Acts 20:16
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. 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.
The same haste for Pentecost had already cut short an earlier stay in Ephesus, when teaching in the synagogue had made a favorable impression and the Jews urged him to remain, yet he could not prolong his work there but promised to return and left Aquila and Priscilla to carry on what he had begun. On the later voyage this meant determining to sail southward from Assos by Ephesus, the city of his long labors, rather than spend time in Asia, lest any delay keep him from Jerusalem.
Though he greatly desired to visit the Ephesian church to give important instruction and counsel, he relinquished that purpose on consideration because any delay in Asia might make it impossible to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost. When his ship was briefly detained at Miletus and he learned he could meet them before it sailed, he sent for the elders of Ephesus to travel thirty miles to him in order to secure at least a few hours with the men on whom the prosperity of the church must largely depend. He was hurrying because he hasted to be at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if it were possible for him.
He had first hoped to reach Jerusalem before Passover, when people from many regions would gather, but gave up that hope and now hoped to arrive by Pentecost. A plot against his life forced him to change his route and travel by way of Macedonia, which cost him the Passover plan. The resulting delay also kept him from being in Jerusalem during a riot connected with an Egyptian impostor claiming to be the Messiah, where he might have been falsely accused of causing the violence.
He greatly desired to arrive in time for the feast to meet people come from all parts of the world, with a continual hope of sharing the gospel with his unbelieving countrymen and removing their prejudice so they would accept its light. He also desired to meet the church at Jerusalem, to deliver to the poor believers in Judea the liberal gifts donated by the Gentile churches, and thereby to strengthen unity and bring about firmer Christian union between Jewish and Gentile converts.