Acts 20:16

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. FOR PAUL HAD DETERMINED TO SAIL BY, ([ parapleusai (G3896 ) teen (G3588 ) Efeson (G2181 )] - 'TO SAIL PAST') EPHESUS. He was right opposite to it when approaching Chios. BECAUSE ... 'It appears (as Humphry remarks) from this, and from Acts 20:13, that in the voyage from Philippi to...

− 16._For Paul purposed. _It is not to be doubted but that he had great and weighty causes to make haste; not that he made so great account of the day, but because strangers did then use to come together to Jerusalem out of all quarters. Forasmuch as he did hope that he might do some good in such a great assembly, he would not foreslow [neglect] the opportunity. Therefore, let us know that the worship of the law − (409) was not the cause that he made so great haste, but he set before his eyes the edifying of the Church; partly that he might show to the faithful that the kingdom of Christ was enlarged, partly that if there were any as yet strangers from Christ, he might gain them; partly that he might stop the mouths of the wicked. − (410) Notwithstanding, we must note, that he did, in the mean season, provide for other churches. For, in sending for the elders of Ephesu

13-16 Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty calls us another way....

Verse Acts 20:16. _TO SAIL BY EPHESUS_] Not to touch there at this time. _TO BE AT JERUSALEM THE DAY OF PENTECOST._] That he might have the opportunity of preaching the kingdom of God to multitudes of Jews from different places, who would come up to Jerusalem at that feast; and then he no doubt expected to see there a renewal of that day of pentecost in which the Spirit was poured out on the disciples, and in consequence of which so many were converted to God....

TO SAIL BY EPHESUS - The word “by” in our translation is ambiguous. We say to go by a place, meaning either to take it in our way and to go to it, or to go past it. Here it means the latter. He intended to sail past Ephesus without going to it. FOR HE HASTED ... - Had he gone to Ephesus, he would probably have been so delayed in his journey that he could not reach Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. THE DAY OF PENTECOST - See the notes on Acts 2:1....

EXPOSITION ACTS 20:1 _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 ...

FOR PAUL HAD DETERMINED TO SAIL BY EPHESUS,.... That is, to sail by it, without calling at it, as he did, for it lay by the shore before he came to Miletus; but he chose not to stop there, fearing he should be detained by the brethren there: BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SPEND THE TIME IN ASIA; of which Ephesus was the metropolis: FOR HE HASTED, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, FOR HIM TO BE AT JERUSALEM THE DAY OF PENTECOST: which was near at hand; for it was but fifty days from the second day of the passover, which feast was over when he sailed from Philippi; and at Troas he stayed seven days, and he had been several days sailing already; see Acts 20:6. And his great desire to be at the feast of Pentecost was not in order to keep that feast, according to the usage of the Jews; but that he might have an opportunity of preaching the Gospel to a great number of Jews, out of all co

CHAPTER 20 __ 1. Paul in Macedonia (Acts 20:1). 2. His abode in Greece, the visit to Troas and what transpired there (Acts 20:3). 3. The journey from Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13). 4. The farewell to the Ephesian Elders (Acts 20:17). The record before us is very brief. Some have thought the reason is the fact that the Apostle had turned aside from His given ministry, and therefore the Holy Spirit had nothing to report. We believe that this is correct. The object of the Spirit of God is now to lead us rapidly forward to the last visit of the Apostle to Jerusalem, therefore much is passed over in the untiring s

TROAS TO MILETUS. In the Armenian _Catena_ we read: But Luke and those with me came on the vessel; words which, if we were sure of their really being in the journal, would show that Luke was not its author. Preuschen thinks the original text was, But I, Luke, and those with me, the present text being grammatically impossible, and the emendation in the Armenian easy. ACTS 20:13. ASSOS, about twelve miles from Troas by land, on a hilly road. A ship has to round Cape Lekton. The Gr. does not compel us to think that Paul walked the distance; he may have ridden. Acts 20:14. Mitylene, the capital of Lesbos, is not far from Assos. For Chios and Samos, see EBi, HDB. Acts 20:15. The call at Trogylli

SETTING OUT FOR JERUSALEM (Acts 20:1-6)...