Acts 20:2

Over those parts. Undoubtedly Paul wished to visit again the churches he had founded at Thessalonica and Beroea, as well as at Philippi. Paul doubtless followed the Roman road across Macedonia westward to the shores of the Adriatic, and proclaimed the gospel for the first time in Illyricum (see Rom. 15:19; cf. The Environs of Ephesus).

Greece. Gr. Hellas, Greece. Luke uses Hellas as synonyms with Achaia, the southern province. The journey brought Paul to Corinth, where there were many things to be set in order in the church. The believers there had already received his two epistles. In the first, sent from Ephesus, he had found it necessary to rebuke them for the partisan spirit shown in the church. Paul had also censured the disorders at the Lord’s Supper and had given his judgment against incest. The pastoral tasks confronting Paul would allow him little rest during his three-month stay in this area, even if all the time were spent in Corinth.

At Corinth, Paul may have missed seeing many of his friends. Claudius’ decree had either been revoked or was no longer enforced, and Aquila and Priscilla seem to have returned from Ephesus to Rome (cf. Acts 18:18, 19; Rom. 16:3). Doubtless others whom Paul had known in Corinth (see Rom. 16) had done likewise. All this would strengthen his earnest desire to go to Rome (Acts 19:21; Rom. 1:10, 11). Paul’s work in Greece was done, and he felt a more than human attraction drawing him westward. Therefore he contemplated making a rapid journey to Jerusalem for a short visit, and to leave the gifts from the Gentile churches, followed immediately by a journey to Rome and Spain (Rom. 15:24-28). The remainder of the book of Acts reveals how different a path was actually ahead of him.