the society of his brethren. Disciples are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to strengthen them, by directing them to Christ, who is their Strength. Let us earnestly seek, in our several places, to promote the cause of Christ, forming plans that appear to us most proper, but relying on the Lord to bring them to pass if he sees good.

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them,.... Either Aquila and Priscilla, whom he left here, for here they were, as is certain from Acts 18:24,26 or rather the Jews with whom he reasoned, who might be desirous of further conference with him, upon the subject they had disputed about; either in order to gain more knowledge, or in hopes of baffling and confounding him: he consented not; for a reason afterwards given.

Verse 20. - And when they asked for when they desired , A.V.; abide a for tarry , A.V.; time for time with them , A.V. He consented not ; οὐκ ἐπένευσεν , only here in the New Testament, but found in Proverbs 26:20 ; 2 Macc. 4:10, etc., and frequently in medical writers; literally, to bend the head forward by the proper muscles (Hobart). Acts 18:20

20 . And when they desired ( asked ) him to tarry a longer time with them ] The oldest texts omit the last two words. The verb is one most frequently rendered “to ask.” We need not suppose that more impression had been produced on this occasion than made the Jews willing to give him a patient hearing.

(20) When they desired him to tarry longer time with them.—This was, obviously, a hopeful sign, the earnest of the fruitful labours that followed. Nowhere, among the churches that he founded, does St. Paul seem to have found so great a receptivity for spiritual truth. While he looked on the Corinthians as being children requiring to be fed with milk ( 1Corinthians 3:2 ), he saw in the Ephesians those to whom he did not shun to declare “the whole counsel of God” ( Acts 20:27 ), to whom he could, at a later date, appeal as able to measure his knowledge of the mystery of the gospel ( Ephesians 3:4 ).

And he came to Ephesus - See the notes on Revelation 2:1-5 . This was a celebrated city in Ionia, in Asia Minor, about 40 miles south of Smyrna. It was chiefly famous for the Temple of Diana, usually reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world. Pliny styles this city the ornament of Asia. In the times of the Romans it was the metropolis of the province of Asia. This city is now under the dominion of the Turks, and is almost in a state of ruin. Dr. Chandler, in his Travels in Asia Mirror, says: "The inhabitants are a few Greek peasants, living in extreme wretchedness, dependence, and insensibility; the representatives of an illustrious people, and inhabiting the wreck of their greatness; some in the substructions of the glorious edifices which they raised; some beneath the vaults of the stadium, once the crowded scene of their diversions; and some in the sepulchres which received their ashes" (Travels, p. 131, Oxford, 1775). The Jews, according to Josephus, were very numerous in Ephesus, and had obtained the privilege of citizenship. Left them there - That is, Aquila and Priscilla, Acts 18:24-26. Reasoned with the Jews - See the notes on Acts 17:2.

[Bible] 18:10. Because I am with thee and no man shall set upon thee, to hurt thee. For I have much people in this city. 18:11. And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. 18:12. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 18:13. Saying: This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 18:14. And when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If it were some matter of injustice or an heinous deed, O Jews, I should with reason bear with you. 18:15. But if they be questions of word and names and of your law, look you to it. I will not be judge of such things. 18:16. And he drove them from the judgment seat. 18:17. And all laying hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. 18:18. But Paul, when he had stayed yet many days, taking his leave of the brethren, sailed thence into Syria (and with him Priscilla and Aquila), having shorn his head in Cenchrae. For he had a vow. 18:19. And he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself, entering into the synagogue, disputed with the Jews. 18:20. And when they desired him that he would tarry a longer time, he consented not: 18:21. But taking his leave and saying: I will return to you again, God willing, he departed from Ephesus. 18:22. And going down to Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church: and so came down to Antioch. 18:23. And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the disciples. 18:24. Now a certain Jew, named Apollo, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, one mighty in the scriptures.