MPV Commentary

Paul Fulfils His Purpose of Proceeding Again to Macedonia

This section of Paul's life is rich in material but is related with great brevity in Acts. Its details must be culled from his own Epistles.

1-2. After Pentecost, Paul departed for Macedonia (1Co 16:8), fulfilling the first part of his plan (Ac 19:21). From his Epistles we learn that he revisited Troas (2Co 2:12; see Ac 16:8) and found a door opened to him by the Lord, which he entered effectively, laying the foundation for a church there (Ac 20:6-7).

While at Troas, Paul was anxious about Titus's non-arrival from Corinth, where he had dispatched him to finish collecting funds for the poor saints in Jerusalem (1Co 16:1-2; 2Co 8:6). He also wanted to know how his first Epistle to the Corinthians had been received. In this state of mind, Paul took leave of the brethren at Troas and headed into Macedonia.

It was likely that he visited Philippi, as appears from comparing 2Co 11:9 with Php 4:15. There he found a consolidated and thriving church under the superintendence of Luke, who had been left behind on his previous visit (Ac 16:40). Paul gave them much exhortation during this visit.

Titus eventually arrived, bringing better tidings from Corinth than Paul had dared to expect (2Co 7:6-7, 13), but also painful intelligence about a hostile party's efforts to undermine Paul's reputation there (2Co 10:1-18). Under the mixed feelings this produced, Paul wrote his Second Epistle to the Corinthians from Macedonia and despatched Titus with it, along with two other unnamed deputies, who were chosen to take up and bring on the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

3. Paul then came into Greece (or Achaia) as part of his plan (Ac 19:21). He stayed three months in Corinth, anticipating some rough work upon his arrival (2Co 10:1-8, 11; 13:1-10), but also expecting satisfaction on the whole. During this time, he wrote the Epistle to the Romans and sent it by Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea (Ro 16:1).

4-5. As Paul was about to sail into Syria, his Jewish enemies laid wait for him, as they had done in Damascus and Jerusalem before (Ac 9:22-25; 9:29-30). He changed his plan and decided to return through Macedonia.

6. Those who went ahead of Paul tarried for him at Troas. They sailed from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, which was the Passover time (1Co 16:8). This indicates that the three months spent in Corinth were winter months. They came to Troas for the third and last time.

7-12. Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples gathered together, Paul preached to them. There were many lights in the upper chamber, which contributed to drowsiness. In a window or recess, Eutychus fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. Paul fell on him, like Elisha (2Ki 4:34), and his life was restored. They broke bread together and talked until break of day, enjoying dear Christian fellowship.