Shielded by the state, Paul remains in Corinth for some time. Eventually, in full fellowship he left (better "said farewell to") the brothers and, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, sails for Syria. This refers either to his final destination or to eastern territory that included Judea.

At Corinth's eastern port city, Cenchrea, seven miles southeast, Paul cuts his hair, signaling the beginning of the end of a Nazirite vow (Num 6; m. Nazir). Evidently he had begun this vow after either the Macedonian or Corinthian vision, as a sign of earnest beseeching of the Lord for success in the mission to which Paul had been called (Acts 16:9-10; 18:9-10). Now in thanksgiving Paul ends the vow and thus recognizes that the Lord made good on his promises. In our life of faith we too may be confident that what God calls us to do he will enable us to complete (Phil 1:6).

The first leg of Paul's journey involves a flying visit to Ephesus, politically and economically the leading city in the province of Asia—in fact the third largest city in the Roman Empire (population 250,000 plus; see comment at 11:19 on Syrian Antioch, the second largest city in the Empire). Jews had been resident there since early Hellenistic times. Quite a number had Roman citizenship, and the Romans upheld the Jews' rights consistently from Augustus onward (Josephus Antiquities 14.228-30, 234, 236-40; 16.162-66, 171-73; see Stern 1974:152). Though Paul receives a positive response to his synagogue preaching (dialegomai, 17:2, 17; 18:4; see note at 17:2)—he is asked to stay longer—he makes a hasty departure. Though the time is short, perhaps he is still intent on getting to Jerusalem by Passover. The sea lanes opened on March 10, and in A.D. 52 Passover was in early April (Bruce 1988:356). Or he is hurrying there to complete his vow. In any case, he expresses his intention to return if it is God's will (18:21; Rom 1:10; 15:32; 1 Cor 4:19; 16:7).

Here Paul and we learn that personal desires and divine guidance so interact that all our planning will be implemented only if it is part of God's sovereign design. This makes us at once more flexible and more confident as we face our future, and more thankful as we reflect on our past.

In a very abbreviated fashion Luke describes Paul's arrival at Caesarea, his "going up" and "coming down" from Jerusalem (8:15; 11:2; 25:1, 6-7) after greeting the church there, and his return to Antioch (compare 14:26-27). Paul models considerate communication, promoting the unity of the body and the continuity of the mission. Today too, the stability of the gospel's advance will be only as strong as the lines of communication with praying and supporting sending churches.