Acts 18:21

Bade them farewell. Rather, “took his leave of them.” Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of the words, “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but.” The words omitted are deemed an insertion suggested by ch. 20:16. Acceptance of the validity of the omission makes unnecessary a discussion of which Jewish feast this may have been. I will return. As soon as Paul had the opportunity, he redeemed his promise (ch. 19:1). If God will. Paul and James agreed in resting in the will of the Father as ordering all things well, even to their use of almost the same expression (cf. James 4:15). To them it was much more than the formula deo volente, “God willing,” that formerly was so frequently on the lips of Christians. For the demonstration of the will of God through the Spirit’s prevention of what Paul had expected to do see Acts 16:6, 7.