And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
And there abode three months. Though the province only is mentioned, it is evidently the city of CORINTH that is meant, just as in Acts 20:1 the province of "Macedonia" meant the city of Philippi. Some rough work he anticipated on his arrival at Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:1-8; 2 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Corinthians 13:1-10), though he had reason to expect satisfaction on the whole; and as we know there were other churches in Achaia besides that at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 11:10), he would have time enough to pay them all a brief visit during the three months of his stay there. This period was rendered further memorable by the despatch of the EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS, written during his stay at Corinth, and sent by "Phoebe, a servant (or 'deaconess') of the church at Cenchreae (see the note at Acts 18:3), a lady apparently of some standing and substance, who was going there on private business, (see the note at Romans 16:1, and Introduction to Epistle to Rom.) And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria. He had intended to embark-probably at Cenchreae, the eastern harbour of Corinth-for Palestine, on his route to Jerusalem; thus making out the third part of his plan, as laid down in Acts 19:21; But having detected some conspiracy against his life by his unrelenting Jewish adversaries-as at Damascus (Acts 9:22-25), and at Jerusalem (Acts 9:29-30) - he changed his plan, and so
He purposed (or 'resolved') to return (as he had come) through Macedonia. Since he was never more to return to Corinth, this route would bring him, for the last time, face to face with the attached disciples of Beraea, Thessalonica, and Philippi. But this land journey consumed so much more time than the voyage originally contemplated, that the apostle had to hasten at last in order to reach Jerusalem at the desired time (Acts 20:16).