Acts 18:19-21

Acts 18:19-21

[19] And  he came  to  Ephesus,  and  left  them there:  but  he himself  entered  into  the synagogue,  and reasoned with  the Jews.  [20] When  they  desired  him to tarry  longer  time  them,  he consented  not;  [21] But  farewell,  saying,  must  by all means  keep  this feast  that cometh  in  Jerusalem:  I will return  again  unto  if God  will.  And  he sailed  from  Ephesus. 

What does Acts 18:19-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Ephesus was the capital and chief commercial center of the province of Asia. [1] At this time it boasted a population of between200 ,000,250 ,000 and was the largest city of Asia Minor. [2] It stood near the coast of the Aegean Sea. Priscilla and Aquila remained in Ephesus, but Paul moved on to Syria after he had done some evangelism in the synagogue. The openness of the Jews to Paul"s preaching there encouraged him to return. Paul"s reference to God"s will ( Acts 18:21) reminds us again that he subordinated his plans to the Lord"s leading in his life. The phrase translated "if God wills" was well known among Jews and Gentiles in Paul"s day. Both groups used it but with different gods in view. [3]