Acts 20:1-6

CRITICAL REMARKS

Acts 20:1. After the uproar was ceased.—Soon after, but not necessarily because of the uproar. The best authorities insert and exhorted, παρακαλέσας, before and embraced or took leave of them—i.e., the disciples; the word ἀσπασάμενος referring to the farewell blessing and the farewell kiss (compare Acts 21:6). Departed for to go into Macedonia, viâ Troas (see 2 Corinthians 2:12), where be awaited for some time the coming of Titus, whom, however, he did not meet till be reached Macedonia (2 Corinthians 7:6).

Acts 20:2. The word for Greece, Ελλάς, stands for Achaia as distinguished from Macedonia (Acts 18:12, Acts 19:21).

Acts 20:3. And there abode three months.—Lit., having acted or worked there—viz. in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:6), three months, a plot having been laid against him by the Jews, etc. ποιήσας, an anakolouthon, instead of ποιήσαντι. During this stay in Corinth the Epistle to the Romans was written (see Romans 16:22). He purposed to return through Macedonia.—Lit., there was to him an opinion, or intention—i.e., it was not by accident, but in accordance with deliberate counsel and determination that he, when on the eve of embarking for Syria, changed his route and proceeded northwards through Macedonia.

Acts 20:4. As far as Asia is omitted by many ancient authorities, possibly because Trophimus, in spite of 2 Timothy 4:20, appears in Paul’s company in Jerusalem (Acts 21:29), and Aristarchus sails with Paul from Cæsarea (Acts 27:2). The retention of the clause, however, does not necessarily imply that the persons here named proceeded with the Apostle no farther than to Asia The best MSS. also add to Sopater of Berœa the words “the son of Pyrrhus,” probably to distinguish him from Sosipater, Paul’s kinsman (Romans 16:21).

Acts 20:5. These (the seven) going before.—Rather, having gone before, most likely by ship from Corinth (Lewin), though some suppose by land through Macedonia and ship from Philippi (Alford, Hackett), tarried for us at Troas (see Acts 16:8). Why Paul stayed behind at Corinth or at Philippi is not recorded. Either he had work to do in Philippi or Corinth (Alford), or he may have wished to keep the days of unleavened bread (Meyer). The use of us (Acts 20:5) and we (Acts 20:6) shows that Luke rejoined the Apostle’s company at Philippi. Holtzmann thinks that Paul, accompanied by the seven, may have reached Troas by the land route, crossing over the Hellespont, and that Luke with some others followed after by sea from Philippi.

Acts 20:6. The days of unleavened bread meant the Passover week (compare Acts 12:3, Acts 27:9). The voyage from Philippi to Troas was accomplished in five days instead of three (Acts 16:11). The sojourn in the city extended over seven days, as afterwards at Tyre (Acts 21:4).HOMILETICAL ANALYSIS.—Acts 20:1

A Second Visit to Europe; or, Across the Archipelago and Back

I. The point of departure.—Ephesus (see Acts 19:1).

1. When he left it. “After the uproar had ceased.” Not necessarily immediately, but soon after the disturbance recorded in the preceding chapter. If he stayed till Pentecost (1 Corinthians 16:8), then he probably left the city in the spring or summer of A.D. 57 or 58,

2. Why he left it. Not because of the just-mentioned disturbance, at least not wholly on its account, but in pursuance of a plan, already formed, to visit Macedonia (Acts 19:21).

3. How he left it. Neither hastily nor secretly, as he had formerly left Berœa (Acts 17:14) and Damascus (Acts 9:25), but deliberately and openly, after having convened, exhorted, and embraced, or saluted (with a farewell kiss) the disciples. “At the same time he was greatly dispirited by the strong opposition which had driven him prematurely from the city” (2 Corinthians 1:8 ff.) (Ramsay).

II. The place of destination.—Macedonia (see Acts 19:21, Acts 16:9).

1. How he reached it. By way of Troas (2 Corinthians 12:13), where he expected to meet Titus, whom he had sent to Corinth with or soon after his First Epistle to the Corinthians, where he stayed some considerable time—long enough to lay the foundations of a Christian Church (2 Corinthians 2:12)—and from which he broke up only because of the non-arrival of Titus 2. Who accompanied him. Luke omits to mention the companions of his voyage, but these most probably were Tychicus and Trophimus (Acts 20:4), since these again returned with him from Macedonia to Asia.

3. What he did there. He went through those parts, visited the Churches which had been established in them—the Churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berœa, with perhaps others—and gave them much exhortation. Here also he wrote his Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 9:4), and sent it by the hands of Titus (2 Corinthians 8:18).

III. The course of travel.—This led him into Greece—i.e., into Achaia (see Acts 19:21), and more particularly to Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:6).

1. The route by which Corinth was approached. Most likely “round about by Illyricum” (Romans 15:19). At least this appears the only place in Luke’s narrative where Paul’s evangelising tour in those parts can be inserted. On his first visit to Macedonia “he moved along the eastern side of the peninsula, and was kept at a distance from Illyricum. When he passed through Macedonia next (Acts 20:3) he had already written the Epistle to the Romans” (Hackett).

2. The time spent in Corinth. “Three months,” which probably carried him through the winter of A.D. 57 or 58 (see 1 Corinthians 16:6).

3. The work done in Corinth.

(1) The gospel was preached as before, and probably, as before, in the house of Justus, if by this time another place of meeting had not been obtained.

(2) The disorders of the Corinthian Church were composed. “He was returning to converts who had cast off the morality of the gospel, to friends who had forgotten his love, to enemies who disputed his Divine commission” (Conybeare and Howson), and with all these he doubtless had special dealings (see 2 Corinthians 10:2; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 2 Corinthians 10:6; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:2).

(3) The Epistle to the Galatians was written in consequence of bad news having come from Galatia, and the Epistle to the Romans “to pave the way for his” contemplated visit.
4. The date of leaving Corinth. When his Jewish adversaries had formed another plot against him. There is no reason to suppose that Paul’s departure was hastened by the discovery of this conspiracy, yet the machinations of the Jews were apparently the cause of his changing his route, and instead of sailing direct for Syria, journeying northwards through Macedonia, and embarking at Neapolis. “The style of this plot,” says Ramsay, (St. Paul, etc., p. 287) “can be easily imagined. Paul’s intention must have been to take a pilgrim ship carrying Achaian and Asian Jews to the Passover. With a ship load of hostile Jews it would be easy to find opportunity to murder Paul. He therefore abandoned the proposed voyage and sailed for Macedonia,”—rather as already suggested travelling to Macedonia by land.

IV. The journey towards home.—

1. The companions of the Apostle. Seven in number.

(1) Sopater of Berœa, the son of Pyrrhus—perhaps characterised so to distinguish him from Sosipater (Romans 16:21), and named first because Paul, in travelling viâ Macedonia, would pick him up first at Berœa.

(2) Aristarchus of Thessalonica, who was with Paul in Ephesus (see Acts 19:29), afterwards accompanied him to Rome (Acts 27:2), and shared his imprisonment in that city (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24).

(3) Secundus, also of Thessalonica, but otherwise unknown.

(4) Gaius of Derbe, not the Gaius who attended Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:29), but probably the individual of this name to whom John wrote his Third Epistle (3 John 1:1).

(5) Timothy, whose birthplace, Lystra (Acts 16:1), is passed over, presumably as well known.

(6) Tychicus of Asia, one of Paul’s most trusted associates (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12) and the bearer of Paul’s Epistle to the Asiatic Churches (2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12).

(7) Trophimus, a native of Ephesus (Acts 21:29), whom Paul left behind at Miletus sick (2 Timothy 4:20), but who subsequently followed the apostle to Jerusalem, where his presence in the temple led to the apostle’s apprehension. That they were seven in number has (but without reason) suggested the idea that they were intended to represent at Jerusalem the converted Gentile world (Baumgarten), or the seven deacons of chapter 6 (Plumptre).

2. The course they pursued. Leaving Corinth they travelled northwards through Macedonia to Berœa, Thessalonica, and Philippi, at the last of which towns they picked up Luke, the beloved physician (Acts 20:6). From Philippi the seven above named proceeded in advance to Troas, where they announced the coming and awaited the arrival of Paul and Luke, who did not leave Philippi till after the days of unleavened bread—i.e., the passover of A.D. 58 or 59—and, after a stormy passage of five days—i.e., two days longer than the voyage westward (Acts 16:11)—anchored in Troas, where they tarried seven days, obviously waiting for another vessel in which to prosecute their voyage, or, if the same vessel proceeded southwards, passing the time while it discharged and took in cargo.

Learn.—

1. That Christ’s servants should never flee from the post of duty simply on account of danger.
2. That faithful pastors should bestow much care on the edification and consolidation of the Church. 3. That so long as earnest ministers preach the gospel, they may lay their accounts with plots to hinder their work, if not to injure their persons.

4. That those who are engaged in the Lord’s service should keep themselves in life as long as they Song of Song of Solomon 5. That six or seven pious people with a Paul to lead them are “a formidable enemy to the devil” (Lindhammer, quoted by Besser).

HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS

Acts 20:2. How often did Paul visit Corinth? Twice, or thrice?

I. Twice.—In favour of this view is commonly urged:

1. That the Acts speak of only two visits (Acts 18:1; Acts 20:2).

2. That between Paul’s first visit and his first imprisonment at Rome his time is sufficiently accounted for.

3. That 2 Corinthians 13:1 does not necessarily imply that he had already been twice in Corinth, while 2 Corinthians 13:2 seems to say that his then contemplated visit would be his second.

4. That in 1 Corinthians 1:15 he distinctly speaks of his then contemplated visit as his second.

5. That 2 Corinthians 12:14 proves the sense of 2 Corinthians 13:1 to be that then was the third time Paul had been in readiness to visit them.

6. That the Alexandrian MS. in 2 Corinthians 13:1 reads, “This is the third time I am ready to come to you” (see Paley, Horæ Paulinæ, iv. 12).

II. Thrice.—This view is based on the following considerations:

1. That 2 Corinthians 13:1, according to the best texts, refers, not to a third intention, but to a third visit.

2. That 2 Corinthians 1:15 speaks, not of the benefit of a second visit, but of the advantage of being visited twice on the same tour.

3. That as Paul had been three times shipwrecked when he wrote the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Acts 11:25), and as the only recorded voyages on which he could have been wrecked were those from Cæsarea to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and from Ephesus to Macedonia (Acts 20:1), of both of which absolutely no account is given, in order to make the number three he must have undertaken another voyage, which most probably was from Ephesus to Corinth.

4. There were urgent reasons why he should have visited the Corinthian Church while residing at Ephesus.
5. Communication between the two cities was easy to obtain at any time.

6. Its omission by Luke is susceptible of explanation by remembering that occasionally long journeys are dismissed in a few words (see Acts 15:41; Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23; Acts 19:1; Acts 20:2), while several important events, such as the founding of the Syrian and Cilician Churches (Galatians 1:21), and the journey to Arabia (Galatians 1:17), are not mentioned at all, and by supposing that nothing remarkable occurred during this second visit to the commercial capital of Achaia.

Acts 20:1. The routine of a missionary’s life, as exemplified in that of Paul.

I. Bidding farewell to friends (Acts 20:1).—Earthly ties and gracious bonds have often to be broken by those who would follow the cross.

II. Exhorting the people of God (Acts 20:2).—Almost as hard a task as that of winning men to, is that of keeping men in the faith.

III. Evading the plots of enemies (Acts 20:3).—They that will live godly, and much more they that will propagate the cause of Christ, must lay their account with persecution.

IV. Enjoying the society of fellow-Christians (Acts 20:4).—Communion of kindred souls with each other forms one of the Christian’s sweetest solaces.

V. Unfurling the banner of the cross (Acts 20:6).—This the favourite occupation of a true minister or missionary.

Acts 20:4. Paul’s friends; or, the Sacred Circle of Seven.

I. Trophies of Paul’s gospel.
II. Companions on Paul’s Journey.

III. Helpers in Paul’s work.
IV. Sharers in Paul’s renown. Having found with him a place in the Inspired Record.