Acts 18 question 3

[starship.jrm]

3. Paul always returns to the congregation that has sponsored his
missionary journeys. Can you list some of the reasons why this is
important for him and for the congregation? Do you think the reason
he did not remain longer in Ephesus, but promised to return was
related to a need he felt to make a report to his sponsoring
congregation in Antioch of Syria?

In verse 18 we see Paul shave his head to end the Nazirite vow he had
taken some place back in Chapter 16. Paul clearly felt God had called
him to Macedonia and Corinth and the vow was an outward symbol of him
placing on the Lord the success of the his mission trip. This should
give us confidence in our faith that God will enable us to complete
the tasks he has call us to do. Paul may indeed have felt the vow was
not complete until he had reported back to Antioch. However, we again
have an example of Paul placing his mission activities in the hand of
the Lord by promising to return to Ephesus if God calls on him to do
so.

It is also possible that Paul’s quick exit from Ephesus wasn’t so much
a desire to report back to Antioch as he was trying to get to
Jerusalem by Passover. I discovered in my research that the sea lanes
did not open up till March 10 and Passover was in early April in AD
52, the year I believe these events took place. So his need to leave
Ephesus may have had more to do with the logistics of travel at that
time.