English
Standard Version (ESV)
20 After
the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he
said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone
through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against
him by the Jews[a] as he was about to set sail for Syria, he
decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son
of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and
Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and
Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at
Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of
Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed
for seven days.
I am not sure
what to write today regarding this passage.
Yet, I did not want to include it in the passage for tomorrow. So, let’s see what God has to tell us about
Paul’s travels!
As I read this
passage I had to wonder why he just passed through some places, giving
encouragement, and why he stayed in another place for three months. I also had to wonder the significance of
naming all those that accompanied him and where they were from. The commentary shared some insight as to
possible reasons but still left me a bit puzzled.
Notice in the
first part of this scripture that Paul left after the uproar was over. People calmed down and Paul was able to leave
the city. It does not sound like he was
forced out but chose to move on. He
could have chosen to stay but more than likely realized his ministry was
complete here and so moved on to some familiar territory and gave encouragement
to his friends. Yet, he was on a mission
and kept moving, only to stop for three months in Greece.
Why three months
in Greece? I was thinking that it was
for some spiritual reason yet the commentary says it was probably because he
could not travel across the seas due to it being wintertime. Whatever the reason, I am sure Paul used it
serve God. I am sure he did not set idly
through those months but rather spread the Good News. We really don’t know that by the scriptures
but it would be in Paul’s character to do so.
Lastly I
wondered why it listed all of these men that accompanied Paul. They apparently were all representatives of
his mission field. Some commentaries say
they traveled together for safety reason.
I tend to disagree with this.
Paul had all the protection he needed and wanted through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Where I might see numbers in men
as a safety measure, I rather doubt that Paul had that on his mind. I believe these men were traveling and learning
from Paul in order to take this wisdom and knowledge back to their cities and
continue the proclamation of Jesus as Lord.
As you seek Him
today, remember we all have circumstances that have been assigned by God. In those winter months of our lives we need
to continue to use those times
to spread the
Good News. We need to follow Him through
it all.
Seeking Him with
all my heart,
Sheila
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