Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
I shall return (anakamyw). Future active indicative of anakamptw, old verb to bend back, turn back (Matthew 2:2).
If God will (tou qeou qelontov). Genitive absolute of present active participle. This expression (ean with subjunctive) occurs also in I Corinthians 4:19; I Corinthians 16:7; James 4:15. Such phrases were common among Jews, Greeks, and Romans, and are today. It is simply a recognition that we are in God's hands. The Textus Receptus has here a sentence not in the best MSS.: "I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem." This addition by D and other documents may have been due to a desire to give a reason for the language in verse Acts 18:22 about "going up" to Jerusalem. Whether Paul said it or not, it was in the spring when he made this journey with a company of pilgrims probably going to the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem. We know that later Paul did try to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:16) and succeeded. As the ship was leaving, Paul had to go, but with the hope of returning soon to Ephesus as he did.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 18:21:
Luke 8:22
Acts 5:12
Acts 18:18
Acts 18:19
Acts 19:1
1 Corinthians 4:19
1 Corinthians 16:7
Hebrews 6:3
James 4:15
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