Acts 20:16

¹⁴ And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.

¹⁵ Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷ From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

¹⁸ When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
KJV: For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
WEB: For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
ASV: For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
DARBY: for Paul thought it desirable to sail by Ephesus, so that he might not be made to spend time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.
BLB: For Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus, so that it might not come upon him to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it was possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

ÅB: For Paulus hadde satt seg fore å seile Efesus forbi, så han ikke skulle bli heftet i Asia; for han hastet for å nå fram til Jerusalem til pinsedag, om det var ham mulig.
OTB: Paulus hadde bestemt seg for å seile forbi Efesos for å unngå å bruke tid i Asia, ettersom han skyndte seg for å nå Jerusalem, om mulig, til pinsedagen.
B1930: For Paulus hadde satt sig fore å seile Efesus forbi, så han ikke skulde bli heftet i Asia; for han hastet for å nå frem til Jerusalem til pinsedag, om det var ham mulig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
Read in context
Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Read in context
Acts 19:21
After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
Read in context
Acts 20:6
And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Read in context
Acts 18:21
But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
Read in context
Acts 21:4
We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Read in context
Acts 18:19
When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
Read in context
Romans 15:24–28
I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
Read in context