Acts 20:1

μεταπεμψάμενος after θόρυβον with אBE, and παρακαλέσας before ἀσπασάμενος with AB. The Vulg. has ‘vocatis Paulus discipulis et exhortatus eos valedixit.’

1. μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι τὸν θόρυβον, and after the uproar was ceased. We may suppose some little time to have passed, and public feeling to have become calm. Then once more there could be a gathering of the Christian congregation.

μεταπεμψάμενος ὁ Παῦλος τοὺς μαθητάς, Paul having sent for the disciples. Perhaps to some place where he had been staying in private. He would hardly deem it wise to leave Ephesus till he had seen the Church in quiet again.

ἀσπασάμενος ἐξῆλθεν πορεύεσθαι εἰς Μακεδονίαν, having taken leave of them, departed to go into Macedonia. For ἀσπάζομαι see below Acts 21:6. Paul sets out to Macedonia in fulfilment of his intention 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. We may supply what is omitted here by comparing 1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 1:16-17; 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 8:18-19, and we may learn something of St Paul’s own feelings during this time from 2 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; 2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 12:7.

For the seeming redundancy of verbs, cf. Genesis 12:5, καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χαναάν.