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Were it not for the information to be found in the epistles, we should know very little
of the eventful period covered by the opening verses of Acts 20::
"And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced
them, and departed into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had
given them much exhortation, he came into Greece" (Acts 20: 1, 2).
Before the tumult, Paul had intended to leave Ephesus at Pentecost (I Cor. 16: 8), and
had instructed Titus to meet him at Troas (II Cor. 2: 12). From the writings of Cicero,
and the chronology of Wieseler, we learn that a voyage from Ephesus to Athens occupied
fourteen days, and to Corinth one day longer. While awaiting with some anxiety the
coming of Titus, Paul occupied himself in preaching the gospel (II Cor. 2: 12), but he
adds:
"I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; and taking my leave
of them, I went from thence into Macedonia" (II Cor. 2: 13).
This explanatory comment is followed in the next verse by a note of triumph which
might well be written across the first four verses of Acts 20:, viz., "Thanks be unto God
Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (II Cor. 2: 14).
Leaving Troas, the Apostle goes on into Macedonia, of which Philippi was the
chief city. Although his heart was warmed by the affection of the Philippians, he writes
in II Cor. 7::
"When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest (see `no rest',
II Cor. 2: 13) but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were
fears" (II Cor. 7: 5).
During this three months' stay in Greece (Acts 20: 3), the Apostle wrote his wonderful
epistle to the Romans, with which his first series of inspired epistles closes. Towards the
end of this epistle, we read:
"Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: . . . . . but now I go
unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and
Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem"
(Rom. 15: 24-26).
In verses 30 and 31 of this same chapter of Romans, Paul manifests his apprehension
concerning "them that do not believe in Judæa". This apprehension was only too well
founded, for he was just on the point of embarking for Cenchrea, the Corinthian sea-port,
when a Jewish plot to waylay him was discovered. Lewin's remark here is worth
recording, even though Alford feels it to be inconsistent with what is said in Acts 20: 4.
"Paul eluded his adversaries by a change of route. He determined, instead of crossing
the sea direct, to go round by Macedonia (The reader would be well advised to consult
the map here). The better to evade a watchful foe, Paul and his friends divided
themselves into two companies, and it was arranged that Timothy, Sopater of Berea,
Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Tychicus and Trophimus should sail to Troas,