PAUL RETURNS TO JERUSALEM

Acts 18:18-22 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Having overcome a Jewish insurrection and successfully contending with the pagan idolatrous society of Corinth; having preached the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus to all in that city who would hear, believe, and obey the will of God; having established a church of Christ made up of both believing Jews and Gentiles that submitted to water baptism for the remission of their sins, Paul then took his leave of the (Corinthian) brethren. From verse 21 we understand that the true intent of his departure was to keep this feast (probably the Jewish Passover) that cometh in Jerusalem.

As we begin reading in this chapter we are assured that a long-lasting relationship developed between Paul and the godly husband and wife, Aquila and Priscilla, who became, and remained, his fellow laborers in Christ. They accompanied Paul as he departed Corinth, and sailed with him a few miles easterly to the seacoast town of Cenchrea. We read of this town in Paul's letter to the Christians of Rome. It was a town in which a church of Christ was founded, and the home of Phebe, a dearly beloved sister in Christ (Rom. 16:1). For some reason, that is not explained more fully, but is much debated by bible scholars, Paul, in this town of Cenchrea, shaved his head for he had a vow. Whether this was the Nazarite vow or some other Jewish inspired vow, no clear description is given. However, it can be reasonably presumed that he did this in order to appease and gain the acceptance of his Jewish brethren.

Without compromising the gospel of Christ, Paul often did what was necessary and expedient in order to gain the confidence of those to whom he preached - in order for them to accept, believe, and obey his Holy Spirit-inspired word of God (See 1 Cor. 9:19-23). This serves as a great example to all Christians as we attempt to reach every soul possible and teach them God's plan of salvation through Christ Jesus. Although there was no New Testament requirement for him to do so, Paul probably consented to having his head shaved in order to reach and teach his Jewish brethren the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

From Cenchrea, Paul, along with Priscilla and Aquila, sailed thence into Syria, ...(and) came to Ephesus. It was there in Ephesus that Paul left Priscilla and Aquila, whom he referred to as his helpers in Christ Jesus (Rom. 16:3), to serve the spiritual needs of all in this city, who had open and receptive hearts to the gospel call of salvation. It seems that Paul remained in Ephesus for a very a few days. However, he, in his usual manner of teaching the word of God (See Acts 17:1-2), entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews, not as one observing the Jewish laws of worship, but as a chosen messenger of Christ to preach the gospel of salvation to them. And having done so, those present did not rise up in a riotous manner of rebellion against him, as had been done on many similar occasions in the past, but they desired him to tarry longer time with them. It appeared that they sincerely wanted to hear the New Testament doctrine of Christ Jesus. No doubt this is one reason that Paul urged Priscilla and Aquila to remain at Ephesus. However, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem. With this promise: I will return again unto you, if God will, it seemed that Paul fully intended to return to Ephesus at some time in the future to continue teaching the word of God.

And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, (that is, gone up to Jerusalem) and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. It seems as if Paul used this occasion to report the effectiveness, progress, and the establishment of churches of Christ that resulted from his teaching to both Jews and Gentiles in the Roman provinces and cities of Greece and Asia Minor.