The apostle had now for some time had been contemplating another missionary journey. He "purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome." In harmony with this plan "he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus;" but feeling that the cause in Ephesus still demanded his presence, he decided to remain until after Pentecost. An event soon occurred, however, which hastened his departure.

Apostlen havde nu i nogen tid haft en ny missionsrejse under overvejelse. Han "bestemte sig i Ånden til at rejse gennen Makedonien og Akaja og så drage til Jerusalem, idet han sagde: "Når jeg har været dér, bør jeg også besøge Rom." Så sendte han to af sine hjælpere, Timoteus og Erastus, til Makedonien;" men da han forstod, at arbejdet i Efesus stadig krævede hans nærværelse, besluttede han at blive der til efter pinse. Men der skete snart noget, som fremskyndede hans afrejse.