In his study of Acts of the Apostles, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at what happened when Paul left Corinth…
After this Paul stayed some considerable time with them, and then later, taking leave of the brothers and sisters, he sailed for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. At Cenchreae, having taken a vow, he cut his hair. And when they came to Ephesus, he said good-bye [to his friends who were travelling on], and [remaining in Ephesus] went into the synagogue to engage in [exegetical] discussions with the Jews. When they asked him to stay [with them] for a longer period, he declined; but when he took leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and so he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from place-to-place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, continuing [his work which involved] strengthening all the disciples. – Acts 18:18-23
ANCIENT EPHESUS: Where Paul stopped on his way from Corinth to Syria. PICTURE:
IN A NUTSHELL
Paul continued his work as he travelled, via Ephesus, back to Antioch, going up to Jerusalem and then on to other places.
Luke says “many days”. My guess is that this means about 550 days; 18 months. Then, taking leave of them, Paul sailed east. His two tent-making friends were with him to begin with. When Luke tells us that at Cenchreae Paul had a hair-cut because of a vow, he is reminding us that Paul was indeed a practising Jew. I don’t know if his friend Phoebe cut his hair, but, from what Paul writes, she was a great help to the church (Romans 16:1). Paul, with Prisca and Aquila, journeyed on to Ephesus. He stayed there a while, but then the time had come, he decided, to move on. Paul told the Ephesian church that he would return to them on a later visit, if he could.
Luke seems to be saying that he knows this part of Paul’s life is in bare outline only. Earlier, Luke had travelled with Paul and later he would rejoin Paul’s party on their way up to Jerusalem. Here the account is sketchy. Maybe Luke didn’t know exactly why Paul had gone back to Jerusalem and Antioch. When we have difficulties working out what Luke is trying to say here, we shouldn’t automatically assume it is our problem. Maybe we have scanty information because when it came time to write this up, Luke simply didn’t know. Maybe he had forgotten to ask Paul about this phase of his travels. We also get the sense that Luke was emphasising the part played by Priscilla and Aquila. There is also another preacher of the Gospel, Apollos, of whom haven’t heard as yet. Paul’s tent-making companions were of great help to him too.
Maybe Paul was continuing to collect money for the apostolic fund in Jerusalem and why wouldn’t he want to report back to Antioch? He and Silas had been commissioned by that church to do the work. They were accountable to the whole church. And wouldn’t he want to hear how Barnabas and Mark were getting on?
Landing at Caesarea “Paul went up and greeted the church”. It is likely that Luke is telling us that Paul went up to Jerusalem? We have been told he had a vow to fulfil. There he would also tell the apostles what had been going on. Many Gentiles and Jews were coming to faith. Important progress had been made. Luke does not give us many details. And we do not know much about what the other apostles were doing. The Gospel had been broadcast far and wide. Presumably Paul had to travel in secret since there would still be a price in his head. We know he went up but, except for Paul’s own account of his vision in the temple at this time (Acts 22:17-21), that is all we are told.
Sometimes very important work goes on nearby and we live for years without knowing about it. We may “keep our ears open” but just because we hear something does not mean it is the most important stuff. God is not limited by our knowledge of His working. He does come to us in ways that make it easy for us to understand how He works. This is His kindness to us. He understands when things get tough. He knows that it is important for us to find His encouragement. Paul also needed this. I suspect he was tired and needed a rest. He had been busy, used by God for a long period building a strong network of young churches. The work was not finished, but it seems not unlikely that he took the opportunity to go back home for a while to catch up with family and friends at Tarsus.
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: FURTHER PERSISTENCE, FAR AND WIDE
In his study of Acts of the Apostles, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at what happened when Paul left Corinth…
After this Paul stayed some considerable time with them, and then later, taking leave of the brothers and sisters, he sailed for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. At Cenchreae, having taken a vow, he cut his hair. And when they came to Ephesus, he said good-bye [to his friends who were travelling on], and [remaining in Ephesus] went into the synagogue to engage in [exegetical] discussions with the Jews. When they asked him to stay [with them] for a longer period, he declined; but when he took leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and so he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from place-to-place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, continuing [his work which involved] strengthening all the disciples. – Acts 18:18-23
ANCIENT EPHESUS: Where Paul stopped on his way from Corinth to Syria. PICTURE:
IN A NUTSHELL
Paul continued his work as he travelled, via Ephesus, back to Antioch, going up to Jerusalem and then on to other places.
Luke says “many days”. My guess is that this means about 550 days; 18 months. Then, taking leave of them, Paul sailed east. His two tent-making friends were with him to begin with. When Luke tells us that at Cenchreae Paul had a hair-cut because of a vow, he is reminding us that Paul was indeed a practising Jew. I don’t know if his friend Phoebe cut his hair, but, from what Paul writes, she was a great help to the church (Romans 16:1). Paul, with Prisca and Aquila, journeyed on to Ephesus. He stayed there a while, but then the time had come, he decided, to move on. Paul told the Ephesian church that he would return to them on a later visit, if he could.
Luke seems to be saying that he knows this part of Paul’s life is in bare outline only. Earlier, Luke had travelled with Paul and later he would rejoin Paul’s party on their way up to Jerusalem. Here the account is sketchy. Maybe Luke didn’t know exactly why Paul had gone back to Jerusalem and Antioch. When we have difficulties working out what Luke is trying to say here, we shouldn’t automatically assume it is our problem. Maybe we have scanty information because when it came time to write this up, Luke simply didn’t know. Maybe he had forgotten to ask Paul about this phase of his travels. We also get the sense that Luke was emphasising the part played by Priscilla and Aquila. There is also another preacher of the Gospel, Apollos, of whom haven’t heard as yet. Paul’s tent-making companions were of great help to him too.
Maybe Paul was continuing to collect money for the apostolic fund in Jerusalem and why wouldn’t he want to report back to Antioch? He and Silas had been commissioned by that church to do the work. They were accountable to the whole church. And wouldn’t he want to hear how Barnabas and Mark were getting on?
Landing at Caesarea “Paul went up and greeted the church”. It is likely that Luke is telling us that Paul went up to Jerusalem? We have been told he had a vow to fulfil. There he would also tell the apostles what had been going on. Many Gentiles and Jews were coming to faith. Important progress had been made. Luke does not give us many details. And we do not know much about what the other apostles were doing. The Gospel had been broadcast far and wide. Presumably Paul had to travel in secret since there would still be a price in his head. We know he went up but, except for Paul’s own account of his vision in the temple at this time (Acts 22:17-21), that is all we are told.
Sometimes very important work goes on nearby and we live for years without knowing about it. We may “keep our ears open” but just because we hear something does not mean it is the most important stuff. God is not limited by our knowledge of His working. He does come to us in ways that make it easy for us to understand how He works. This is His kindness to us. He understands when things get tough. He knows that it is important for us to find His encouragement. Paul also needed this. I suspect he was tired and needed a rest. He had been busy, used by God for a long period building a strong network of young churches. The work was not finished, but it seems not unlikely that he took the opportunity to go back home for a while to catch up with family and friends at Tarsus.
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