Y despus de haber estado allí tres meses, y habiendo de navegar a Siria, le fueron puestas asechanzas por los judíos; y así tom consejo de volverse por Macedonia.
When the Jesus laid wait for him] Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could take; but, hearing that the Jews had laid wait for him, probably to attack his ship on the voyage, seize his person, sell him for a slave
, and take the money which he was carrying to the poorsaints at Jerusalem, he resolved to go as much of the journey as he conveniently could, by land. Therefore, he returned through Macedonia, and from thence to Troas, where he embarked to sail for Syria, on his way to Jerusalem. The whole of his journey is detailed in this and the following chapter. See also the map.
Ver. 3. And there abode three months , etc.] In Greece: and when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria ; from some part of Greece, in order to go to Jerusalem; which the Jews in the parts of Greece understanding, laid wait for him, either by sea or land, with an intention either to take the money from him, which he had collected in Macedonia, and in Greece, for the poorsaints at Jerusalem, or to take away his life, or both; of which lying in wait for him, the apostle had some notice, either by divine revelation, or from somebody who was in the secret, or had got knowledge of it from such as were: upon which he purposed to return through Macedonia ; through which he came from Ephesus to Greece: this wicked design being made known to him, obliged him, in point of prudence, and both for his own safety, and the good of the churches, to alter his scheme, and steer his course another way, to the disappointment of his enemies; in which the wisdom of providence, the care of God over his ministers, and his concern for his churches manifestly appeared.
Verses 1-6 - Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five day in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.
20:3 {When he had spent three months there} (poiesas menas treis). Literally, "having done three months," the same idiom in #Ac 14:33; 18:23; Jas 5:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul's work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it. {And a plot was laid against him by the Jews} (genomenes epiboules autwi hupo twn ioudaiwn). Genitive absolute, "a plot by the Jews having come against him." epiboule is an old word for a plot against one. In the N.T. only in Acts (#9:24; 20:3,19; 23:30). Please note that this plot is by the Jews, not the Judaizers whom Paul discusses so vehemently in #2Co 10-13. They had given Paul much anguish of heart as is shown in I Cor. and in #2Co 1-7, but that trouble seems now past. It is Paul's old enemies in Corinth who had cherished all these years their defeat at the hands of Gallio (#Ac 18:5-17) who now took advantage of Paul's plans for departure to compass his death if possible. {As he was about to set sail for Syria} (mellonti anagesqai eis ten surian). The participle mellonti agrees in case (dative) with autwi. For the sense of intending see also verse #13. anagesqai (present middle infinitive) is the common word for putting out to sea (going up, they said, from land) as in #13:13. {He determined} (egeneto gnwmes). The best MSS. here read gnwmes (predicate ablative of source like epilusews, #2Pe 1:20, Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 514), not gnwme (nominative). "He became of opinion." The Jews had heard of Paul's plan to sail for Syria and intended in the hurly-burly either to kill him at the docks in Cenchreae or to push him overboard from the crowdedpilgrimship bound for the passover. Fortunately Paullearned of their plot and so eluded them by going through Macedonia. The Codex Bezae adds here that "the Spirit bade him return into Macedonia."
