(མཛད་པ། 18:18-23)

 

After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (Acts 18:18-23)

 

Having performed a vow, perhaps of thanks to God, Paul went back by stages to his home church at Antioch in Syria. The first stage by sea took him to Ephesus, the main city of the province of Asia.

Because of his plan Paul did not accept the Ephesian Jews’ invitation, but he left Aquila and Priscilla with them. He did return. (Read future posts about this)

After visiting the church in Jerusalem and reporting back in Antioch Paul’s second journey was now finished. Later he set off again on his third missionary journey by first of all revisiting the young churches in Galatia such as those at Iconium and Lystra. (See map)