🌊WEB · Acts 20:1
What does Acts 20:1 mean?
"After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia."
— Acts 20:1 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Explanation
Acts 20:1 is a transitional verse, brief in wording but significant in marking a turning point in Paul's third missionary journey. In plain language, the verse tells us that after a period of civil disturbance in Ephesus, Paul gathered the believers there, said his goodbyes, and set out on a journey to the region of Macedonia, in northern Greece.
To understand this verse well, it helps to know what "the uproar" refers to. Acts 19 describes a riot in Ephesus instigated by Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines for the goddess Artemis. Paul's preaching of the gospel had led many to turn away from idol worship, threatening the livelihood of craftsmen who depended on the Artemis cult. This provoked a chaotic public assembly, with confused crowds shouting for two hours in the city theater. Once the town clerk calmed the mob and dispersed it, the immediate danger passed. Luke, the author of Acts, writes this account as part of his larger history of the early church's expansion, tracing Paul's journeys as the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome. Paul's departure from Ephesus at this point fits the pattern seen throughout Acts: opposition or persecution often becomes the occasion for the gospel to move into new territory.
Theologically, this verse illustrates the resilience and forward movement of the early Christian mission despite external pressures. Paul does not linger in fear after the riot, nor does he abandon his ministry; instead, he takes practical, pastoral steps—strength
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ScriptureCompanion serves verses directly from a verified Bible database — no paraphrasing or AI-generated scripture. All quotes above are from the World English Bible (WEB).