Acts 20:1

Acts 20:1 . After the uproar, Paul called unto him the disciples — To comfort and encourage them; and departed — From Ephesus, after the long abode he had made there; to go into Macedonia — To visit the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. This, however, does not necessarily imply his immediate departure: he may have remained in Ephesus and its neighbourhood some months after the riot, to comfort the disciples, and establish the churches of Asia, whose salutation he sent in the conclusion of his first letter to the Corinthians. Besides, from Paul’s own account, it appears that he remained in the neighbourhood of Ephesus, waiting for the coming of Titus from Corinth. But Titus not arriving within the time appointed him, the apostle became impatient, and went forward to Troas, in the hope of meeting with him there. But being disappointed in that expectation also, he passed over into Macedonia, where at length Titus came to him.

CHAPTER 20 Ac 20:1-12. Paul Fulfils His Purpose of Proceeding Again to Macedonia and Greece—Returning Thence, on His Route for Jerusalem, He Revisits Philippi and Troas—His Ministrations at Troas. This section of the apostle's life, though peculiarly rich in material, is related with great brevity in the History. Its details must be culled from his own Epistles. 1, 2. departed—after Pentecost (1Co 16:8). to go into Macedonia—in pursuance of the first part of his plan (Ac 19:21). From his Epistles we learn; (1) That, as might have been expected from its position on the coast, he revisited Troas (2Co 2:12; see on [2064]Ac 16:8). (2) That while on his former visit he appears to have done no missionary work there, he now went expressly "to preach Christ's Gospel," and found "a door opened unto him of the Lord" there, which he entered so effectually as to lay the foundation of a church there (Ac 20:6, 7). (3) That he would have remained longer there but for his uneasiness at the non-arrival of Titus, whom he had despatched to Corinth to finish the collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem (1Co 16:1, 2; 2Co 8:6), but still more, that he might bring him word what effect his first Epistle to that church had produced. (He had probably arranged that they should meet at Troas). (4) That in this state of mind, afraid of something wrong, he "took leave" of the brethren at Troas, and went from thence into Macedonia.

It was, no doubt, the city of Philippi that he came to (landing at Nicopolis, its seaport, see on [2065]Ac 16:11, 12), as appears by comparing 2Co 11:9, where "Macedonia" is named, with Php 4:15, where it appears that Philippi is meant. Here he found the brethren, whom he had left on his former visit in circumstances of such deep interest, a consolidated and thriving church, generous and warmly attached to their father in Christ; under the superintendence, probably, of our historian, "the beloved physician" (see on [2066]Ac 16:40).

Verse 1. - Having sent for ... and exhorted for called unto him , A.V. and T.R.; took leave of them, and departed for and embraced them, and departed , A.V. Departed for to go into Macedonia . This was St. Paul's purpose, as he had written to the Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 16:5 ) from Ephesus. He judged it wise, not only with a view to his own safety and that of his companions, but also for the rest and quiet of the Ephesian Church, to take advantage of the lull in the popular storm, and withdraw into quiet waters before any fresh outbreak occurred. Aquila and Priscilla seem to have left Ephesus about the same time, or soon after, since the Epistle to the Romans found them again at Rome ( Romans 16:3, 4 ); and, if the view mentioned in the note to Acts 19:40 is true - that in the riot they had saved St. Paul's life at the risk of their own - there were probably the same prudential motives for their leaving Ephesus as there were in the case of the apostle. Acts 20:1

Acts 20:1-6 . Paul journeys through Macedonia and Greece, and returns as far as Troas 1 . And after the uproar was ceased ] Some little time may have elapsed and public feeling have become calm enough for a meeting of the Christian congregation. Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them ] The oldest authorities read “ Paul having sent for the disciples ,” and then add “ and exhorted them ” (adopted by R. V. ). The word rendered “embraced” signifies as it is rendered in Acts 21:6 , “to take leave of,” “to make parting greetings.” He did not probably feel that it would be wise to leave till he saw the Church in quiet once more. and departed for to go into Macedonia ] In fulfilment of the purpose mentioned in Acts 19:21 . We see from 2 Corinthians 2:13 that he went first to Troas expecting to meet Titus there. He did not find him till he reached Macedonia, from which country he wrote the second letter to Corinth.

Acts 20:1-3 . Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσ . τ . θόρυβ .] is simply a statement of time , not, as Michaelis, Eichhorn, Bertholdt, and Hug hold, the motive of departure, for which there is no hint in the text (see on the contrary, Acts 19:21 ), and against which the resultless character of the tumult testifies. ἀσπασάμενος ] here of the farewell salutation (combined with kissing and embracing), vale dicere , as Xen. Anab . vii. 1. 8, 40; Hell . iv. 1. 3; Cyrop . ii. 1. 1. αὐτούς ] the Macedonian Christians. Ἑλλάδα ] i.e. Ἀχαΐαν , Acts 19:21 . Luke alternates in his use of the appellations well known as synonymous, which, after Acts 19:21 , could occasion no misunderstanding. This against Schrader, who understands Ἑλλ . here of the districts lying between the Peloponnesus and Thessaly and Epirus, especially of Attica, and would have the journey to Corinth only inferred from Acts 19:31 . ποιήσας τε μῆνας τρεῖς ] certainly for the most part in Corinth. The anakoluthic nominative, as in Acts 19:34 . That Luke, moreover, gives us no information of the foundation of the church at Corinth, and of the apostle’s labours there, is just one of the many points of incompleteness in his book. τοῦ ὑποστρ .] namely, to Asia ( Acts 20:4 ), from which he had come. The genitive depends directly on γνώμη , as in Acts 14:9 , Acts 27:20 . Comp. 1 Corinthians 9:5 .