Acts 20:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Again he suffers persecution from the Jews and returns to Macedonia. The writer often shows him setting out for Syria. The reason was the Church there and Jerusalem. So strongly did he desire to set everything in order there also.

After the riot ceased, Paul took leave of the Ephesian Christians, departed, and came to Macedonia. There he visited the Churches he had founded earlier and gave the faithful abundant instruction. From there the Apostle Paul sent the Second Epistle to Corinth. From Macedonia he went for the same purpose to Hellas, or Achaia. The Apostle remained there for three months. At this time, probably in Corinth, the Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans. It was intended to precede his personal coming to Rome, where he planned to go during his proposed fourth journey (Acts 19:21). A disturbance raised against him by the Jews forced him to leave Greece, and he directed his way toward Syria. The more convenient and shorter route there was by sea.

Having completed his ministry in Corinth and gathered a considerable alms for the suffering Christians of the holy city, the Apostle Paul resolved to visit Jerusalem once more, specifically for the feast of Pascha. He wished to sail directly from Corinth by ship to Syria. But on the eve of departure his co-workers discovered a base plot by the Jews. Its aim was to destroy the Apostle during the sea voyage, which was very easy for them because of their connections with sailors and direct bribery. Therefore the Apostle Paul was forced to go by land through Macedonia, accompanied by his friends and fellow ministers. He spent Pascha in Philippi in the peaceful and loving circle of his disciples and co-workers. Among them again was the chronicler of his activity, St. Luke. Only after this did he sail to Asia and stop in Troas for a week's rest.

He remained there three months. Probably he spent the greater part of this time in Corinth, where he undoubtedly met Apollos for the first time. It does not appear that the Apostle was in Athens on this occasion. That city had made such a heavy impression on him the previous time that his heart was no longer inclined to go there again (Acts 17:16 and following). The disturbance against Paul by the Jews, which the writer of Acts mentions here, was also probably in Corinth. For this reason the Apostle wished to go from there directly by sea to Syria. But the thought came to him to visit the Macedonian Christians again. Therefore he decided to return to Syria by land through Macedonia, and only afterward from there by sea to Syria.

The two visits to Macedonia and the stay of about three months in Hellas, or Greece, were evidently devoted chiefly to strengthening and instructing those already converted to the faith. This, of course, was done without difficulty. As for the Jewish disturbance against the Apostle, disturbances of this kind had become usual for him. Yet this disturbance evidently affected him strongly and made him wish to be radically freed from Jewish hatred. For this reason he resolved to visit Syria, that is, Jerusalem, so as somehow to be reconciled with the Jews there, and through them with all the rest. 'Often,' says St. John Chrysostom, 'the writer shows us Paul going to Syria. The reason was the Church there and Jerusalem: so greatly did he desire to set everything in order there also.