Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 19:22
So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
22. So he sent into Macedonia ] No doubt, that the contributions of the churches might be in readiness, and that there should be no gatherings when Paul himself came, as he says to the Corinthians (1Co 16:2).
two of them that ministered unto him ] The verb is that from which the noun “deacon” is derived, and at first the chief duties of these ministers were in regard of the alms of the churches.
Timotheus and Erastus ] The former had laboured in Macedonia and in Greece when St Paul was there before; the latter is mentioned (2Ti 4:20) as having stayed at Corinth, at the later period when the second Epistle to Timothy was written. He can hardly be the same person as Erastus the chamberlain of the city of Corinth spoken of in Rom 16:23.
but he himself stayed in Asia for a season ] We may perhaps infer from this that St Paul did not remain constantly at Ephesus, at all events when the congregation there became firmly established, out making that city his head-quarters, went but into other districts of the province of proconsular Asia.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Timotheus – Timothy. He was a proper person to send there to visit the churches, as he had been there before with Paul, when they were established, Act 16:3; Act 17:14.
And Erastus – Erastus was chamberlain of Corinth (Rom 16:23), or, more properly, the treasurer of the city (see the notes on that place), and he was, therefore, a very proper person to be sent with Timothy for the purpose of making the collection for the poor at Jerusalem. Paul had wisdom enough to employ a man accustomed to monied transactions in making a collection. On this collection his heart was intent, and he afterward went up with it to Jerusalem. See 2Co 8:9, and notes on Rom 15:25-26.
Stayed in Asia – At Ephesus.
For a season – How long is uncertain. He waited for a convenient opportunity to follow them, probably intending to do it as soon as they had fully prepared the way for the collection. See Paleys Horae Paulinae, p. 1, chapter 2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. So he sent into Macedonia] He desired Timothy to go as far as Corinth, 1Co 4:18, and after that to return to him at Ephesus, 1Co 16:11; but he himself continued in Asia some time longer; probably to make collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Erastus, mentioned here for the first time, appears to have been the chamberlain, , either of Ephesus or Corinth; see Ro 16:23. He was one of St. Paul’s companions, and is mentioned as being left by the apostle at Corinth, 2Ti 4:20.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Ministered unto him; this great apostle had not any to minister unto him out of state, but out of necessity, being he could not himself attend to all the offices of the church. These were employed by Paul, not so much to procure any accommodation for himself by the way, as to further a collection for the poor brethren at Jerusalem, 2Co 9:3,4.
Erastus: there seems to have been two of this name mentioned in Scripture: the one, Rom 16:23, and the other, 2Ti 4:20; the latter is here spoken of.
In Asia; in Ephesus, which was in Asia, where Paul now was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. So he sent into Macedonia . . .Timotheus and Erastusas his pioneers, in part to bring “theminto remembrance of his ways which were in Christ” (1Co 4:17;1Co 16:10), partly to convey hismind on various matters. After a brief stay he was to return (1Co16:11). It is very unlikely that this Erastus was “thechamberlain of the city” of Corinth, of that name (Ro16:23).
he himself stayed intheprovince of
Asia for a seasonthatis, at Ephesus, its chief city. (Asia is mentioned in contrast withMacedonia in the previous clause).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So he sent into Macedonia,…. To Philippi, or Thessalonica, or Berea, or some of the places there, to let them know of his coming, and to prepare for him:
two of them that ministered unto him; that were his assistants in preaching the Gospel:
Timotheus and Erastus; the former of these was a disciple he found at Lystra, and took along with him, and to whom he afterwards wrote two epistles; and the latter seems to be the same with him, who was chamberlain of the city of Corinth, and is said to abide there, Ro 16:23 The Ethiopic version, instead of Erastus, wrongly reads Aristarchus; whereas it is certain, he was not sent into Macedonia, but was with the apostle at Ephesus in the tumult, Ac 19:29.
But he himself stayed in Asia for a season; that is, at Ephesus, as the following narration shows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Timothy and Erastus ( ). Paul had sent Timothy to Corinth (1Co 4:17) and had requested kindly treatment of this young minister in his difficult task of placating the divided church (1Co 16:10-11) that he might return to Paul as he evidently had before Paul leaves Ephesus. He then despatched Titus to Corinth to finish what Timothy had not quite succeeded in doing with instructions to meet him in Troas. Now Timothy and Erastus (cf. Rom 16:23; 2Tim 4:20) go on to Macedonia to prepare the way for Paul who will come on later.
He himself stayed in Asia for a while ( ). Literally, He himself had additional time in Asia. Second aorist active indicative of , old and common idiom, only here in the N.T. in this sense and the verb only in Luke and Paul. The reason for Paul’s delay is given by him in 1Co 16:8f., the great door wide open in Ephesus. Here again Luke and Paul supplement each other. Pentecost came towards the end of May and May was the month of the festival of Artemis (Diana) when great multitudes would come to Ephesus. But he did not remain till Pentecost as both Luke and Paul make plain.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “So he sent into Macedonia,” (aposteilas de eis Makedonian) “Then sending (on a mission) into Macedonia,” preceding him there for the specific purpose of soliciting help for the poor saints in Judea, to relieve them in their dire poverty.
2) “Two of them that ministered unto him,” (duo ton diakonounton auto) “Two of those continually ministering to him,” to his needs, as assistants in whatever common need he had in his mission, educational, writing and benevolent work, Rom 16:23; 2Ti 4:20.
3) “Timotheus and Erastus; (Timotheon kai Eraston) “Timothy and Erastus,” companion helpers in his mission labors; The former, (Timothy) was so close to him that he referred to him as his own son, 1Ti 1:2; Titus also later joined Timothy and Erastus in these missions and benevolent labors, 2Co 8:1-7; 2Co 8:16-24.
4) “But he himself stayed in Asia for a season.” (autos epeschen chronon eis ten Asian) “He delayed for a period of time in Asia,” at Ephesus, where he had preached and taught the Word of God, that had prevailed over both Judaism of the law, and her roving apostate exorcists, and over heathen idolatry, Act 19:8-20. It is quite probable that while Paul kept residence in Ephesus, the usage of the phrase, “in Asia for a season,” indicates he may have spent time out of Ephesus, visiting other inland brethren and churches, as Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra, It is also likely that the Holy Spirit detained him there to strengthen the brethren, thru the riot the silversmiths of the goddess Diana stirred up against Paul and the church and disciples of the Lord, as further discussed Act 19:23 to Act 20:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(22) Timotheus and Erastus.Light is thrown on the mission of the former by 1Co. 4:17. He was sent on in advance to warn and exhort, and so to save the Apostle from the necessity of using severity when he himself arrived. St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians (1Co. 16:10) to receive him with respect, so that he might not feel that his youth detracted from his authority. He was to return to St. Paul, and was accordingly with him when he wrote the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2Co. 1:1). Erastus may fairly be identified with the chamberlain or steward of Corinth of Rom. 16:23, and was chosen probably as the companion of Timotheus because his office would carry weight with it. Sosthenes, who was with St. Paul when he wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1Co. 1:1), had probably been staying some time at Ephesus, and as having been ruler of the synagogue, was naturally coupled by the Apostle with himself, as a mark of respect and confidence.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. Sent two To prepare his way in the Churches for his visit, he sends, about the Passover of his third year in Ephesus, two harbingers, Timothy and Erastus, purposing, on account of the great and effectual door opened in Ephesus, to remain himself fifty weeks longer, namely, until the ensuing Pentecost. For his own account of these facts see 1Co 16:5-10, written to the Corinthians from Ephesus during this interval of fifty weeks. Erastus was probably the chamberlain of Corinth, whither he is now going, and is subsequently honourably saluted in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. (Rom 16:23; 2Ti 4:6.)
From Ephesus at this time was sent PAUL’S THIRD LETTER, THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. (A.D. 57.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.’
As a preliminary to this he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained a little longer at Ephesus. This coming visit might have been intended to be the last that he would make to them (Rom 15:23). One of its purposes was in order to receive the collection which they had been making (1Co 16:1-5; 2 Corinthians 8-9) in order to take it on to the needy people of Judaea, but Luke clearly intends to pass over this whole visit as briefly and as uninformatively as possible.
This is the first mention that we have of Erastus (compare 2Ti 4:20), which was a fairly common name. It is a reminder that Paul’s missionary parties may always have been larger than we might have gathered from Acts. Luke, for example, never tells us about the presence of Titus, but judging by Paul’s letters he must often have been with Paul.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 19:22. Timotheus and Erastus: Timothy was a person very proper to be employed on this occasion; not only on account of his excellent character, but also as he had formerly been at Macedonia with St. Paul, and had assisted in planting the churches there. Erastus, who was joined with him, was chamberlain at Corinth; and they were charged with a commission to promote the collection which St. Paul was making, both in the European and Asiatic churches, for the poor Christians in Judea; which is afterwards so largely urged in the second epistle to the Corinthians, ch. 8 and 9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Ver. 22. In Asia ] i.e. At Ephesus, the chief city of Asia the Less. See Trapp on “ Act 19:10 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
22. ] He intended himself to follow after Pentecost, 1Co 16:8 . This mission of Timothy is alluded to 1Co 4:17 (see ib. 1Co 1:1 ); 1Co 16:10 . The object of it was to bring these churches in Macedonia and Achaia into remembrance of the ways and teaching of Paul. It occurred shortly before the writing of 1 Cor. He was ( 1Co 16:11 ) soon to return: but considerable uncertainty hangs over this journey. We find him again with Paul in Macedonia, 2Co 1:1 ; but apparently he had not reached Corinth. See 1Co 16:10 ; and 2Co 12:18 , where he would probably have been mentioned, had he done so.
On the difficult question respecting a journey of Paul himself to Corinth during this period, see notes, 2Co 12:14 ; 2Co 13:1 , and Prolegg. to 1 Cor. v.
] This Erastus can hardly be identical with the Erastus of Rom 16:23 , who must have been resident at Corinth: see there: and therefore hardly either with the Erastus of 2Ti 4:20 ; see note there.
. ] i.e. in (but beware of imagining to be ‘ put for ’ , here or any where. It gives the direction of the tarrying, as in the expressions , Soph. Ag. 80, and , Lycurg. cont. Leocr., p. 158. It is far better to take it thus, with Meyer, than with Winer, Gr., edn. 6, 50.4. b, as importing ‘in favour of,’ ‘for the benefit of’) Ephesus: Asia is named by way of contrast with Macedonia, just before mentioned. This is evident by the following event taking place at Ephesus.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 19:22 . . ., cf. 1Co 4:17 ; 1Co 16:10-11 , Paley, Hor Paulin , iii., 3, 4; McGiffert, Apostolic Age , p. 297, note. . : for a few instances of and cognate words used of ministrations rendered to Paul himself, see Hort, Ecclesia , p. 205, cf. Philem., Act 19:13 . : here, as in 2Ti 4:20 , the person bearing this name appears as an itinerant companion of St. Paul, and it therefore seems difficult to identify him with the Erastus of Rom 16:23 , who is described as “treasurer” of the city, i.e. , Corinth, since the tenure of such an office seems to presuppose a fixed residence. That the identification was not impossible is maintained by Wendt as against Meyer, but see “Erastus,” Hastings’ B.D. The name, as Meyer remarks, Rom 16:23 , was very common. : verb, only used by Luke and Paul, and only here in this sense. : supplied after the verb; LXX, Gen 8:10 ; Gen 8:12 ; in classical Greek, Xen., Cyr. , v., 4, 38. pro , Blass; but see on the other hand, Alford, in loco. As Asia, not Ephesus, is mentioned, the word may well include work outside Ephesus itself.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
sent. Greek. apostello. App-174. Compare 1Co 4:17.
ministered. Greek. diakoneo. App-190.
Erastus. Compare Rom 16:23. 2Ti 4:20.
stayed. Literally held on. Greek. epecho. See note on Act 3:5.
for a season = a time.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
22.] He intended himself to follow after Pentecost, 1Co 16:8. This mission of Timothy is alluded to 1Co 4:17 (see ib. 1Co 1:1); 1Co 16:10. The object of it was to bring these churches in Macedonia and Achaia into remembrance of the ways and teaching of Paul. It occurred shortly before the writing of 1 Cor. He was (1Co 16:11) soon to return:-but considerable uncertainty hangs over this journey. We find him again with Paul in Macedonia, 2Co 1:1; but apparently he had not reached Corinth. See 1Co 16:10; and 2Co 12:18, where he would probably have been mentioned, had he done so.
On the difficult question respecting a journey of Paul himself to Corinth during this period, see notes, 2Co 12:14; 2Co 13:1,-and Prolegg. to 1 Cor. v.
] This Erastus can hardly be identical with the Erastus of Rom 16:23, who must have been resident at Corinth: see there: and therefore hardly either with the Erastus of 2Ti 4:20; see note there.
. ] i.e. in (but beware of imagining to be put for , here or any where. It gives the direction of the tarrying, as in the expressions , Soph. Ag. 80, and , Lycurg. cont. Leocr., p. 158. It is far better to take it thus, with Meyer, than with Winer, Gr., edn. 6, 50.4. b, as importing in favour of, for the benefit of) Ephesus: Asia is named by way of contrast with Macedonia, just before mentioned. This is evident by the following event taking place at Ephesus.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 19:22. , of those ministering to him) He had at the time many engaged in the business of the Gospel: Act 19:29.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Macedonia: Act 16:9, Act 16:10, Act 18:5, Act 20:1, 2Co 1:16, 2Co 2:13, 2Co 8:1, 2Co 11:9, 1Th 1:8
that ministered: Act 13:5, Act 16:3
Erastus: Rom 16:23, 2Ti 4:20
Reciprocal: Act 17:14 – but Rom 16:21 – Timotheus 1Co 4:17 – I sent 1Co 16:10 – if 1Th 1:1 – Timotheus
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Act 19:22. Paul’s purpose was to leave Ephesus and go through Macedonia and Achaia (Greece), but he did not intend starting at once, for he wished to spend some more time in the city. Timotheus and Erastus usually traveled with Paul as coworkers, but he released them to go ahead and work in the region of Macedonia while he was still in Asia.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 19:22. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus. It was at Ephesus, and about this time, that Paul wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians. From a passage in that epistle, we learn some of the reasons why one of these two friends of Paul was sent over into Europe before his master. Of Timothys special mission in Macedonia we know nothing, but from 1Co 4:17-19 we learn that this trusted companion of the Gentile apostle was directed to pass on to Corinth, to prepare the church there for the approaching visit of the apostle (Act 19:19). Erastus was most likely the same as the person alluded to in Rom 16:23 as the chamberlain of Corinth, and was not improbably chosen as the companion of Timothy on this difficult and delicate mission with which he was charged, on the supposition that his rank and station among the citizens would he a support to Timothy, who was the bearer of Pauls stern, grave message to his well loved church.
But he himself stayed in Asia for a season. For the reason of this prolonged stay of Pauls, see note on Act 19:21. He appears to have gone on with his work for several months after the effect produced by the failure of the pretended exorcist family of Sceva the priest and the subsequent burning of the precious works on magic, until the uproar excited by the panic-stricken artificers who lived on the pilgrims to the great Diana shrine. This tumult evidently cut short this renewed period of Pauls activity, and he seems to have left Ephesus and his work there with some precipitancy. It is more than probable that the state officials privately desired him to leave a city where his presence in their opinion was provocative of disorders.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 21
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
22. At this time he tarries in Ephesus till after the Passover, April 14, and writes the first Corinthian Epistle, sending on Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia to visit and preach to the churches, both north and south.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Paul apparently sent Timothy (cf. Act 18:5; 1Co 4:17; 1Co 16:10-11) and Erastus to minister to the Macedonian churches. They also prepared for his coming by laying the groundwork for the collection for the poor Jerusalem saints (cf. 1Co 16:1-9). This Erastus was probably not the same man Paul mentioned in Rom 16:23, though he may be the one he wrote of in 2Ti 4:20.
Others who ministered to Paul included Silas and Titus, though Luke did not mention them here. Silas’ name appears in Acts nine times between the events recorded in Act 15:40 and Act 18:5, but Luke did not mention him again. Paul wrote that Titus was a faithful and active associate of his (cf. 2Co 2:13; 2Co 7:6; 2Co 7:13-14; 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:16; 2Co 8:23; 2Co 12:18; Gal 2:1; Gal 2:3; 2Ti 4:10; Tit 1:4), but Luke did not mention him at all.
Paul evidently stayed in Ephesus several more months, and it was probably during this time that the following incident occurred.