Acts 20:1

1 And after [that] the noise ceased, Paul called the disciples, and admonished them, and said farewell; and he went forth, to go into Macedonia.

Acts 20:1 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:1

And after the uproar was ceased
Which Demetrius, and the craftsmen, had raised at Ephesus, and which was put an end to by the speech of the town clerk, or register keeper of the theatre:

Paul called unto him the disciples;
the members of the church at Ephesus, whom he convened, either at his own lodgings, or at their usual place of meeting:

and embraced them;
or "saluted them"; that is, with a kiss, which was sometimes done at parting, as well as at meeting; see ( Acts 20:37 ) and so the Syriac version renders it, and "kissed" them, and so took his leave of them, and bid them farewell; the Alexandrian copy, and some other copies, and the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions before this clause insert, "and exhorted, or comforted" them; that is, exhorted them to continue steadfast in the faith, and hold fast the profession of it without wavering, and comforted them under all their tribulations, and in a view of what afflictions and persecutions they must expect to endure for the sake of Christ, with the exceeding great and precious promises of the Gospel:

and departed to go into Macedonia;
to visit the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, and to establish them in the faith of the Gospel: he did not choose to leave Ephesus till the tumult was over, partly on his own account, that he might not bring upon himself an imputation of fear and cowardice; and partly on the account of the church at Ephesus, that he might not leave them in distress, and add to it; but now it was over, he judged it proper to take his leave of them, and visit other churches, the care of which equally lay upon him.

Acts 20:1 In-Context

1 And after [that] the noise ceased, Paul called the disciples, and admonished them, and said farewell; and he went forth, to go into Macedonia.

2 And when he had walked by those coasts, and had admonished them by many words [Soothly when he had walked by those parts, and had admonished them by much word], he came to Greece.

3 Where when he had been three months, the Jews laid ambush for him, that was to sail into Syria; and he had counsel to turn again by Macedonia.

4 And Sopater of Pyrri Berea followed him; of Thessalonians, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius Derbeus, and Timothy; and Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These for they went before, abode us at Troas. [These when they went before, sustained, or abided, us at Troas.]