20:1a It would appear that soon after the silversmiths’ riot Paul departed Ephesus for Macedonia. The words of encouragement that he addressed to the believers before going may have been along the same lines as those he spoke to their leaders a few months later (vv. 17–35). He had already “decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia” (19:21), but he may have set out sooner than intended, partly because of the riot, partly because of his anxiety over the situation in Corinth. These had been stormy years in Paul’s dealings with the Corinthians. They had repudiated his authority, and neither his letters nor his own or Timothy’s visits had seemed to help. In desperation, therefore, he had sent Titus to Corinth with another letter (now lost) in the hope that either the mes…