Acts 41. Acts 20:1-38
Even before the silversmiths’ riot, Paul had planned to leave Ephesus and go to Jerusalem (see 19:21). Although Luke barely mentions the reason (see 24:17), we know that Paul’s chief errand was to deliver money collected from his Gentile churches as a gift to the poor believers in Jerusalem (see Romans 15:25-33; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1–9:15). To gather this money, Paul intended to visit the churches in Macedonia and Achaia—in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. From Acts 19:21, Romans 1:8-15, and Romans 15:17-33, we also know that Paul was already convinced he “must visit Rome also” and that he hoped to bring the gospel to Spain thereafter. Luke tells us little of what Paul did after he left Ephesus and before he reached Greece (see 20:2), but Paul’s letters fill in some details. While in Ephesus, Paul learned of a dispute in the Corinthian church. He sent two letters to settle the strife (one is lost - referred to in I Corinthians 5:9. ; the o...