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Acts 18:18–23
“When [Paul] 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 one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples” (vv. 22–23).
Gallio’s decision that the Corinthian Jews’ charges against Paul had no merit likely occurred sometime during the summer of AD 51, about the middle of the eighteen months that Paul spent in Corinth (Acts 18:1–17). The proconsul’s refusal to get involved with what he perceived to be an intra-Jewish theological dispute meant that the Romans would continue to view the Apostle as part of the legal religion of Judaism and would leave him alone, at least for a while. Thus, as Luke tells us in Acts 18:18, Paul stayed many days in Corinth after appearing before Gallio.
Near the end of his time in Corinth, Paul determined that he should return to the church that had sent him on his second missionary journey, the church in Syrian Antioch, presumably to update these Christians on his ministry. Thus, Luke continues his account in verse 18 by telling us that Paul set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. They departed from Cenchreae, which was the eastern port of the city of Corinth, and before leaving Paul “cut his hair, for he was under a vow.” Luke does not describe the exact vow that Paul had made, but commentators note that it was probably not the Nazirite vow of Numbers 6:1–21. Perhaps it was a vow of thanksgiving that Paul had made while in Corinth, pledging not to cut his hair for as long as he was kept safe by the Lord in that city.
Sailing east from Cenchreae, Paul and his companions landed first in Ephesus in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Located on the main trading route from the city of Rome to the east, Ephesus was an important commercial hub and held political importance as the administrative center of the Roman province of Asia. A large number of Jews resided in Ephesus, so Paul ministered among them briefly in the synagogue until he continued his journey east to Syria. The Jews wanted him to stay longer, but Paul departed, promising to return if the Lord would allow it (Acts 18:19–21). As we will see in our study of Acts 19, Paul did eventually return to Ephesus to spend a considerable amount of time there establishing a church.
Paul’s second missionary journey ended when he landed in Caesarea, the main Mediterranean port in the Holy Land. From there, Paul went up to “the church,” almost certainly the church in Jerusalem, before returning to Syrian Antioch. Not long thereafter, he left from Antioch on his third missionary journey (18:22–23).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Paul’s efforts to return to Syria to inform the church there and the church in Jerusalem about his journeys illustrate the importance of ministry laborers’ keeping their sending churches informed and their sending churches’ engaging regularly with whom they send. Insofar as we are able, it is good to maintain regular contact with our missionaries, church leaders, and others who go forth from our churches for the gospel.
For further study
- Proverbs 15:30
- Ecclesiastes 5:1–7
- Acts 21:17–26
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6–10
The bible in a year
- Psalms 102–104
- Romans 14