Acts 20:4-23:35 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 20:4-6

Acts 20:4-6. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea, &c. The several persons mentioned in this verse are thought by some to have been joined with Paul as messengers of the churches, in carrying their contributions to the poor brethren at Jerusalem. We know but few particulars of most of them. Sopater is thought to be the same with Sosipater, mentioned by Paul as his kinsman, Romans 16:21. Aristarchus and Secundus are the Macedonians of whom he speaks, 2 Corinthians... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 20:3-12

Return to Macedonia and Troas (20:3-12)Although Paul was planning to visit Rome, his immediate concern was to go to Jerusalem with the money he had been collecting from the Gentile churches (Romans 15:24-26; Acts 19:21). But just as he was about to set sail, he heard of a Jewish plot to kill him. So he changed his plans and returned through Macedonia (3). In Macedonia, probably at Philippi, Luke rejoined the party (indicated by the renewed use of ‘we’ and ‘us’ in the narrative). They then... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 20:4

accompanied = were accompanying. This was their purpose, but they went before and waited at Troas (Acts 20:5 ). Greek. sunepomai. Only here. into = as far as. Sopater . Shortened form of Sosipater, which is found in Romans 16:21 , but there is no connexion between the two persons. The texts add "son of Pyrrhus". Aristarehus . See Acts 19:29 . Secundus . Only here. Gaius . Not the same as in Acts 19:29 . Tychicus . See 1 Chronicles 4:7; 1 Chronicles 4:7 . 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Timothy 3:12 .... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 20:4

And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.It is noteworthy that Paul took no chance of handling the money he had collected without taking the utmost precautions, not only for the safety of the funds, but also to avoid any charge of laxity on his part. He was not about to carry that large sum to Jerusalem without attendants and witnesses... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 20:4

Acts 20:4. There accompanied him—Sopater, &c.— The several persons mentioned in this verse are thought by some to have been joined with St. Paul, as messengers of the churches, in carrying their contributions to the poor brethren at Jerusalem. Compare 1Co 16:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 8:19-23. We know but few particulars of most of them. Sopater, who in most ancient manuscripts is called the son of Pyrrhus, is generally thought to be the same with Sosipater, whom St. Paul has mentioned as his... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 20:4

4, 5. there accompanied him into Asia—the province of Asia. Sopater of Berea—The true reading, beyond doubt, is, "Sopater [the son] of Pyrrhus of Berea." Some think this mention of his father was to distinguish him from Sosipater (the same name in fuller form), mentioned in :-. But that they were the same person seems more probable. of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus—(See on :-). and Secundus—of whom nothing else is known. Gaius of Derbe—Though the Gaius of Acts 19:29 is said to be of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 20:1-6

Paul’s visit to Macedonia and Achaia 20:1-6"This report of Paul’s return visit to Macedonia and Achaia is the briefest account of an extended ministry in all of Acts-even more so than the summary of the ministry at Ephesus (cf. Acts 19:8-12). Nevertheless, it can be filled out to some extent by certain personal references and historical allusions in 2 Corinthians and Romans, which were written during this time." [Note: Longenecker, p. 506.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 20:4

The men Luke identified here were the representatives of the churches in the provinces of Macedonia, Galatia, and Asia who accompanied Paul with the gift of money for the Jerusalem church. Sopater may be the Sosipater of Romans 16:21. Paul himself may have represented the province of Achaia and the church in Corinth while Luke may have represented the Philippian Christians, but Luke did not make this clear. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 20:4

20:4 Derbe, (b-26) Or 'Gaius of Derbe and Timotheus.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:1-38

Third Missionary Journey (continued)1-6. Paul in Macedonia and Greece. St. Paul waited at Ephesus until the return of Timothy and Erastus, and left Ephesus shortly after Pentecost, 55 a.d. (1 Corinthians 16:8-12). We learn from Romans 15:19 that he spent some time in Macedonia, and extended his missionary labours (which were marked by signal miracles) as far as Illyricum. From Macedonia he wrote the second Corinthian Epistle, and (according to a widely held opinion) the Epistle to the... read more