3rd Missionary Trip - Lorin

well in advance of Paul’s departure from Ephesus in order to attempt to straighten out a rupture of relationships
between Paul and the Corinthian church. Second Corinthians 8-9 centers on the collection of the relief offering,
and evidently some at Corinth were questioning Paul’s motives in taking up this offering. Titus’ instructions were
to meet Paul somewhere in Macedonia after his work was completed in Corinth (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:13-14; 8:6, 16,
23). This would most likely place Titus’ departure from Ephesus somewhere around the time in Acts 19:21-22.
Perhaps Titus was sent to Corinth at the same time that Timothy and Erastus were sent to Macedonia (Acts
19:22).
Paul’s point in this statement in 2 Cor. 12:18 is a powerful affirmation of support for a co-worker and the
integrity that permeated his ministry. The apostle expresses complete confidence in Titus to do the proper thing
in representing Paul and his motives to the church at Corinth. This provides helpful insight into the way Paul
related to these mostly young men who served with him on the missionary endeavor. Respect and esteem for
these men characterized Paul’s stance. He trusted their skills and commitment to carry out assignments faithfully
and reliably as well. Some important lessons emerge here in working together in the Lord’s service.
In summation of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus as reflected in Acts 19 and scattered references in Paul’s writings
to the Corinthians, we begin to realize how limited this narration is. Luke describes only four short events of
an almost three year ministry (cf. topics 7.1.2.2.1 - 7.1.2.2.4 above). He fills in some of the gaps with summarizing
statements but in total Luke depicts no more than a week or so of specific events that took place during that
lengthy period of time. The summarizing statements only imply actions by Paul in evangelizing and teaching,
since they mostly stress the advance of the Gospel both in the city and in the province of Asia. But how Paul
did that is not stated directly by Luke. Most of what Paul did at Ephesus is unknown to us. The few glimpses of
ministry actions provided by Paul from First and Second Corinthians (topic 7.1.2.2.5) only add a few days at most
of time to the picture.
Although our modern historical curiosity has many, many unanswered questions, we do possess a rather
rich picture of a ministry blessed of God that impacted profoundly a large strategic city for Christ. And this impact
over time rippled out into the surrounding region of the huge province of Asia. This is what Luke wanted his readers
to see, and what we need to see as modern readers. From other sources we will discover what should be
clear from the summary nature of Acts 19: many other activities of Paul took place at Ephesus beyond what Luke
shares with us.
7.1.3 Ministry in Macedonia and Achaia (AD 55-57),
Acts 20:1-3; 1 Cor 16:5-7 (plans); 2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5-7,13-16; 8:1-7; 8:16-9:15 (plans); 13:1-3 (plans)
If Luke’s picture of Paul’s three year ministry in Ephesus seems very summary in nature, how Luke describes
a three to six month period of time in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia in Acts 20:1-3 is amazingly
brief. It is easy for the reader to skim over these three short verses and conclude that nothing important happened
during this period of ministry. But nothing could be further from the truth! From other sources, mostly in
Paul’s writings, we discover a rich and rewarding period of ministry by Paul during the time he traveled through
these two Roman provinces.
7.1.3.1 Ministry summary, Acts 20:1-3
20 Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι τὸν θόρυβον μεταπεμψάμενος ὁ Παῦλος τοὺς μαθητὰς καὶ παρακαλέσας,
ἀσπασάμενος ἐξῆλθεν πορεύεσθαι εἰς Μακεδονίαν. 2 διελθὼν δὲ τὰ μέρη ἐκεῖνα καὶ παρακαλέσας αὐτοὺς λόγῳ
πολλῷ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα 3 ποιήσας τε μῆνας τρεῖς· γενομένης ἐπιβουλῆς αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων μέλλοντι
ἀνάγεσθαι εἰς τὴν Συρίαν, ἐγένετο γνώμης τοῦ ὑποστρέφειν διὰ Μακεδονίας.
20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he
left for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement,
he came to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made
against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.
Luke’s introductory sentence in verse one sets the stage. The core statement, ἐξῆλθεν πορεύεσθαι εἰς
Μακεδονίαν, is simply “he left to go to Macedonia.” Sometime earlier Paul had made up his mind to do this: ἔθετο
of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
Ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ παρακλήσει ἡμῶν περισσοτέρως μᾶλλον ἐχάρημεν ἐπὶ τῇ χαρᾷ Τίτου, ὅτι ἀναπέπαυται τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων
ὑμῶν· 14 ὅτι εἴ τι αὐτῷ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κεκαύχημαι, οὐ κατῃσχύνθην, ἀλλʼ ὡς πάντα ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ἐλαλήσαμεν ὑμῖν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ καύχησις
ἡμῶν ἡ ἐπὶ Τίτου ἀλήθεια ἐγενήθη. 15 καὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ἀναμιμνῃσκομένου τὴν πάντων ὑμῶν
ὑπακοήν, ὡς μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐδέξασθε αὐτόν.
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