Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When he had spent three months there (poihsav mhnav treiv). Literally, "having done three months," the same idiom in 14:33; Acts 18:23; James 5:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul's work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it.
And a plot was laid against him by the Jews (genomenhv epiboulhv autw upo twn Ioudaiwn). Genitive absolute, "a plot by the Jews having come against him." Epiboulh is an old word for a plot against one. In the N.T. only in Acts (Acts 9:24; Acts 20:3, Acts 20:19; Acts 23:30). Please note that this plot is by the Jews, not the Judaizers whom Paul discusses so vehemently in 2Co. 10-13. They had given Paul much anguish of heart as is shown in I Cor. and in 2Co. 1-7, but that trouble seems now past. It is Paul's old enemies in Corinth who had cherished all these years their defeat at the hands of Gallio (Acts 18:5-17) who now took advantage of Paul's plans for departure to compass his death if possible.
As he was about to set sail for Syria (mellonti anagesqai eiv thn Surian). The participle mellonti agrees in case (dative) with autw. For the sense of intending see also verse Acts 20:13. Anagesqai (present middle infinitive) is the common word for putting out to sea (going up, they said, from land) as in Acts 13:13.
He determined (egeneto gnwmhv). The best MSS. here read gnwmhv (predicate ablative of source like epilusewv, II Peter 1:20, Robertson, Grammar, p. 514), not gnwmh (nominative). "He became of opinion." The Jews had heard of Paul's plan to sail for Syria and intended in the hurly-burly either to kill him at the docks in Cenchreae or to push him overboard from the crowded pilgrim ship bound for the passover. Fortunately Paul learned of their plot and so eluded them by going through Macedonia. The Codex Bezae adds here that "the Spirit bade him return into Macedonia."
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 20:3:
Luke 8:22
Acts 9:24
Acts 10:25
Acts 20:3
Acts 20:18
Acts 27:1
Romans 15:19
1 Corinthians 16:6
2 Corinthians 13:13
Philippians 1:1
Philippians 2:22
2 Peter 1:20
Revelation 13:5
Revelation 17:13
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