Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 20:3
And [there] abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
3. and there abode three months ] More literally, with Rev. Ver., “ and when he had spent three months there,” connecting it, as the Greek does, with what follows.
and when the Jews laid wait for him ] The English of the A.V. defines too precisely the form of the danger. Read “ And when a plot was laid against him by the Jews.” The Jews, who had tried to engage Gallio in their matters on St Paul’s last visit to Corinth, now take a secret instead of a public means of wreaking their vengeance on him. And we may judge that St Paul anticipated some trouble from the Judaizing party at Corinth by the tone of the latter portion (after chap. 9) of his second Epistle written to them while he was on his way, but detained in Macedonia. There were persons in Corinth who spoke slightingly of the Apostle. His bodily presence was weak and his speech contemptible. And in opposition to the remarks of these opponents, the Epistle concludes with an assertion of St Paul’s equality to the chiefest Apostles, a recital more full than in any other place of his sufferings for the Gospel, and an account of revelations divinely made unto him. It is clear therefore that among those who would be counted as Christians St Paul was not everywhere accepted. The Jews under such circumstances would have some abettors in their animosity even among the Judo-Christians, and seem to have planned some means whereby St Paul might be attacked on his sea-voyage to Syria. No doubt the intention was to kill him. The word in the original is that used (Act 9:24) when the Jews watched the gates of Damascus night and day to kill him.
as he was about to sail into Syria ] The rendering of the Rev. Ver. gives the sense more vividly “ as he was about to set sail for Syria.” He had apparently gone so far as to arrange for his passage and go on board, and was nearly departed, before he got the warning news. Perhaps some heart, among the people to whom the plot was known on shore, was moved to give a hint of the great peril at the last moment. This is the more probable if we suppose some previous communications between the Jews and the Judaizers among the Christians.
he purposed to return through Macedonia ] Better, he determined, with Rev. Ver. As the scheme for killing him had been meant to be carried out at sea, the choice of an overland journey and a prompt departure made the forming of a new plan impossible to the conspirators.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And there abode – Why he remained here is unknown. It is probable that while in Greece he wrote the Epistle to the Romans. Compare Rom 15:25-27.
And when the Jews laid wait for him – There was a design formed against him by the Jews, which they sought to execute. Why they formed this purpose the historian has not informed us.
As he was about to sail – It would seem from this, that the design of the Jews was to attack the ship in which he was about to sail, or to arrest him on shipboard. This fact determined him to take a much more circuitous route by land, so that the churches of Macedonia were favored with another visit from him.
Into Syria – On his way to Jerusalem.
He purposed … – He resolved to avoid the snare which they had laid for him, and to return by the same way in which he had come into Greece.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Act 20:3
And when the Jews laid wait for him as he was about to sail.
Pauls prudence
Why was it safer for Paul to travel by land through Macedonia than to go down to the seaport, Cenchrea, to take ship there? The reason is, that the Jews, with their keen trading instincts, had settled chiefly in the great seaports and emporia of trade throughout the civilised world. Paul thus, in entering a seaport, would find himself in the midst of a large body of Jews, who had both the ability and the will to execute any plot against him; while in the inland and provincial towns the Jews formed a comparatively insignificant portion of the population. (H. C. Trumbull, D. D.)
Pauls prudence rewarded
The hope of reaching Jerusalem by the Passover had, of course, to be abandoned: the only chance left was to get there by Pentecost. It was doubtless overruled for good that it should be so; for if Paul had been in the Holy City at the Passover, he would have been mixed up by his enemies with the riot and massacre which about that time marked the insane rising of the Egyptian impostor who called himself the Messiah. (Archdeacon Farrar.)
Pauls moral courage
It is a great thing to know when to run from evil, and when to stand and meet it. Often more courage is needed to run than fight. A bulldog knows just enough to be always ready for a fight. It takes more than a bulldogs character to decide when not to fight, and to stand by ones decision–even if one has to run in order to stand. In a community where duelling is still tolerated, it requires more the spirit of Paul, and less of the spirit of the bulldog, to decline a challenge. In a community where duelling is not tolerated, but where unnecessary and irritating discussion is, it is easier to conform to the bulldogs standard, than to Pauls, in times of temptation to such a discussion. It is not easy to say in advance just when a man should run rather than fight; but it is something for us all to bear in mind, that running often shows courage where fighting would show cowardice. (H. C. Trumbull, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. Abode three months] Partly, as we may suppose, at Corinth, at Athens, and in Achaia; from which place he is supposed to have sent his epistle to the Romans, because he continued longer here than at any other place, and mentions several of the Corinthians in his salutations to the believers of Rome.
When the Jesus laid wait for him] Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could take; but, hearing that the Jews had laid wait for him, probably to attack his ship on the voyage, seize his person, sell him for a slave, and take the money which he was carrying to the poor saints at Jerusalem, he resolved to go as much of the journey as he conveniently could, by land. Therefore, he returned through Macedonia, and from thence to Troas, where he embarked to sail for Syria, on his way to Jerusalem. The whole of his journey is detailed in this and the following chapter. See also the map.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Jews laid wait for him; some have thought that their laying in wait might be to rob him of the collections which he carried with him for the saints at Jerusalem; but most likely it was rather to take away his life, whom they hated for his zeal and diligence in the gospel.
He purposed to return; slunning their treachery and plotting against him. He would not tempt God by running into dangers, though his cause were never so good.
Through Macedonia; being the same way that he had come to Corinth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. And there abode threemonthsThough the province only is here mentioned, it is thecity of CORINTH that ismeant, as the province of “Macedonia” (Ac20:1) meant the city of Philippi. Some rough work he anticipatedon his arrival at Corinth (2Co 10:1-8;2Co 10:11; 2Co 13:1-10)though he had reason to expect satisfaction on the whole; and as weknow there were other churches in Achaia besides that at Corinth(2Co 1:1; 2Co 11:10),he would have time enough to pay them all a brief visit during thethree months of his stay there. This period was rendered furthermemorable by the despatch of the EPISTLETO THE ROMANS,written during his stay at Corinth and sent by “Phoeligbe, aservant [deaconess] of the Church at Cenchrea” (see on Ac18:3), a lady apparently of some standing and substance, who wasgoing thither on private business. (See on Ro16:1 and see Introduction toRomans).
And when the Jews laid waitfor him, as he was about to sail into SyriaHe had intended toembark, probably at Cenchrea, the eastern harbor of the city, forPalestine, on his route to Jerusalem, the third part of hisplan (Ac 19:21). But havingdetected some conspiracy against his life by his bitter Jewishenemies as at Damascus (Ac9:22-25) and Jerusalem (Act 9:29;Act 9:30), he changed his planand determined “to return” as he had come, “throughMacedonia.” As he was never more to return to Corinth, so thisroute would bring him, for the last time, face to face with theattached disciples of Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there abode three months,…. In Greece:
and when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; from some part of Greece, in order to go to Jerusalem; which the Jews in the parts of Greece understanding, laid wait for him, either by sea or land, with an intention either to take the money from him, which he had collected in Macedonia, and in Greece, for the poor saints at Jerusalem, or to take away his life, or both; of which lying in wait for him, the apostle had some notice, either by divine revelation, or from somebody who was in the secret, or had got knowledge of it from such as were: upon which he
purposed to return through Macedonia; through which he came from Ephesus to Greece: this wicked design being made known to him, obliged him, in point of prudence, and both for his own safety, and the good of the churches, to alter his scheme, and steer his course another way, to the disappointment of his enemies; in which the wisdom of providence, the care of God over his ministers, and his concern for his churches manifestly appeared.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When he had spent three months there ( ). Literally, “having done three months,” the same idiom in Acts 14:33; Acts 18:23; Jas 5:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul’s work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it.
And a plot was laid against him by the Jews ( ). Genitive absolute, “a plot by the Jews having come against him.” is an old word for a plot against one. In the N.T. only in Acts (Acts 9:24; Acts 20:3; Acts 20:19; Acts 23:30). Please note that this plot is by the Jews, not the Judaizers whom Paul discusses so vehemently in 2Co 10-13. They had given Paul much anguish of heart as is shown in I Cor. and in 2Co 1-7, but that trouble seems now past. It is Paul’s old enemies in Corinth who had cherished all these years their defeat at the hands of Gallio (Ac 18:5-17) who now took advantage of Paul’s plans for departure to compass his death if possible.
As he was about to set sail for Syria ( ). The participle agrees in case (dative) with . For the sense of intending see also verse 13. (present middle infinitive) is the common word for putting out to sea (going up, they said, from land) as in 13:13.
He determined ( ). The best MSS. here read (predicate ablative of source like , 2Pe 1:20, Robertson, Grammar, p. 514), not (nominative). “He became of opinion.” The Jews had heard of Paul’s plan to sail for Syria and intended in the hurly-burly either to kill him at the docks in Cenchreae or to push him overboard from the crowded pilgrim ship bound for the passover. Fortunately Paul learned of their plot and so eluded them by going through Macedonia. The Codex Bezae adds here that “the Spirit bade him return into Macedonia.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Sail [] . Better, as Rev., set sail. See on Luk 8:22; and compare Luk 5:3.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And there abode three months.” (poiesas te menas treis) “And there he spent a period of three months,” in the spring of A.D. 57, in Greece, perhaps Corinth and Cenchrea, Rom 16:1.
2) “And when the Jews laid wait for him,” (genomenes epiboules auto hupo ton loudaion) “There existing a plot against him, originated by the Jews,” as a plot was formed against him, instigated by the Jews, as in Act 9:23; Act 23:12; Act 25:23 and recounted again, 2Co 11:26.
3) “As he was about to sail into Syria,” (mellonti aganesthai eis ten Surian) “As he was about to set sail into Syria,” from where he first began his extensive missionary tours, Act 13:1-4; Act 15:34-41. His intention was to go on from Syria to Jerusalem.
4) “He purposed to return through Macedonia.” (egeneto gnomestou hupostrephaindia Makedonias)”He was of a mind (disposed) to return through Macedonia,” tracing his recent tour there, through Greece and Macedonia with view to securing charitable gifts for the needy saints in Jerusalem and Judea, Act 19:21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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3. Because the Jews laid wait for him. The Lord did exercise his servant so diversely and continually that he set before us in him an example of most excellent constancy. It is not sufficient for him to be wearied with the labor and trouble of a long and wearisome journey, unless he be also brought in danger of his life by those which lay in wait for him. Let all the servants of Christ set this mirror before their eyes, that they may never faint through the wearisomeness of straits. Notwithstanding, when Paul doth journey another way that he may avoid their laying in wait, he showeth that we must have regard of our life so far forth that we throw not ourselves headlong into the midst of dangers. And those who accompany him give no small testimony of their godliness; and we see how precious his life was to the faithful, when as a great many being chosen out of diverse countries to be his companions, do for his sake take a hard and sharp journey not without great charges. Luke saith that Paul tarried at Philippos so long as the days of unleavened bread did last, because he had at that time better opportunity offered to teach. And forasmuch as it was unknown as yet that the law was disannulled, it stood him upon to beware, lest by neglecting the feast-day he should be thought among the rude to be a contemner of God. Though, for mine own part, I think that he sought principally opportunity to teach, because the Jews were then more attentive to learn.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
6.
AT CORINTH IN GREECE. Act. 20:3-5.
Act. 20:3
And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
Act. 20:4
And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Act. 20:5
But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.
Act. 20:3-5 Paul stayed here only three months but what momentous events occurred during these three months. Here is an outline of what I believe took place at this time:
1.
His labors with the Corinthian church (of which we have no details).
2.
He wrote the epistle of Romans. This is borne out in the epistle itself. (Cf. Rom. 15:23-24; Rom. 16:23)
3.
So we would conclude that the letter to the Galatians was written from here also.
4.
Learning of the plot for his life he changed his plans.
5.
A collection was taken from here by Paul according to previous instructions (Cf. 1Co. 16:1-2).
Just another word concerning the plot laid for his life. It would seem that he learned of this plot just as he was preparing to go down to the seaport of Cenchreae.
Those who would attack the apostle probably were not only interested in his life but also his money which he had collected in quite a sum from the churches of Galatia and Macedonia. But Paul had thought of this long before this occasion and hence had not the money on his person but had suggested that seven brethren accompany him on the journey to carry this bounty with him to Jerusalem. (Cf. 1Co. 16:3) These seven men had been picked up (at least some of them) as Paul passed through Macedonia.
It would seem that upon learning of the plot for his life Paul did not venture down the road to Cenchreae but rather turned to take again the land route to Macedonia. The seven brethren, however, did sail away from Corinth and were waiting for Paul in Troas when he arrived. Some writers would have the seven men accompany Paul as far as Thessalonica and sail from there to Troas.
780.
In what country is Corinth?
781.
Did the seven men accompany Paul on his trip through Macedonia?
782.
When did Paul learn of the plot for his life?
783.
How did the Apostle protect himself from the robbers?
784.
Without referring to the text give three events that occurred in Corinth.
785.
Why go a days journey out of the way if Paul was in a hurry to arrive in Jerusalem?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(3) When the Jews laid wait for him . . .In sailing for Syria, Cenchre would naturally be the port of embarkation, and St. Pauls presence there may reasonably be connected with the mention of Phbe, the deaconess of that church, in Rom. 16:1. His intention was, however, frustrated. The malignant Jews of Corinth watched their opportunity. At Cenchre, amid the stir and bustle of a port, they might do what they had failed to do before. Here there was no Gallio to curb their fury, and throw the gis of his tolerant equity over their victim. Their plans were laid, and their victim was to be seized and made away with as he was on the point of embarking. On hearing of the plot, the Apostle had to change his plans, and started with his companions for Macedonia, either travelling by land or taking a ship bound for one of its ports, instead of the one bound for Csarea, or Tyre, or Joppa. It is clear that the latter course would have baffled his murderers quite as much as the former.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Three months During which his headquarters were at Corinth, his missions probably mostly in the rural regions of Achaia. From Corinth Paul, sorrowfully learning that the Church of Galatia was largely apostatizing to the Judaizers, wrote
His Fifth Letter THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, in the winter of A.D. 57. From Corinth, too, about the same time, was sent
Paul’s Sixth Letter THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS, in the spring of A.D. 58 .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3. Jews laid wait Probably at Cenchrea they plotted either to kidnap and slay him before he embarked, or, perhaps, embarking with him, to assassinate him at sea.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he had spent three months there, and a plot was laid against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.’
The three months of continual ministry in Corinth having come to an end Paul now determined to set sail directly for Syria on a ‘pilgrim boat’ with other Jews and Jewish Christians who were going to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Pentecost, but he learned of plots laid against him by Jews as he was about to set sail which made him change his mind. It was far to easy for someone to ‘disappear’ on a boat journey. So he determined rather to return through Macedonia. The hatred and determination of the Jews to destroy this one man are an indication of the widespread impact of his ministry, and of the sinfulness and hardness of the hearts of some ‘dedicated’ Jews.
At this time of the approaching Feast of Pentecost many Jews would be taking ship for Caesarea and Jerusalem, and thus any ship could be a place of danger, for some had clearly determined to take the opportunity of getting rid of Paul, probably at sea. We may presume that a ‘brother’ or a rare friendly Jew was able to warn him of the danger. The threat of Jerusalem hung over him even there.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Journey to Jerusalem (20:3-21:16).
As we read this section of Acts some of it may seem a little pointless and repetitive. But we must recognise in it what Luke is doing. One purpose that he has in mind is to depict Paul’s journey as a slow, inexorable progress with the final goal in mind. He wants to hang out the suspense as he slowly approaches Jerusalem and the bonds that await him. But a second purpose that he has in mind is to bring out how successful has been the spread of the word. In so many places there is a flourishing church where Paul can meet up with believers. And they are not only believers, they are believers whose love, and faith, and prayers reveal that they are very much spiritually alive.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 20:3. And there abode three months. It seems that St. Paul met with sacred business here and in other places, which detained him longer than he expected
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
Ver. 3. And there abode three ] Gr. , “Was doing there,” he was in continual action. Life consists in action; so doth spiritual life, Isa 38:16 . And by this reason one may live more in a month than another in many years. In this sense Seneca saith (Epist. lxvii.), Quamvis vitae paucos fecerimus dies. See the same word used thus,Mat 20:12Mat 20:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
3. ] This stay was made at Corinth, most probably: see 1Co 16:6-7 ; and was during the winter, see below on Act 20:5 . During it the Epistle to the Romans was written: see Prolegg. to Rom. iv.
] This purpose, of going from Corinth to Palestine by sea, is implied ch. Act 19:21 , and 1Co 16:3-7 .
.] The genit. is not (as Meyer) governed directly by , which would be more naturally followed by .: but denotes the purpose, as in reff.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 20:3 . , cf. Act 15:33 , Act 18:23 . : only in Acts in N.T., see above on Act 9:24 ; the plot may have been formed in the anticipation that it would be easy to carry it through on a pilgrim ship crowded with Jews of Corinth and Asia, hostile to the Apostle; or it may have been the purpose of the conspirators to kill Paul in a crowded harbour like Cenchre before the ship actually started. . ., see on Act 13:13 . If we read . (genitive) ( cf. 2Pe 1:20 ), nowhere else in N.T., cf. Thuc., i., 113, , see also Winer-Schmiedel, p. 269. ., i.e. , the return journey to Jerusalem (Ramsay), but see also Wendt (1899), p. 323.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
abode three months. Literally having done three months. Compare Act 15:33; Act 18:23. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the species). App-6. The whole period covered by verses: Act 20:1-3 is about nine months.
when, &c. Literally a plot (Greek. epiboule. See Act 9:24) having been made against him by (Greek. hupo. App-104.) the Jews.
sail. Greek. anago. See note on Act 13:13.
he purposed. Literally his purpose or judgment was. Greek. gnome. App-177.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
3. ] This stay was made at Corinth, most probably: see 1Co 16:6-7; and was during the winter, see below on Act 20:5. During it the Epistle to the Romans was written: see Prolegg. to Rom. iv.
] This purpose, of going from Corinth to Palestine by sea, is implied ch. Act 19:21, and 1Co 16:3-7.
.] The genit. is not (as Meyer) governed directly by , which would be more naturally followed by .: but denotes the purpose, as in reff.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 20:3. ) The nominative was employed by Luke before that the predicate ( ) occurred to him, which requires the oblique case (viz. ). Such constructions are found not only in Hebrew, but also in Greek and Latin writers.- , three months) at which time also he seems to have seen the Corinthians, but only in passing: 1Co 16:7.– , for him, as he was about to sail) They were laying plots for Paul against this very journey to Syria.- , into Syria) ch. Act 21:3.- , he determined) Sometimes they relied on a, general, sometimes on a special call.-, to return) Even a holy purpose can sometimes be changed. Comp. ch. Act 19:21, where Paul is represented as having once wished to go through Macedonia. It appears that Paul had wished, after journeying through Macedonia and Achaia, to go forward to Jerusalem. But at that time, indeed, lie did not get to Jerusalem, but again returned through Macedonia. His journey to Jerusalem, and to Rome afterwards, proceeded (was accomplished) by another way: the order merely of his course being changed.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the Jews: Act 20:19, Act 9:23, Act 9:24, Act 23:12-15, Act 25:3, Ezr 8:31, Pro 1:11, Jer 5:26, 2Co 7:5, 2Co 11:26
sail: Act 18:18, Act 21:3, Gal 1:21
he purposed: Act 19:21, 2Co 1:15
Reciprocal: Num 35:20 – by laying Act 17:14 – as it
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Act 20:3. Syria was a part of Asia, and it contained such important places as Troas and Ephesus. After spending some time in Greece, Paul intended crossing by water over to Asia. Hearing of a plot of some kind being formed by the Jews, he changed his plans and retraced his journey through Macedonia.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 20:3. And there abode three months. With these few words the writer of the Acts refers to this second and shorter residence of the apostle in his old Corinthian home. Much had happened in that restless, busy centre since his first long stay, when he laid the foundation stories of the church there. He had been absent some three years, and in that period in the Christian community at Corinth had taken place, as the church increased, the disputes concerning the Lords Supper; the heart-burnings excited by party attachments to one or other of the early Christian leaders,himself, Peter, and Apollos; the agitation occasioned by the immoral and impure lives lived by professing members of the brotherhood. The duty of relieving and assisting brothers and sisters unknown and living in far countries, but professing the same faith; and the general duty of almsgiving, and other questions connected with doctrine and life and ritual, which have in all the Christian ages agitated and often perplexed the Church of Christ, had been prominently brought before the Corinthian congregations. And on all these questions he had given them advice, exhortation, and warning, by messages despatched through true and trusty friends, such as Timothy and Titus; by grave and weighty letters written under the influence of the Holy Spirit, such as the First and Second Corinthian Epistles, letters which have served as handbooks to the practical Christian life for eighteen hundred years; and now he was come among them once more to watch the result of his work. During the three months of his stay at Corinth, St. Paul wrote the great epistle to the Roman Church. The Galatian letter possibly was written, too, at this time; but it seems more likely that this shorter letter, in which the main arguments of the letter to the Church of Rome were first sketched out, was written during the stay at Ephesus in the course of the preceding year.
And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria. We are not informed as to the nature of this plot formed against St. Paul by his unhappy countrymen. All through his busy, anxious life their terrible and sleepless hostility dogged his footsteps. Their machinations usually took the form of intrigue with the local authorities or with the people of the city, where the apostle was working; but at times their intense hatred took a more active shape, and they made use of certain fanatics of their race, and attempted by violent means to cut short the detested career of him they persisted in looking upon as the bitterest foe to the Jewish traditions. See for other murderous attempts of this kind, chap. Act 9:23-29, at Damascus and Jerusalem; and at a later period again at Jerusalem, chap, Act 23:12. It was most likely that the Jews on this occasion, becoming aware of St. Pauls intention to sail from Cenchrea, one of the ports of Corinth (Phbe, Rom 16:1, the bearer of the epistle to the Roman Church, was a deaconess of the church of this place, which was in fact a seaside suburb of populous Corinth), watched the harbour in order to surprise him and kill him. There were many Jews resident in this seaside quarter of the great city engaged in commerce. It was to this harbour that most of the ships sailing between Greece and Asia belonged. Their occupation would give them peculiar influence over the captains and owners of all trading vessels, and from these they doubtless heard of the apostles intentions. But the plot was discovered, and St. Paul determined to proceed northwards by land, through Macedonia by way of Philippi.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Act 20:3. And there Namely, in Greece; he abode three months Meeting, it seems, with business there as he often did in other places, which detained him longer than he expected. During this time, he received from the churches of Achaia the money which they had collected for the saints in Judea, agreeably to his direction to the Corinthians, 1Co 16:1-3. At this time also he wrote his epistle to the Romans, of whose affairs he had heard by Aquila and Priscilla. For, it plainly appears, that epistle was written before his imprisonment at Rome; and in it he speaks of a collection made by the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, with which he was hastening to Jerusalem, Rom 15:25-27; a circumstance which fixes it to this time. It appears, also, from Rom 16:21, that Timothy and Sosipater (or Sopater, one of the noble Bereans) were with him when that epistle was written, which agrees with verse four of this chapter, by which we find they both attended him into Asia. And when the Jews had laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he Upon this account; purposed , the thought, or design, occurred, or he conceived the intention; to return through Macedonia The fact seems to be, that having finished all his matters in Greece, he had proposed to sail directly into Syria. But the Jews, who had heard of the money he was carrying to Jerusalem; and who, besides, hated him as an enemy to their religion, lying in wait for him in Cenchrea, the eastern port of Corinth, where he was to embark, he changed his resolution. So that avoiding that port, which was about nine miles from Corinth, he returned by land, through Macedonia, in such time that he left Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and so began his voyage into Syria.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
See notes on verse 2
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 3
And there abode three months; probably in the city of Corinth. It was during this residence at Corinth, that Paul is supposed to have written his Epistle to the Romans. See the introductory remarks prefixed to that Epistle.–Through Macedonia; so as to avoid their ambuscade, by taking this circuitous route. The direct route to Antioch would have been across the Egean Sea to Ephesus, instead of around it through Macedonia and Troas.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
20:3 {2} And [there] abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
(2) A perverse zeal is the guider and instructor to murderers: and we are not excluded by the wisdom of God to prevent the endeavours of wicked men.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The "three months" appear to have been the winter months of A.D. 56-57. Paul probably spent most of this time in Corinth where Gaius (Titius Justus?) was his host (Rom 16:23; cf. Act 18:7). There he wrote the Book of Romans as he anticipated visiting Rome. From Rome he planned to move farther west into Spain (Rom 15:24). During his time in Macedonia and Achaia Paul was also busy collecting the gift for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom 15:26). He evidently planned to travel on a ship from Cenchrea to Caesarea and Jerusalem to celebrate one of the spring Jewish feasts there (Act 20:6; Act 20:16). However when he learned of the Jews’ plot to kill him on the way, he changed his plans and decided to go to Jerusalem by way of Macedonia.
"Often from foreign ports Jewish pilgrim ships left for Syria to take pilgrims to the Passover. Paul must have intended to sail on such a ship. On such a ship it would have been the easiest thing in the world for the fanatical Jews to arrange that Paul should disappear overboard and never be heard of again." [Note: Barclay, p. 161.]