Act 18:21 | KingComments | STEP | In addition to the period of one and a half years that he has already been in Corinth, Paul will remain “many days longer” in Corinth. Then comes the moment when he says goodbye to the brethren. He goes to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila in his company. It indicates that also Aquila and Priscilla are not bound to a place. They are flexible and move easily to another place when the service for the Lord requires it. There is still a curious remark by Luke about Paul. Paul, who resisted the law so strongly, submits to a Jewish ordinance. In any case, having cut his hair in connection with keeping a vow is reminiscent of this. It is reminiscent of the vow of the Nazarite ( ). In Acts 21 he does something similar ( ). There it seems to be meant to be a Jew to the Jews ( ). It is difficult to think of that here, given the extremely hostile attitude of the Jews. Luke does not tell us of what nature the vow is. It may be that Paul, due to the pressure of circumstances in Corinth, made a vow to the Lord that he would have his hair cut if the Lord would help him. In itself, a vow does not necessarily have to be wrong. However, we must take to heart the warning from Ecclesiastes 5 ( ). The question is whether making a vow suits the position of the Christian and whether Paul is not acting below that position because his actions are reminiscent of an Old Testament custom. We may apply these considerations to ourselves, but not to Paul. We simply do not know what motivated him. Luke only mentions that he had his hair cut, that he did so because of a vow and that he had it done in Cenchrea. It is not contrary to his preaching against the law, because he does not block the way of someone who wants to keep the law. In the same way, it does not have to be a problem for us if Messianic Jews want to keep the law. What brings Paul to the fiercest opposition to the law is when the law is imposed on the nations. That must also be our reaction to the preaching of the law. After having had his hair cut in Cenchrea, they sailed from Greece to Turkey. When they arrive in Ephesus, Paul goes his own way apart from the couple. The couple stays behind in Ephesus when Paul travels on. Before he travels on, he first visits the synagogue, where he reasons with the Jews. What he tells the Jews about Christ does not meet resistance, but rather appreciation, because they ask him to stay longer. For the time being, however, it must remain with this one-time meeting, because it is not Ephesus that is the goal of his journey, but Jerusalem. At least that seems to explain the hurry he is in to continue his journey and the expression “went up” as the indication of Jerusalem as his goal. His hurry to be in Jerusalem on time is then related to wanting to be present at one of the annual feasts, possibly the Passover (cf. ). Paul therefore does not let himself be held up in Ephesus. He leaves with the promise that he will return to them, stating that he will do so if it is in accordance with the will of God. The fulfillment of his promise we find in Acts 19.

‏ Acts 18:21

Brief Visit of Paul to Ephesus

In addition to the period of one and a half years that he has already been in Corinth, Paul will remain “many days longer” in Corinth. Then comes the moment when he says goodbye to the brethren. He goes to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila in his company. It indicates that also Aquila and Priscilla are not bound to a place. They are flexible and move easily to another place when the service for the Lord requires it.

There is still a curious remark by Luke about Paul. Paul, who resisted the law so strongly, submits to a Jewish ordinance. In any case, having cut his hair in connection with keeping a vow is reminiscent of this. It is reminiscent of the vow of the Nazarite (Num 6:18). In Acts 21 he does something similar (Acts 21:23-26). There it seems to be meant to be a Jew to the Jews (1Cor 9:20). It is difficult to think of that here, given the extremely hostile attitude of the Jews.

Luke does not tell us of what nature the vow is. It may be that Paul, due to the pressure of circumstances in Corinth, made a vow to the Lord that he would have his hair cut if the Lord would help him. In itself, a vow does not necessarily have to be wrong. However, we must take to heart the warning from Ecclesiastes 5 (Ecc 5:2-6). The question is whether making a vow suits the position of the Christian and whether Paul is not acting below that position because his actions are reminiscent of an Old Testament custom.

We may apply these considerations to ourselves, but not to Paul. We simply do not know what motivated him. Luke only mentions that he had his hair cut, that he did so because of a vow and that he had it done in Cenchrea. It is not contrary to his preaching against the law, because he does not block the way of someone who wants to keep the law. In the same way, it does not have to be a problem for us if Messianic Jews want to keep the law. What brings Paul to the fiercest opposition to the law is when the law is imposed on the nations. That must also be our reaction to the preaching of the law.

After having had his hair cut in Cenchrea, they sailed from Greece to Turkey. When they arrive in Ephesus, Paul goes his own way apart from the couple. The couple stays behind in Ephesus when Paul travels on. Before he travels on, he first visits the synagogue, where he reasons with the Jews. What he tells the Jews about Christ does not meet resistance, but rather appreciation, because they ask him to stay longer. For the time being, however, it must remain with this one-time meeting, because it is not Ephesus that is the goal of his journey, but Jerusalem. At least that seems to explain the hurry he is in to continue his journey and the expression “went up” as the indication of Jerusalem as his goal.

His hurry to be in Jerusalem on time is then related to wanting to be present at one of the annual feasts, possibly the Passover (cf. Acts 20:16). Paul therefore does not let himself be held up in Ephesus. He leaves with the promise that he will return to them, stating that he will do so if it is in accordance with the will of God. The fulfillment of his promise we find in Acts 19.