It was there that Paul wrote his second Epistle to the church in Corinth (2 Cor. 2:13 and note 2 Cor. 2:13^2c; 2 Cor. 7:5-6; 8:1; 9:2, 4).

During that time, in Corinth, the apostle wrote his Epistle to the saints in Rome (Rom. 15:22-32; cf. Acts 19:21; 20:1-3; 1 Cor. 16:3-7).

Paul had originally intended to go to Jerusalem through Syria from Achaia in Greece (Acts 19:21; 1 Cor. 16:3-7). Because of the Jews' plot against him, he changed his route, going northward to Macedonia. From there he returned to Jerusalem. He knew that the Jews were plotting against him and that he would suffer because of this (v. 19). Therefore, he begged the saints in Rome to pray for him concerning his return to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-26, 30-31). This might also have been the reason that he was bound in his spirit to go to Jerusalem (v. 22). Eventually, after returning to Jerusalem, he was seized by the Jews (Acts 21:27-30), who sought to kill him (Acts 21:31; 23:12-15).

See note 3 John 1:1².

The Lord's Day (Rev. 1:10). Paul stayed in Troas for seven days (v. 6), but it was only on the first day of the week that they gathered together to break bread in remembrance of the Lord. This indicates that at that time the apostle and the church considered the first day of the week a day to meet together for the Lord.

Including the writer, Luke.

Or, tasted.

Probably to meet people from different countries who came to Jerusalem on that day (cf. Acts 2:1, 5).

Lit., into. The same word for unto in this verse.

Some MSS add, Christ.

See note Acts 20:3².

Paul's regenerated spirit, in which he served God (see note Acts 17:16¹). In his spirit, a spirit joined to the Lord the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17), Paul sensed beforehand that something would happen to him in Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit testified this to him (v. 23).

Lit., in it.

Paul did not know what he would encounter in Jerusalem (v. 22), but he did know one thing: the Holy Spirit was solemnly testifying to him that bonds and afflictions awaited him. The Holy Spirit's testifying was only a prophecy, a foretelling, not a charge. Hence, he must not have taken it as a command but as a warning. See note Acts 21:4¹ and note Acts 21:11¹.

Implying that Paul sensed he was going to be martyred.

Or, soul.

The kingdom of God. See note Acts 1:3⁴.

Indicating that Paul realized beforehand that he would be martyred.

Lit., on today's day. A very forceful expression.

I.e., I am free from blame if any of you should suffer death.

See note 1 Pet. 5:2^2b.

The apostles appointed the elders in every church (Acts 14:23). But here Paul, the leading one, who did the appointing, said that the Holy Spirit did it, indicating that the Holy Spirit was one with the apostles in their appointing of the elders, and that the apostles did it according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I.e., the elders of the church (v. 17), proving that overseer and elder are synonymous terms denoting the same person. To make an overseer a bishop of a district to rule over the elders of various localities in that district is grossly erroneous. That is what Ignatius did. His erroneous teaching became the basis for the establishing of rank and brought in the hierarchy (see note 1 Tim. 3:2^1b).

The main responsibility of the elders as overseers is not to rule over but to shepherd, to take all-inclusive tender care of the flock, the church of God (see note 1 Pet. 5:2^1a and note 1 Pet. 5:3^1a).

Indicating the precious love of God for the church and the preciousness, the exceeding worth, of the church in the eyes of God. Here the apostle did not touch the divine life and nature of the church as in Eph. 5:23-32, but the value of the church as a treasure to God, a treasure which He acquired with His own precious blood. Paul expected that the elders as overseers would treasure the church as God did.

Both the Holy Spirit and God's own blood are divine provisions for the church that He treasures. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, and God's own blood denotes God's work. God's redemptive work acquired the church; now God Himself, the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45), cares for the church through the overseers.

God's own blood is the blood of Jesus Christ. This implies that the Lord Jesus is God.

The apostle did not care for his own life, but he was very concerned for the future of the church, which was a treasure to him as well as to God.

The perverted ones among the believers in the church are always used by the devil, who hates the church, to draw the sheep away to form another flock.

Some MSS read, the Lord.

See note Acts 11:23^1a.

The Greek word here refers to the legal inheritance of a share of an estate. Cf. note Acts 26:18⁶.

To participate in God's inheritance requires us to be sanctified, and to be sanctified requires the word of God's grace (John 17:17 and note John 17:17^1a).

Making tents (Acts 18:3).

Or, the infirm. Referring to those who were weak physically (1 Cor. 11:30); hence, the poor ones.

This word is not recorded in the Gospels; it must have been received by oral communication.