1 II 13, VII 6 f., 13 f., VIII 6 f., 16-24, XII 18.
286 The Voyage to Jerusalem. Chap. XIII.
loving and tender sympathy of Paul's language about him we may read a wish to compensate for the neglect that had during many years sacrificed him to the thankless policy of conciliating the Jews.
The importance of Titus in subsequent years confirms the impression derived from II Cor. He seems to have remained in Europe when Paul went to Jerusalem in March 57. At a later time he was sent to Dalmatia, II Tim. IV 10; and near the end of Paul's career he was entrusted with the general oversight of the Churches in Crete, Tit. I 5.
Paul spent the summer and autumn of 56 in Macedonia. He found Timothy waiting him either in Thessalonica or in Bercea ; and they joined in addressing the second letter to the Corinthians, enforcing in a more personal way the instructions already sent through the three envoys who had come from Philippi. The common view (which is as old as the subscription added in some MSS. to the letter), that the envoys carried with them II Cor., seems improbable. In winter Paul went on to Hellas (the Greek term for the country forming the main part of the Roman province), and spent December, January, and February in Corinth.
2. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE FOUR PRO VINCES. (3) AND WHEN HE HAD SPENT THREE MONTHS, AND A PLOT WAS LAID AGAINST HIM BY THE JEWS WHILE HE WAS ON THE POINT OF SETTING SAIL FOR SYRIA, HE ADOPTED THE PLAN OF MAKING HIS RETURN JOURNEY to Jerusalem THROUGH MACEDONIA.
(4) and THERE accompanied him on the journey to
Jerusalem SOPATER, SON OF PYRRHUS OF BERCEA, AND
on the part of the thessalonians aristarchus and
Sec. 2. Contribution of the Four Provinces. 287
SECUNDUS, AND GAIUS OF DERBE AND TIMOTHY, AND THE ASIANS TYCHICUS AND TROPHIMUS (NOW THESE Asian delegates, COMING TO MEET US, AWAITED US IN TROAS). (5) AND WE SAILED AWAY FROM PHILIPPI AFTER THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, AND CAME UNTO THEM TO TROAS.
At the opening of navigation, Paul had arranged to sail from Corinth to Jerusalem, obviously with the inten- tion of celebrating the Passover there ; but the discovery of a Jewish plot to kill him altered his plans. The style of this plot can be easily imagined. Paul's in- tention must have been to take a pilgrim ship carrying Achaian and Asian Jews to the Passover (p. 264). With a shipload of hostile Jews, it would be easy to find opportunity to murder Paul. He therefore aban- doned the proposed voyage and sailed for Macedonia, where he easily arrived in time to celebrate the Pass- over in Philippi.
It is clear that the plot was discovered at the last moment, when delegates from the Churches had already assembled. The European delegates were to sail from Corinth, the Asian from Ephesus, where doubtless the pilgrim ship would call (as in 53, p. 264). When the plan was changed, word was sent to the Asian delegates ; and they went as far as Troas to meet the others, for in ancient voyages it could be calculated with certainty that Paul's company would put in at that harbour.
The purpose of this numerous company is not stated in this part of the text ; but in XXIV 17, Paul says : " I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings," and the reason is often alluded to in the Epistles to
288 The Voyage to Jerusalem. Chap. XIII.
Corinth and Rome. In Rom. XV 25, written from Corinth about Jan. 57, Paul says : "Now I go unto Jerusalem, acting as an administrator of relief to the saints ". The scheme of a general contribution collected week by week for a long time in all the Pauline Churches of Galatia, Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia, has been well described by Mr. Rendall {Expositor, Nov. 1893, p. 321). The great importance which Paul attached to this contribution,' and to the personal distribution of the fund (Sia/covta), is attested, not merely by the long and careful planning of the scheme, and by the numerous body of delegates who carried it to Jerusalem, but also by his determination to conduct the delegates personally, in spite of all the dangers which, as he knew, awaited him there : "I go con- strained by the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing what shall befall me there, save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me ". It is evident that he thought this scheme the crowning act of his work in these four provinces ; and as soon as it was over, his purpose was to go to Rome and the West (p. 255), and cease for the time his work in the Eastern provinces (XX 25).