1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 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. 4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. (Acts 20:1-5 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
The foregoing chapter acquaints us with a very great and imminent danger which the apostle escaped at Ephesus, where he had liked to have been torn in pieces by those heathenish idolaters; which gave him occasion to say, That after the manner of men he had fought with beasts at Ephesus. 1Co 15:32
In this chapter, we find that the apostle, yielding to the fury of his persecutors, prudently withdraws from Ephesus into Macedonia: yet not so much for his own safety, (for he was willing to die Christ’s sacrifice if he might live no longer Christ’s servant,) as for the church’s future advantage, that the disciples in Ephesus might be no further persecuted upon his account.
Hence learn, That the ministers of the gospel may depart from a place and people where their ministry has been very successful when driven from thence by the fury of persecution. Thus St. Paul here obeyed the command of Christ elsewhere: When they persecute you in one city, flee to another, Mt 10:23.
Observe, 2. Though St. Paul withdrew from Ephesus to allay the fury of persecution there; yet he left Timothy behind, to confirm and comfort the disciples as his substitute, and to strengthen them in the faith of the gospel, I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, &c. 1Ti 1:3
Observe, 3. The apostle no sooner escapes the fury of the Heathens at Ephesus, but he is in danger of his life at Macedonia, by his countrymen the Jews, ver.3. The Jesus laid wait for him.
Well might the apostle say, he was in deaths often, in perils of robbers, in perils in the city, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils among false brethren, 2Co 11:26.
The wicked Jews, when they could not prevail against Paul by open force, contrive his destruction by secret treachery; but God gave him knowledge of their designs, and he avoided them, by turning another way.
Thence learn that it is a high presumption and a bold act of tempting God to run headlong upon evident and imminent dangers, and not to improve all lawful means we can to prevent and decline them. To trust to means is to neglect God, but to neglect the means for our preservation is to tempt God. Paul would not tempt God by running into danger, though his cause was never so good.
Observe, 4. The persons are mentioned by name who accompanied the apostle, and administered to him; to wit, Sopater, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius and Timotheus, Tychicus and Trophimus; these accompanied the apostle, not out of state, but for necessary service: to which may be added Luke; but, being the penman of this book, he declines to mention of himself by name, though his praise will forever be in the gospel, and ecclesiastical story.