Acts 19:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After spending considerable time in the city of Ephesus, Paul again wishes to go to another place. Therefore he sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, while he himself remains in Ephesus. How is it, then, that after previously intending to depart for Syria, Acts 18:18, he returns again to Macedonia? This was to show that he did everything not by his own power. At the same time he foretells the future: "I must," he says, "see Rome also." Perhaps he said this wishing to console the disciples with the news that he would not remain in Jerusalem, but would come to them again. By such a prophecy he encouraged their souls.

After the events described above had taken place, the apostle Paul intended to leave Ephesus and go farther. The plan for his further journey was this. He would pass through Macedonia and Achaia, visit the Churches founded there during his second journey in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, then go to Jerusalem. Afterward he would undertake a new journey to Rome. But before setting out personally for Macedonia, he sent ahead of him two of his companions and fellow workers, Timothy and Erastus. This was probably to prepare the Macedonian Christians for the collection of alms and to carry out the collection itself; see 2 Cor 9:3-5. He himself remained for a time in Ephesus.

After two years had passed, the apostle considered his work in Ephesus completed and formed a plan for further travel. He intended to leave Ephesus after Pentecost, in order once more to visit the Churches of Macedonia and Achaia, founded by him during his second journey. From Corinth he intended to sail for his fifth visit to Jerusalem. After that he hoped to see Rome, the great capital of the civilized world of that time. In accordance with this plan, he had already sent two of his fellow workers, Timothy and Erastus, whom he had converted in Ephesus, to Macedonia. He ordered them to join him again in Corinth. Erastus, the former city treasurer, was an influential man.

"These things were accomplished," that is, everything related above concerning the stay and activity of the apostle Paul in Ephesus took place, vv. 1-19. "After passing through Macedonia and Achaia"; cf. Acts 16:9-10; 18:12 and the note. He was to go to Jerusalem. Strictly speaking, Jerusalem was the goal of the journey, while the journey through Macedonia and Achaia was only an episode within it. The writer of Acts does not report the reason for this journey. Yet from the apostle's own epistles, 1 Cor 16:1ff.; 2 Cor 8; Rom 15:25ff., it is clear that the reason was the collection of alms for the Palestinian Church and their delivery to Jerusalem. Paul also indicated this in passing in his speech, Acts 24:17.

The great success of the preaching in Ephesus moved the apostle to leave Ephesus in order to visit other places. This he intended to do, and for that purpose he first sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. He himself planned to remain in Asia for some time longer. But subsequent circumstances forced him to leave Ephesus, and Asia generally, sooner. In portraying Paul's thoughts and intentions, the writer of Acts shows that he was in the closest connection with Paul. Paul's confidence that his intentions would be fulfilled was so strong that he expressed it definitely. This, of course, moved Luke to name all the places and cities Paul intended to visit, certainly together with his companions.