Acts 18:19-21

Ephesus was the capital and chief commercial center of the province of Asia. [Note: See Cole, pp. 25-30.] At this time it boasted a population of between 200,000 and 250,000 and was the largest city of Asia Minor. [Note: Witherington, p. 563.] It stood near the coast of the Aegean Sea. Priscilla and Aquila remained in Ephesus, but Paul moved on to Syria after he had done some evangelism in the synagogue. The openness of the Jews to Paul’s preaching there encouraged him to return. Paul’s reference to God’s will (Acts 18:21) reminds us again that he subordinated his plans to the Lord’s leading in his life. The phrase translated "if God wills" was well known among Jews and Gentiles in Paul’s day. Both groups used it but with different gods in view. [Note: Ibid., p. 558.]