The Meaning of Acts 19:22 Explained

Acts 19:22

KJV: So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

YLT: and having sent to Macedonia two of those ministering to him -- Timotheus and Erastus -- he himself stayed a time in Asia.

Darby: And having sent into Macedonia two of those ministering to him, Timotheus and Erastus, he remained himself awhile in Asia.

ASV: And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So  he sent  into  Macedonia  two  of them that ministered  unto him,  Timotheus  and  Erastus;  but he himself  stayed  in  Asia  for a season. 

What does Acts 19:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul apparently sent Timothy (cf. Acts 18:5; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 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. 1 Corinthians 16:1-9). This Erastus was probably not the same man Paul mentioned in Romans 16:23, though he may be the one he wrote of in 2 Timothy 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 Acts 15:40 and Acts 18:5, but Luke did not mention him again. Paul wrote that Titus was a faithful and active associate of his (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 7:13-14; 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 2 Corinthians 8:23; 2 Corinthians 12:18; Galatians 2:1; Galatians 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 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.

Context Summary

Acts 19:13-29 - The Power Of Jesus' Name
Where God's spirit is mightily at work, Satan is not far away. Here the enemy's emissaries were mean enough to use the name of Jesus to get themselves a few more shekels. But the name is useless apart from the living power of the Spirit. It is terrible when the very demons flout those who profess religion. Who are ye? meant, "You do not count." The demons knew Christ as the Holy One of God and Paul as His representative, but these exorcist Jews were hollow as sounding brass. Cast into the balances, they were altogether lighter than vanity, Psalms 62:9.
The outcome of all this was a mighty revival. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, and a searching work of grace led to the confession of sin and the cleansing of heart and life in many who had followed vain superstitions.
So deep was the work of God in that great city of Ephesus that the trade in charms and amulets, sold in the neighborhood of the temple, began to fall off. The crowd of worshippers in Diana's temple was also perceptibly less. People who came in from the seaboard would find their way to the Apostle, who preached the gospel with a power that could not be withstood. Regenerated souls therefore, in turn, carried the gospel throughout the whole region. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 19

1  The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands
8  The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles
13  The Jewish exorcists,
16  are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit
19  Conjuring books are burnt
21  Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35  which is appeased by the town clerk

Greek Commentary for Acts 19:22

Timothy and Erastus [Τιμοτεον και Εραστον]
Paul had sent Timothy to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17) and had requested kindly treatment of this young minister in his difficult task of placating the divided church (1 Corinthians 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. Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20) go on to Macedonia to prepare the way for Paul who will come on later. [source]
He himself stayed in Asia for a while [αυτος επεσχεν χρονον εις την Ασιαν]
Literally, He himself had additional time in Asia. Second aorist active indicative of επεχω — epechō 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 1 Corinthians 16:8., 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. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 19:22

Acts 19:10 For two years [επι ετη δυο]
Note επι — epi with accusative for extent of time as in Acts 19:8, επι μηνας τρεις — epi mēnas treis and often. But in Acts 20:31 Paul said to the Ephesian elders at Miletus that he laboured with them for the space of “three years.” That may be a general expression and there was probably a longer period after the “two years” in the school of Tyrannus besides the six months in the synagogue. Paul may have preached thereafter in the house of Aquila and Priscilla for some months, the “for a while” of Acts 19:22. [source]
Acts 19:10 So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard [ωστε παντας τους κατοικουντας την Ασιαν ακουσαι]
Actual result with ωστε — hōste and the infinitive with accusative of general reference as is common (also Acts 19:11) in the Koiné{[28928]}š (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 999f.). Paul apparently remained in Ephesus, but the gospel spread all over the province even to the Lycus Valley including the rest of the seven churches of Revelation 1:11; 2; 3. Demetrius in Acts 19:26 will confirm the tremendous influence of Paul‘s ministry in Ephesus on Asia. Forty years after this Pliny in his famous letter to Trajan from Bithynia will say of Christianity: “For the contagion of this superstition has not only spread through cities, but also through villages and country places.” It was during these years in Ephesus that Paul was greatly disturbed over the troubles in the Corinthian Church. He apparently wrote a letter to them now lost to us (1 Corinthians 5:9), received messages from the household of Chloe, a letter from the church, special messengers, sent Timothy, then Titus, may have made a hurried trip himself, wrote our First Corinthians, was planning to go after the return of Titus to Troas where he was to meet him after Pentecost, when all of a sudden the uproar raised by Demetrius hurried Paul away sooner than he had planned. Meanwhile Apollos had returned from Corinth to Ephesus and refused to go back (1 Corinthians 16:12). Paul doubtless had helpers like Epaphras and Philemon who carried the message over the province of Asia, Tychicus, and Trophimus of Asia who were with him on the last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 19:22, Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4). Paul‘s message reached Greeks, not merely Hellenists and God-fearers, but some of the Greeks in the upper circles of life in Ephesus. [source]
1 Corinthians 16:11 For I expect him [εκδεχομαι γαρ αυτον]
Apparently later Timothy had to return to Ephesus without much success before Paul left and was sent on to Macedonia with Erastus (Acts 19:22) and Titus sent to Corinth whom Paul then arranged to meet in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12). [source]
1 Corinthians 4:17 Have I sent [επεμπσα]
First aorist active indicative. Probably Timothy had already gone as seems clear from 1 Corinthians 16:10. Apparently Timothy came back to Ephesus and was sent on to Macedonia before the uproar in Ephesus (Acts 19:22). Probably also Titus was then despatched to Corinth, also before the uproar. [source]
2 Corinthians 1:1 And Timothy [και Τιμοτεος]
Timothy is with Paul, having been sent on to Macedonia from Ephesus (Acts 19:22). He is in no sense Corinthians-author any more than Sosthenes was in 1 Corinthians 1:1. [source]
Philippians 2:16 Holding forth [ἐπέχοντες]
The verb means literally to hold upon or apply. Hence to fix attention upon, as Luke 14:7; Acts 3:5; 1 Timothy 4:16. In Acts 19:22, stayed: where the idea at bottom is the same - kept to. So in Sept., Job 27:8, of setting the heart on gain. Job 30:26, “fixed my mind on good.” In Genesis 8:10, of Noah waiting. In classical Greek, to hold out, present, as to offer wine to a guest or the breast to an infant. Also to stop, keep down, confine, cease. Here in the sense of presenting or offering, as A.V. and Rev. holding forth. [source]
Philippians 1:1 Timothy []
Associated with Paul as in the introductions to 2Corinthians and the two Thessalonian epistles. Timothy assisted Paul in founding the Philippian church Acts 16:1, Acts 16:13; Acts 17:14. Two visits of Timothy to Philippi are recorded, Acts 19:22; Acts 20:3, Acts 20:4. He is evidently preparing for a third visit, see Phlippians 2:19. His only part in this letter is his name in the salutation, and in Phlippians 2:19. [source]
Philippians 2:22 The proof [την δοκιμην]
“The test” as of metals (2 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 9:13). Three times they had seen Timothy (Acts 16:13; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:3.). [source]
Philippians 1:1 Timothy [Τιμοτεος]
In no sense the author, but associated with Paul because with him here in Rome as in Corinth when I and II Thessalonians written and in Ephesus when I Corinthians sent and in Macedonia when II Corinthians written. Timothy was with Paul when the Philippian church was founded (Acts 16:1, Acts 16:13; Acts 17:14). He had been there twice since (Acts 19:22; Acts 20:3.). To all the saints (πασι τοις αγιοις — pāsi tois hagiois). The word saint (αγιος — hagios) here is used for the professing Christians as in 1 Corinthians 1:2 which see as well as Romans 1:7 for the origin of the word. The word “all” (πασι — pāsi) means that all individual believers are included. Paul employs this word frequently in Philippians. In Christ Jesus The centre for all Christian relations and activities for Paul and for us. In Philippi (εν Πιλιπποις — en Philippois). See note on Acts 16:12 for discussion of this name. With the bishops “Together with bishops,” thus singled out from “all the saints.” See note on Acts 20:17 and note on Acts 20:28 for the use of this most interesting word as equivalent to presbuteros (elder). It is an old word from συν επισκοποις — episkeptomai to look upon or after, to inspect, so the overseer or superintendent. In the second century πρεσβυτερος — episcopos (Ignatius) came to mean one superior to elders, but not so in the N.T. The two New Testament church officers are here mentioned (bishops or elders and deacons). The plural is here employed because there was usually one church in a city with several pastors (bishops, elders). And deacons (επισκεπτομαι — kai diakonois). Technical sense here of the other church officers as in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, not the general use as in Matthew 22:13. The origin of the office is probably seen in Acts 6:1-6. The term is often applied to preachers (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6). The etymology (επισχοπος — diaκαι διακονοις — konis) suggests raising a dust by hastening. [source]
Colossians 4:7 Minister [διάκονος]
Probably to Paul himself. Compare Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4. Scarcely in the official sense of deacon. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Timothy []
Appears in all the Pauline Epistles except Galatians and Ephesians. He was associated with Paul longer than any one of whom we have notice. First mentioned Acts 16:1, Acts 16:2; comp. 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:11. He accompanied Paul on his second missionary tour (Acts 16:3), and was one of the founders of the churches in Thessalonica and Philippi. He is often styled by Paul “the brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1:1); with Paul himself “a bondservant of Jesus Christ” (Philemon 1:1); comp. 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2. Paul's confidence in him appears in Philemon 2:19-22, and is implied in his sending him from Athens to the Thessalonian church to establish and comfort its members (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul sent him again to Macedonia in company with Erastus (Acts 19:22), and also to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17). To the Corinthians he writes of Timothy as “his beloved and faithful child in the Lord” who shall remind them of his ways in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:17), and as one who worketh the work of the Lord as he himself (1 Corinthians 16:10). He joined Paul at Rome, and his name is associated with Paul's in the addresses of the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. In every case where he is mentioned by name with Silvanus, the name of Silvanus precedes. [source]
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed [ἔπεχε]
Only here in Pastorals, and once in Paul, Philemon 2:16. Quite frequent in lxx. Lit. hold upon, fasten thy attention on, as Luke 14:7; Acts 3:5; Acts 19:22. In lxx, in the sense of apply, as Job 18:2; Job 30:26; or forbear, refrain, as 1 Kings 22:6, 1 Kings 22:15. In Philemon 2:16, to hold out or present, a sense which is found only in Class. [source]
2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus []
In Acts 19:22, sent by Paul with Timothy to Macedonia from Ephesus. Romans 16:23, the city-treasurer who sends salutations. He cannot be certainly identified with the one mentioned here. The writer merely selects names of well-known companions of Paul. [source]
2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus [Εραστος]
See note on Acts 19:22 and note on Romans 16:23. [source]
Philemon 1:1 Timothy [Τιμοτεος]
With Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:22) and probably known to Philemon. Associated with Paul also in I and II Thess., II Cor., Philipp., Colossians. To Philemon (Πιλημονι — Philēmoni). A resident of Colossae and a convert of Paul‘s (Philemon 1:19), perhaps coming to Ephesus while Paul was there when his ministry had so much influence over the province of Asia (Acts 19:9., 26; 1 Corinthians 16:19). The name Philemon occurs in the legend of Baucis and Philemon (Ovid‘s Metamorphoses), but with no connection with the brother here. He was active in the church in Colossae (“our Corinthians-worker,” συνεργωι ημων — sunergōi hēmōn) and was beloved (αγαπητωι — agapētōi) by Paul. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 19:22 mean?

Having sent then into - Macedonia two of those ministering to him Timothy and Erastus he remained for a time in Asia
ἀποστείλας δὲ εἰς τὴν Μακεδονίαν δύο τῶν διακονούντων αὐτῷ Τιμόθεον καὶ Ἔραστον αὐτὸς ἐπέσχεν χρόνον εἰς Ἀσίαν

ἀποστείλας  Having  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποστέλλω 
Sense: to order (one) to go to a place appointed.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Μακεδονίαν  Macedonia 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Μακεδονία  
Sense: a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
τῶν  of  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
διακονούντων  ministering 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: διακονέω  
Sense: to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Τιμόθεον  Timothy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Τιμόθεος  
Sense: a resident of Lystra, apparently, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess; he was Paul’s travelling companion and fellow labourer.
Ἔραστον  Erastus 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἔραστος  
Sense: a companion of the apostle Paul.
ἐπέσχεν  remained 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπέχω  
Sense: to have or hold upon, apply, to observe, attend to.
χρόνον  for  a  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: χρόνος  
Sense: time either long or short.
Ἀσίαν  Asia 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀσία  
Sense: Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today.