Acts 20:3

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. AND THERE ABODE THREE MONTHS. Though the province only is mentioned, it is evidently the city of CORINTH that is meant, just as in the province of "Macedonia" meant the city of Philippi. Some rough work he anticipated on his arrival at Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:1; ; 2 Corinthians 13:1), though he had reason to expect satisfaction on the whole; and as we know there were other churches in Achaia besides that at Corinth ...

− 3._Because the Jews laid wait for him. _The Lord did exercise his servant so diversely and continually that he set before us in him an example of most excellent constancy. It is not sufficient for him to be wearied with the labor and trouble of a long and wearisome journey, unless he be also brought in danger of his life by those which lay in wait for him. Let all the servants of Christ set this mirror before their eyes, that they may never faint through the wearisomeness of straits. Notwithstanding, when Paul doth journey another way that he may avoid their laying in wait, he showeth that we must have regard of our life so far forth that we throw not ourselves headlong into the midst of dangers. And those who accompany him give no small testimony of their godliness; and we see how precious his life was to the faithful, when as a great many being chosen out of diverse countries to be h...

1-6 Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account....

Verse Acts 20:3. _ABODE THREE MONTHS_] Partly, as we may suppose, at Corinth, at Athens, and in Achaia; from which place he is supposed to have sent his epistle to the _Romans_, because he continued longer here than at any other place, and mentions several of the _Corinthians_ in his salutations to the believers of Rome. _WHEN THE JESUS LAID WAIT FOR HIM_] Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could take; but, hearing that the Jews had _laid wait_ for him, probably to attack his ship on the voyage, seize his person, sell him for a slave, and take the money which he was carrying to the _poor saints_ at Jerusalem, he resolved to go as much of the journey as he conveniently could, by land. Therefore, he returned through Macedonia, and fro

AND THERE ABODE - Why he remained here is unknown. It is probable that while in Greece he wrote the Epistle to the Romans. Compare Romans 15:25. AND WHEN THE JEWS LAID WAIT FOR HIM - There was a design formed against him by the Jews, which they sought to execute. Why they formed this purpose the historian has not informed us. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO SAIL - It would seem from this, that the design of the Jews was to attack the ship in which he was about to sail, or to arrest him on shipboard. This fact determined him to take a much more circuitous route by land, so that the churches of Macedonia were favored with another visit from him. INTO SYRIA - On his way to Jerusalem. HE PURPOSED ... -...

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 ...

AND THERE ABODE THREE MONTHS,.... In Greece: AND WHEN THE JEWS LAID WAIT FOR HIM, AS HE WAS ABOUT TO SAIL INTO SYRIA; from some part of Greece, in order to go to Jerusalem; which the Jews in the parts of Greece understanding, laid wait for him, either by sea or land, with an intention either to take the money from him, which he had collected in Macedonia, and in Greece, for the poor saints at Jerusalem, or to take away his life, or both; of which lying in wait for him, the apostle had some notice, either by divine revelation, or from somebody who was in the secret, or had got knowledge of it from such as were: upon which he PURPOSED TO RETURN THROUGH MACEDONIA; through which he came from Ephesus to Greece: this wicked design being made known to him, obliged him, in point of prudence, and both for his own safety, and the good of the churches, to alter his scheme, and steer his course an...

ACTS 20:3-4 Codex Bezae, supported in part by syrhmg and Ephraem, presents the following text of verses Acts 20:3 and Acts 20:4: poih,saj de. mh/naj g kai. genhqei,sÉhjË auvtw|/ evpiboulh/j u`po. tw/n VIoudai,wn hvqe,lhsen avnacqh/nai eivj Suri,an( ei=pen de. to. pneu/ma auvtw|/ u`postre,fein dia. th/j Makedoni,aj) (4) me,llontoj ou=n evxeie,nai auvtou/ [+ sunei,ponto auvtw|/ syrhmg] me,cri th/j VAsi,aj Sw,patroj Pu,rrou Beroiai/oj [ms.: Beruiaoj],...

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

TO GREECE; RETURN TO TROAS. The journey sketched in Acts 19:21; 1 Corinthians 16:5, is entered on; for what happened at Troas and in Macedonia on the way _cf._ 2 Corinthians 2:12 f., 2 Corinthians 7:5; but of all that intense experience there is little echo in Acts. The sketches of the journey did not fix what route was to be followed from Greece to Jerusalem; here (3) we find that the intention was to go by sea. The plan is changed on account of a Jewish plot. Accordingly Paul sets out to Macedonia with a part only of his companions, the others remaining behind in Greece and overtaking the party by sea. L