Atos 18

Atos 18

Vernon McGee comments that ""There are a great many folk who find fault with Paul because he made a vow. They say that this is the man who preached that we are not under Law but we are under grace, and so he should not have made a vow. Anyone who says this about Paul is actually making a little law for Paul. Such folk are saying that Paul is to do things their way. Under grace, friend, if you want to make a vow, you can make it. And if you do not want to make a vow, you don't have to. Paul didn't force anyone else to make a vow. In fact, he said emphatically that no one has to do that. But if Paul wants to make a vow, that is his business. That is the marvelous freedom" Paul, having remained many days longer - "Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that." (NLT) As we learned earlier the entire length of Paul's sojourn in Corinth was 18 months. Having remained (continued)(4357)(prosmeno from pros = + meno = abide, remain) means to stay on, remain, "to stay on at a place beyond some point of time" (BDAG) (Acts 18:18, 1 Ti 1:3). Longenecker dates this event - In the spring of 52, however, Paul left Corinth to return to Jerusalem and then to Syrian Antioch—principally to complete a vow at Jerusalem he had taken earlier, probably while at Corinth. (See Luke---Acts) Took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria - Paul said farewell to the believing brethren that composed the Corinthian church and went only 7 miles away to Cenchrea. Took leave (657)(apotasso from apo = from + tasso = to place in order) means to assign to different place, to allot. Paul "separated himself" from the brethren. However in the NT it is only found in the middle voice and has the meaning of to part from, to take leave of, to say good-bye. Used only 6x in NT - Mk. 6:46; Lk. 9:61; Lk. 14:33; Acts 18:18; Acts 18:21; 2 Co. 2:13 Put out to sea (1602)(ekpleo from ek = out + pleo = to sail) means to sail out, to weigh anchor, to sail away from a port of harbor, depart by ship and only used literally . Ekpleo is used only 3x - Acts 15:39; Acts 18:18; Acts 20:6. And with him were Priscilla and Aquila - These secular co-laborers had now become spiritual co-laborers (see sunergos in Ro 16:3) Presumably Silas and Timothy remained at Corinth at this time where they would have overseen the church plant (may have been more than one because there was a church in nearby Cenchrea).