Acts 20:1-6 1And after the uproar ceased, after sending for and encouraging the disciples, after saying farewell, he departed for Macedonia. 2And after he had gone through those regions and had given encouragement with many words, he came to Greece, 3spending three months. When a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he made a decision to return through Macedonia. 4Sopater 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. 5And going ahead, these men were waiting for us at Troas, 6but 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.
Luke condenses Paul’s travels across Macedonia into one sentence. His doing this suggests that his purpose for writing Acts was not simply historical, giving details about Paul’s travels, but theological, giving reflections on key events. This chapter marks a significant shift in Paul’s travels as he headed back to Jerusalem. He went a roundabout way and not directly there, possibly for several reasons. One goal in returning to the churches he helped start was to bring encouragement. Part of leadership is to encourage, and the best way is in person. He could also follow up on any letters he had written. A major goal in his travels across Macedonia was also to collect the special offering for the believers in Jerusalem and Judea who were going through a difficult time (2 Corinthians 8-9). This offering would also bring unity to the church, showing the Jewish believers in Jerusalem that their Gentile brothers and sisters cared for them and were one in mission.
Second Corinthians 1-7 gives further insights about Paul’s travels across Macedonia and arriving in Greece. He had sent Titus to check on the Corinthians and bring a report back to him. In that letter, Paul had to defend himself against being accused of changing his travel plans. When he arrived in Greece, particularly Corinth, he spent three months there reinforcing his previous letters and building up the church. However, not all was so smooth when a plot arose against him by opposing Jews, similar to 18:6, 12–16. At the last moment, he changed plans about sailing all the way to Syria and instead took the inland route back through Macedonia.
Paul was accompanied by important leaders in the early church. He mentioned this plan in 1 Corinthians 16:3 and 2 Corinthians 8:18-19. The names represent a wide range of early churches, from Thessalonica, Derbe in southern Galatia, and all the way to Asia Minor. The storyline returns to the first person in verse 5, indicating that Luke joined the delegation. The team made plans to meet up in Troas, which would be a launching point back to Syria and Judea. Paul paused in Philippi to observe Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. He was still a believing Jew. It would be interesting to see his Christian interpretation of this significant Jewish feast, but Luke gives no details.
Paul’s journey back to Jerusalem shows strategy, faith, leadership, and cooperation. It is clear that Paul was the major leader of the growing church in that area, highly respected and acknowledged. But there were also local leaders who joined him in unity. The early churches experienced many challenges, both internally, as indicated by letters like 1 Corinthians, and externally, from opposing Jews and Gentiles. A theme behind all these travel logs is the group’s trust in God and a deep drive to share the gospel with anyone who would listen.