And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, (13) Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. (14) And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: (15) But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. (16) And he drove them from the judgment seat. (17) Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. (18) And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. (19) And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. (20) When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; (21) But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (22) And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. (23) And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
It should seem, that the vision which the Lord favored his servant the Apostle with, was but a little space (perhaps only the preceding night) before this insurrection made by the Jews. Surely the Lord times his visits. And, we might observe, if our inattentive minds were but more awakened to these things, that Jesus is not more sweet than seasonable, in the manifestations he condescends to make to his people. No doubt, Paul felt the blessedness of what had passed between his Lord and himself in the night, when called to the exercises of the day. And, Reader! let me hope, that you and I are not unconscious of Him and his grace, who giveth songs in the night. Surely it is impossible to be so, while we have his promises in view. See a cluster of them, John 14:16-27
I am at a loss how to explain, or even to account for, this vow of Paul. And I confess, that I should be inclined to think, that it was Aquila which made this vow, (as some have thought by putting the stop after Priscilla, and not Aquila), and not Paul, did we not meet with a similar instance of the Apostle's, Acts 21:23 etc. When we call to mind, that Paul had been now in a state of conversion somewhat more than fifteen years; and that it was some time before this took place at Cenchrea, that he had written his Epistle to the Church at Galatia, in which he so strongly reproves the mingling Jewish customs, with Gospel grace: when we recollect these things, how strange, and even contradictory doth it appear, that so great an Apostle should be found Complying with such weaknesses, Galatians 2:1. But, Reader! our Lord Jesus can, and I trust will, make such a view of the Apostle profitable to us both. For, when we behold the infirmity of the man, yea, so great a man and minister too, falling into such a weakness; surely it teaches us to cease from man, and look more to the Lord. What poor creatures the best of men are, and how strongly the heart is prompted therefrom while contemplating human weakness, to lay hold on divine strength. Precious Jesus whatever tends to endear my Lord to the hearts and affections of his people, must be blessed. Paul himself rejoiced to be a fool, yea, anything, or nothing, so that Christ became exalted! 2 Corinthians 11:21 and 2 Corinthians 12:5-11. See the Commentary, Acts 21:26
If I detain the Reader a moment longer at this paragraph, it shalt be only to remark, what extensive ground the Apostle traversed, in his zeal for the Lord's glory, and the welfare of the Lord's Church. Happy servant of an Almighty Master! While knowing that Jesus had much people in Corinth, how could he leave it before that he saw the Church formed there, and Elders ordained to supply his place, Acts 14:23. But, when this was done, and his mind directed to go elsewhere, like his Lord, he would of consequence say, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent: Luke 4:43.