Robertson Word Pictures - Acts 20:3 - 20:3

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Robertson Word Pictures - Acts 20:3 - 20:3


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

When he had spent three months there (poiēsas mēnas treis). Literally, “having done three months,” the same idiom in Act 15:33; Act 18:23; Jam 4:13. 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 (genomenēs epiboulēs autōi hupo tōn Ioudaiōn). Genitive absolute, “a plot by the Jews having come against him.” Epiboulē is an old word for a plot against one. In the N.T. only in Acts (Act 9:24; Act 20:3, Act 20:19; Act 23:30). Please note that this plot is by the Jews, not the Judaizers whom Paul discusses so vehemently in 2 Corinthians 10-13. They had given Paul much anguish of heart as is shown in I Cor. and in 2 Corinthians 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 (Act 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 anagesthai eis tēn Surian). The participle mellonti agrees in case (dative) with autōi. For the sense of intending see also Act 19:13. Anagesthai (present middle infinitive) is the common word for putting out to sea (going up, they said, from land) as in Act 13:13.

He determined (egeneto gnōmēs). The best MSS. here read gnōmēs (predicate ablative of source like epiluseōs, 2Pe 1:20, Robertson, Grammar, p. 514), not gnōmē (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 crowded pilgrim ship bound for the passover. Fortunately Paul learned of their plot and so eluded them by going through Macedonia. The Codex Bezae adds here that “the Spirit bade him return into Macedonia.”