21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
Acts 19:21ff marks a strategic shift in Paul’s ministry. Luke would now narrate his ministry as it wound its way to Rome.
19:21
When these things were accomplished,
“These things” refers to the extraordinary miracles of the first 20 verses.
Paul purposed in the Spirit,
It is not clear whether the word “spirit” refers to Paul’s spirit or the Holy Spirit. It is probably the apostle’s spirit here, since he did the purposing.
when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem,
Paul proposed to visit Jerusalem after visiting Macedonia and Achaia. He would go to Jerusalem to provide funds for financially deprived believers there (Acts 24:17; 1 Co 16:1-4).
saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
Paul set his sight on reaching Rome and, ultimately, Spain (Ro 1:15; 15:22-24). Luke did not mention Paul’s plans for Spain because his purpose was to account for how the gospel reached Rome.
19:22
So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus,
The apostle Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia Greece, to prepare the way for his visit. Erastus appears also in Romans 16:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20.
but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
Paul stayed in Ephesus and Asia for a while (1 Co 16:8-9). His ministry of over two-and-a-half years in that city was ending.
PRINCIPLE:
The church should care for believers who suffer financial loss.
APPLICATION:
Paul met the financial poverty of believers in Jerusalem by collecting funds from churches in the Roman Empire (Ro 15:25-27; 1 Co 16:1-4; 2 Co 8-9). James affirmed this point in James 2:15-16.
