SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:19
Y llegó a Efeso, y los dejó allí: y él entrando en la sinagoga, disputó con los judíos,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:19
Verse 19. He came to Ephesus] Where it appears he spent but one Sabbath. It is supposed that Paul left Aquila and Priscilla at this place, and that he went on alone to Jerusalem; for it is certain they were at Ephesus when Apollos arrived there. See ver. 24, 26. EPHESUS was at the time in which St. Paul visited it, one of the most flourishing cities of Asia Minor. It was situated in that part anciently called Ionia, but now Natolia. It abounded with the most eminent orators, philosophers, &c., in the world; and was adorned with the most splendid buildings. Here was that famous temple of Diana, reputed one of the seven wonders of the world. This city is now under the dominion of the Turks, and is in a state of almost entire ruin. The temple of Minerva, which had long served as a Christian church, is now so completely ruined that its site cannot be easily determined; though some ruins of the walls are still standing, with five or six marble columns, forty feet in length, and seven in diameter, all of one piece. It still has a good harbour, and is about forty miles from Smyrna. In Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor, some curious information is given concerning this once eminent city. His account concludes thus: "The Ephesians are now a few Greek peasants, living in extreme wretchedness, dependence, and insensibility: the representative of an illustrious people, and inhabiting the wrecks of their greatness: some beneath the vaults of the Stadium, once the crowded scene of their diversions; and some live by the abrupt precipice, in the sepulchres which received the ashes of their ancestors. Such are the present citizens of Ephesus; and such is the condition to which that renowned city has been gradually reduced. Its streets are obscured and overgrown; a herd of goats was driven to it for shelter from the sun at noon; and a noisy flight of crows from the quarries seemed to insult its silence. We heard the partridge call in the area of the theater, and of the Stadium.
The glorious pomp of its heathen worship is no longer remembered; and Christianity, which was there nursed by apostles, and fostered by general councils, until it increased to fullness of stature, barely lingers on, in an existence hardly visible." Travels in Asia Minor, p. 130. Reader! This city was once the capital of Asia Minor; and its ruins alone prove that it has existed: and it was one of those seven Churches to which a letter was expressly dictated by Jesus Christ himself! Ephesus is properly no more! and the Church of Ephesus is blotted put of the map of Christianity! Be silent and adore.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. And he came to Ephesus , etc.] The metropolis of Asia; according to Pliny f940 , it had been called by many names; at the time of the Trojan war, Alopes, then Ortygia and Morges, also Smyrna Trachea, Samornion and Prelea, and which he calls the work of the Amazons: some say it was called Ephesus, because Hercules permitted the Amazons to dwell in it, Ephesus in the Greek language signifying “permission”; Pausanias f942 denies, that the famous temple in it was built by them, but by Ephesus the son of Caystrus, and says that from him the city had its name; though others say it was built by Androclus, the son of Codrus, king of Athens, in the time of David king of Israel; and that having suffered by the sea, it was rebuilt by Lysimachus king of Thrace, who called it after his wife’s name Arsinoe; but he being dead, it was called by its ancient name Ephesus: it is now a poor village in the hands of the Turks, and with them goes by the name of Aiasalik; though with others it still has the name of Epheso; the Syriac version reads, “they came”; not only Paul, but Aquila and Priscilla; and certain it is that they came with him thither, since it follows, and left them there ; unless this is to be understood of Cenchrea: this clause is not here read in the Syriac version, but is placed at the end of ( Acts 18:21), where it reads much better; as that he should leave them at Ephesus, when he departed from thence, than when he first came thither; unless the sense is, that he left them in some part of the city, whilst he went to the Jewish synagogue; since it follows, but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews ; concerning Jesus being the Messiah, and the abrogation of the law; and the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law: which were the principal things in debate, between him and the Jews: Beza’s ancient copy reads, “and the sabbath following he left them there”.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-23 - While Paul found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. Ou times are in God's hand; we purpose, but he disposes; therefore we mus make all promises with submission to the will of God; not only i providence permits, but if God does not otherwise direct our motions. very good refreshment it is to a faithful minister, to have for awhil the society of his brethren. Disciples are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to strengthen them, be directing them to Christ, who is their Strength. Let us earnestly seek in our several places, to promote the cause of Christ, forming plan that appear to us most proper, but relying on the Lord to bring them to pass if he sees good.
Greek Textus Receptus
κατηντησεν 2658 5656 V-AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ εις 1519 PREP εφεσον 2181 N-ASF κακεινους 2548 D-APM-C κατελιπεν 2641 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτου 847 ADV αυτος 846 P-NSM δε 1161 CONJ εισελθων 1525 5631 V-2AAP-NSM εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF συναγωγην 4864 N-ASF διελεχθη 1256 5675 V-AOI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM ιουδαιοις 2453 A-DPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:19 {Came} (katentesan). Came down, as usual in speaking of coming to land (#16:1). {To Ephesus} (eis efeson). this great city on the Cayster, the capital of the Province of Asia, the home of the worship of Diana (Artemis) with a wonderful temple, Paul at last had reached, though forbidden to come on the way out on this tour (#16:6). Here Paul will spend three years after his return from Jerusalem. {He left them there} (kakeinous katelipen autou). That is, Priscilla and Aquila he left (second aorist active indicative) here (autou). But Luke mentions the departure by way of anticipation before he actually went away (verse #21). {But he himself} (autos de). Paul again the leading person in the narrative. On this occasion he may have gone alone into the synagogue. {He reasoned} (dielexato). Luke's favorite word for Paul's synagogue discourses (#17:2,17; 18:4 which see) as also #19:8,9.
