Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
To depict his desertion, he informs Timothy that Erastus stayed behind at Corinth, his residence, of which city he was "chamberlains," or city steward and treasurer (Romans 16:23); and Trophimus he left behind at Miletus sick (Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29). Erastus the missionary (Acts 19:22) can hardly be identical with Erastus the chamberlain, whose office would not admit absence on missionary journeys. This verse is irreconcilable with Paul's present imprisonment being the first; for he did not pass by Corinth or Miletus on his way to Rome to be imprisoned for the first time. As Miletus was near Ephesus, there is a presumption that Timothy was not at Ephesus when Paul wrote, or he would not need to inform Timothy of Trophimus lying sick in his neighbourhood. However, Trophimus may not have been still at Miletus when Paul wrote, though he had left him there on his way to Rome. Prisca and Aquila were likely to be at Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19), and he desires Timothy to salute them: so also Onesiphorus' household (2 Timothy 1:18). Paul had not the power of healing at will (Acts 19:12), but as the Lord allowed him.