Acts 18:5

And( But) when Silas and Timotheus were come( came down) from Macedonia The particle at the beginning of the verse is better regarded as adversative. We have in this verse an account of a change in the character of the Apostle's preaching after the arrival of Silas and Timothy, who had been left at Berœa (Acts 17:14). It may well be that he had encouragement by their presence in his work, and also that it was not so necessary for him to consume his whole time on his craft because the Philippians had sent a contribution for his support (Philippians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 11:9).

Paul was pressed in spirit The best texts read, was constrained by the word (so R. V.) and the Vulg. "instabat verbo" is evidence in its favour. The sense seems to be, he was earnestly occupied in preaching the Word, and felt himself more urged on, and also more able, to preach, because of his freedom from the necessity of constant labour. It was apparently only on the Sabbath that he had reasoned with the people before. The usus loquendifavours the passive meaning. Meyer (3rd ed.) renders "he was apprehended, seized by the word" in the sense of internal pressure of spirit.

testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ This sentence which is of the participial form in the original intimates the manner in which the greater earnestness of the Apostle was exhibited. He gave in all its fulness his solemn testimony, no doubt confirmed from Scripture and by the narrative of his own miraculous conversion, that this Jesus, whom he had formerly persecuted, was the Christ, the Messiah whom the Jews had long expected.