Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 20]
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20:1 {After the uproar was ceased} (\meta to pausasthai ton
thorubon\). Literally, after the ceasing (accusative of articular
aorist middle infinitive of \pau•\, to make cease) as to the
uproar (accusative of general reference). Noise and riot, already
in Mt 26:5; 27:24; Mr 5:38; 14:2; and see in Ac 21:34; 24:18.
Pictures the whole incident as bustle and confusion. {Took leave}
(\aspamenos\). First aorist middle participle of \aspazomai\, old
verb from \a\ intensive and \spa•\, to draw, to draw to oneself
in embrace either in greeting or farewell. Here it is in farewell
as in 21:6. Salutation in 21:7,19. {Departed for to go into
Macedonia} (\ex•lthen poreuesthai eis Makedonian\). Both verbs,
single act and then process. Luke here condenses what was
probably a whole year of Paul's life and work as we gather from
II Corinthians, one of Paul's "weighty and powerful" letters as
his enemies called them (2Co 10:10). "This epistle more than
any other is a revelation of S. Paul's own heart: it is his
spiritual autobiography and _apologia pro vita sua_."
20:2 {Those parts} (\ta mer• ekeina\). We have no way of knowing
why Luke did not tell of Paul's stay in Troas (2Co 2:12f.) nor
of meeting Titus in Macedonia (2Co 2:13-7:16) nor of Paul's
visit to Illyricum (Ro 15:19f.) to give time for II Corinthians
to do its work (2Co 13), one of the most stirring experiences
in Paul's whole career when he opened his heart to the
Corinthians and won final victory in the church by the help of
Titus who also helped him round up the great collection in
Achaia. He wrote II Corinthians during this period after Titus
arrived from Corinth. The unity of II Corinthians is here
assumed. Paul probably met Luke again in Macedonia, but all this
is passed by except by the general phrase: "had given them much
exhortation" (\parakalesas autous log•i poll•i\). Literally,
"having exhorted them (the Macedonian brethren) with much talk"
(instrumental case). {Into Greece} (\eis t•n Hellada\). That is,
Achaia (18:12; 19:21), and particularly Corinth, whither he had
at last come again after repeated attempts, pauses, and delays
(2Co 13:1). Now at last the coast was clear and Paul apparently
had an open door in Corinth during these three months, so
completely had Titus at last done away with the opposition of the
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 20)