Acts 20:13 - Meaning and Application

Paul was hurrying toward Jerusalem, but he still tried to do all the good he could along the way, almost as a passing matter. He had stopped at Troas and done good there, and now he was making a kind of coastwise trip, as merchants might call it a trading voyage, moving from place to place. No doubt he tried to make every place he visited better than he found it, as every good person should.

He sent his companions by sea to Assos, while he himself chose to go on foot (Acts 20:13). He had firmly decided that, whatever pressure others might use to change his mind, whether about his comfort, his reputation, the ease of taking the ship, or the company of his friends, he would walk to Assos. The land route may have been shorter, but it was also rough, and ancient writers said it was hard enough to wear a person out just to make that trip. Still, Paul chose that way for one of three reasons.

First, he may have wanted to stop along the way and do good among the people there, either by turning sinners to God or by strengthening believers. In both cases, he would be serving his Lord and carrying on his great work. Second, he may have wanted time alone, with more room to speak with God and think over his own heart in solitude. He loved his companions and enjoyed being with them, but he also showed that he did not depend on company and could be content by himself.

Third, he may have wanted to train himself to bear hardship and avoid giving in to ease. By choosing small acts of self-denial, he kept his body under control and made himself more ready for the sufferings he would later face for Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). We should also train ourselves to deny our own wants when needed.

At Assos, he joined his friends again, and they took him on board. By then he had had enough of walking and was glad to continue by water. Or perhaps he could go no farther by land and had to travel by sea. When Christ once sent his disciples away in a ship and stayed behind himself, he later came to them, and they received him (Mark 6:45, Mark 6:51).

From there, Paul pressed on toward Jerusalem. His ship passed by Chios, stopped at Samos, and stayed for a while at Trogyllium, the seaport nearest Samos. The next day they came to Miletus, the seaport nearest Ephesus. Paul had decided not to go to Ephesus at this time, because he knew his friends there would press him to stay, and he did not want to face that temptation. Since he was resolved not to linger, he avoided the situation altogether. He was hurrying, if possible, to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost.

He had been at Jerusalem about four or five years earlier (Acts 18:21, Acts 18:22), and now he was returning to show his ongoing respect for that church. He wanted to keep a good relationship with it, so no one would think his work among the Gentiles had made him turn away from Jerusalem. He also wanted to be there for Pentecost because the feast drew large crowds. That gave him a chance to spread the gospel among Jews and converts from many places who came to worship. Pentecost was also especially important to Christians because it was the time when the Holy Spirit was poured out.

People with business to do should set proper times, as far as Providence allows, and try to keep them. They should plan to do what is most necessary first, and not let other things pull them away. It is pleasant to be with friends, and nothing distracts us more easily than that. But friendship must not keep us from our duty. When Paul had a calling to Jerusalem, he would not waste time in Asia, even though he had more friends there, and kinder ones too. This world is not the place where we will always be together. We hope to be together in the world to come.