“Et descendens Cæsaream, ascendit, et salutavit ecclesiam, et descendit Antiochiam.”
“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.”
“When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.”
“When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.”
“And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch.”
He went up. To Jerusalem is most probably understood, that being the chief object of St. Paul’s journey. It seems rather extraordinary that St. Luke should have omitted the express mention of the city. But having told us his object was to be at Jerusalem, he perhaps thought it was enough to say, he went up. (Calmet) — In Palestine, the expression, to go up, was sometimes taken for going up to Jerusalem. (John vii. 8. 10; John xii. 20; Acts xxiv. 11) And reciprocally in Acts chap. xxiv. 1. to go down, is taken for going down from Jerusalem to Cæsarea. (Bible de Vence) — He went up. In the Scripture, when Antioch and Cæsarea are simply mentioned, Antioch, in Syria, and Cæsarea, in Palestine, are uniformly designated. — To Cæsarea, not in Cappadocia, but in Palestine, from whence he went up to Jerusalem, and then down to Antioch, in Syria. (Witham)
Verses 18-23 While Paul found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. Our times are in God's hand; we purpose, but he disposes; therefore we must make all promises with submission to the will of God; not only if providence permits, but if God does not otherwise direct our motions. A very good refreshment it is to a faithful minister, to have for awhile the society of his brethren. Disciples are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to strengthen them, by directing them to Christ, who is their Strength. Let us earnestly seek, in our several places, to promote the cause of Christ, forming plans that appear to us most proper, but relying on the Lord to bring them to pass if he sees good.