Acts 17:15

Conducted. Apparently the entire care and direction of Paul’s journey was in the hands of the Bereans, rather than in his. They personally accompanied him on the journey, thus ensuring his safety.

Unto Athens. The apostle probably had planned to go on foot through Macedonia into Greece, but the unexpected crisis caused abandonment of the plan, and he took direct passage to Athens (see Paul’s Second Missionary Tour; see on v. 16). There he could safely await his fellow missionaries. He may have planned to wait without preaching, but his ardent, evangelistic spirit was roused by the sights he saw in Athens.

With all speed. Or, “as quickly as possible.” Those who had conducted Paul to Athens were sent back to Beroea with instructions to have Timothy and Silas join the apostle immediately. There is reason to think that Paul could not easily travel or work alone because of his infirmities (cf. on ch. 9:18). He wanted the presence of his faithful companions that he might promptly set about his work. In 1 Thess. 3:1,2 is an implication that Timothy, at least, came to Athens. Apparently soon afterward Paul sent him back to care for the Thessalonian converts. From Athens, Paul went to Corinth (Acts 18:1), where Silas and Timothy later joined him (v. 5).

They departed. That is, the Bereans who had taken Paul to Athens. For the first time in his major missionary journeys, the apostle is left without the companionship of fellow workers.