Acts 19:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And see: he sends two of those who ministered to him, so that they might announce his arrival and make those people more ready. He himself remains in Asia longer than all, and rightly so, because there was a numerous company of philosophers there. When he came there, he again conversed with them, because there was great superstition there. Why he sends Timothy and Erastus is not stated. But it seems to me that this also should be said: "in the Spirit." "Therefore, when we could bear it no longer," Paul says, "we were willing to be left at Athens alone" (1 Thess 3:1). And see: he sends two of those who ministered to him, so that they might announce his arrival and make those people more ready. He himself remains in Asia longer than all, and rightly so, because there was a numerous company of philosophers there. When he came there, he again conversed with them, because there was great superstition there.

He sent disciples to Macedonia to announce that he would come, and to plant in the Macedonians a stronger desire to see him. As for his remaining for a time in Asia, this was necessary, because in Asia there was the tyranny of the philosophers.

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.

"Having sent Timothy and Erastus" (2 Tim 4:20): probably to dispose the Macedonians toward the collection of alms, and for the collection itself. "He remained for a time": for what reason, however, is unknown.

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.