Paul's Journeys Through Macedonia and Greece
Acts 20:1-6
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Acts.20.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μετα: PREP,acc
- δε: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- παυσασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θορυβον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μεταπεμψαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- παρακαλεσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ασπασαμενος: PART,aor,mid,nom,sg,m
- εξηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- πορευεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- εις: PREP
- Μακεδονιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 19:30-31 (verbal): Both passages describe an uproar/riot (Greek θόρυβος) and the disturbance surrounding Paul's ministry, with a subsequent calming or resolution that permits movement afterward.
- Acts 14:21-22 (verbal): After missionary activity Paul (and companions) 'strengthened' and 'exhorted' the disciples (Greek παρακαλέω), paralleling Acts 20:1's report that Paul encouraged the believers before departing.
- Acts 18:23 (thematic): Describes Paul traveling through regions and 'strengthening' the churches—a recurring pattern of itinerant movement combined with exhortation that echoes Paul’s departure to Macedonia in 20:1.
- Acts 16:9-10 (thematic): Records Paul’s earlier call and journey into Macedonia; Acts 20:1 resumes the Macedonian itinerary motif—Paul’s strategic movements between regions of mission work.
- Acts 20:4 (structural): Immediate companion verse in the same travel narrative listing those who accompanied Paul to Macedonia, reinforcing the travel and communal context of 20:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the uproar had ceased, Paul gathered the disciples, embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
- When the uproar had ceased, Paul called for the disciples; and after he had encouraged them and embraced them, he departed for Macedonia.
Acts.20.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διελθων: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- μερη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εκεινα: DEM,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- παρακαλεσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- πολλω: ADV
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Ελλαδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 18:23 (verbal): Summary formula: Paul 'passed through the region and strengthened all the disciples' — language and purpose (exhorting/strengthening believers) closely parallels Acts 20:2's 'exhorted them with many words.'
- Acts 14:21-22 (thematic): After initial preaching Paul and Barnabas 'returned, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith' — the pastoral motif of revisiting and exhorting converts mirrors Acts 20:2's activity.
- Acts 15:41 (verbal): Luke's travel summary: Barnabas and Paul 'went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches' — a similar itinerant ministry formula emphasizing confirmation/exhortation of churches.
- Acts 16:6-10 (structural): Account of Paul’s travel decisions leading into Macedonia (and thus Greece) — parallels the travel-framework and the movement of the missionary journey that culminates in Paul arriving in Greece in Acts 20:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- He went through those regions, encouraging the disciples with many words, and came into Greece.
- He passed through those regions, exhorting them with many words.
Acts.20.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ποιησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- τε: CONJ
- μηνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τρεις·γενομενης: NUM,acc,pl,m+VERB,aor,mid,ptc,gen,f,sg
- επιβουλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- υπο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ιουδαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- μελλοντι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,dat,m,sg
- αναγεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Συριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- γνωμης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υποστρεφειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- δια: PREP
- Μακεδονιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 9:23-25 (verbal): Describes an earlier plot by the Jews against Paul in Damascus and his escape — a close verbal and narrative parallel of Jewish hostility forcing Paul to change travel plans.
- 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 (allusion): Paul's later autobiographical reference to the Damascus episode (being let down in a basket) alludes to the same pattern of Jewish plots that shaped his movements.
- Acts 17:13-15 (thematic): Reports Jewish agitation in Thessalonica and Berea that led the believers to send Paul away by sea — thematically parallel in hostile Jewish opposition prompting Paul’s departure/route changes.
- Acts 21:27-33 (thematic): A later Jerusalem scene where Jews stir up the crowd and bring about Paul's arrest; thematically similar as Jewish opposition repeatedly produces threats to Paul's travel and safety.
Alternative generated candidates
- He remained there three months. But when a plot was formed against him by some Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he resolved to return through Macedonia.
- Then he came into Greece and remained three months. But when a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to sail for Syria, he resolved to return through Macedonia.
Acts.20.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- συνειπετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- Σωπατρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Πυρρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Βεροιαιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Θεσσαλονικεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- Αρισταρχος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σεκουνδος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Γαιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Δερβαιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Τιμοθεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Ασιανοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- Τυχικος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Τροφιμος·: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 19:29 (verbal): Names Gaius and Aristarchus as 'men of Macedonia' and Paul's companions seized during the Ephesian uproar, showing these individuals repeatedly appear as Paul's traveling companions.
- Acts 21:29 (verbal): Identifies Trophimus the Ephesian being with Paul in the temple—an explicit later appearance of one of the men listed in Acts 20:4 and linked to the Jerusalem controversy.
- Colossians 4:7-10 (verbal): Pauls' letters mention Tychicus and Aristarchus as trusted coworkers (Aristarchus called a fellow prisoner; Tychicus a faithful minister), paralleling their identification as companions in Acts 20:4.
- Ephesians 6:21 (verbal): Mentions Tychicus as a faithful brother and messenger whom Paul sends to inform the Ephesian church—corresponds to Tychicus' role and origin noted in Acts 20:4 ('Asiaean Tychicus').
- Acts 16:1-3 (verbal): Introduces Timothy (from Lystra) and his early relationship with Paul; Acts 20:4's mention of Timothy continues this portrait of Timothy as a close companion and co-worker of Paul.
Alternative generated candidates
- Accompanying him were Sopater of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
- He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, son of Pyrrhus; by Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; by Gaius of Derbe; by Timothy; and by Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia—these had gone on ahead, to wait for us at Troas.
Acts.20.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- προσελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εμενον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- Τρωαδι·: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 20:4 (structural): Immediate context: lists the companions who accompany Paul and are the ones who ‘went on ahead’ to Troas referenced in 20:5.
- Acts 20:6-7 (structural): Direct continuation of the same episode: records arrival at Troas, the seven-day stay, and the meetings there (filling out what v.5 begins).
- Acts 16:8-11 (thematic): Earlier travel narrative involving Troas: Paul and companions come to Troas after the Macedonian vision and then sail from Troas into Europe—Troas as a recurring staging point in missionary travel.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 (thematic): Paul’s later reference to coming to Troas to preach the gospel and finding an open door echoes Acts’ portrayal of Troas as a significant location in his ministry.
Alternative generated candidates
- These went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.
- They went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.
Acts.20.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δε: CONJ
- εξεπλευσαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- μετα: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αζυμων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- απο: PREP
- Φιλιππων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ηλθομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- προς: PREP
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Τρωαδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αχρι: PREP
- ημερων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- πεντε: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- διετριψαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
Parallels
- Luke 22:1 (thematic): Mentions that the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) was near—provides the same calendrical framework as Acts 20:6's reference to 'after the days of Unleavened Bread.'
- Acts 20:7 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: Acts 20:6's report that they stayed seven days in Troas is followed by Acts 20:7's account of meeting on the first day of the week—shows the significance of the seven-day stay and the timing of their assembly.
- Acts 16:11 (verbal): Describes sailing from Troas and the short sea voyages between ports ('setting sail from Troas we ran a straight course to Samothrace...'), paralleling the travel-mode and the brief, day-counted legs of journeys like the five-day sail to Troas in Acts 20:6.
- Acts 21:1 (thematic): Gives a later example of Paul’s sea itinerary with named ports and stages of travel; parallels Acts 20:6 in illustrating the pattern of coastal sailing and multi-day stopovers on Pauline journeys.
Alternative generated candidates
- We sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
- We sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
When the uproar had ceased, Paul summoned the disciples, embraced them, and set out for Macedonia.
Having passed through those regions and given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
He remained there three months. As he was preparing to sail for Syria, a plot by some Jews against him became known, so he resolved to return through Macedonia.
Sopater son of Pyrrhus of Berea accompanied him; also Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
These men went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.
We sailed from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and, in five days, came to them at Troas; there we stayed seven days.