Acts 20:1-6 - Speaking many words of encouragement

20:1-3

After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul left for Macedonia, and then to Greece. Along the way he encouraged the believers. Paul stayed in Greece for three months. Greece refers to Achaia which included Corinth. There was a plot from some Jews to kill Paul, so instead of going on to Syria he went back through Macedonia. Much of the early persecution of the Christians came from the Jews, and there were times when Paul would face up to danger, and times when he would seek to avoid it, in much the same way that Jesus did.

20:4-6

Paul had quite a number of companions with him. This is probably because he was taking the gift to the Jerusalem church, and several of these were representatives of various churches who had donated (2 Cor 8,9). Aristarchus is mentioned in Acts 19:29 and 27:2.  Gaius is named in Acts 19:29, Rom 16:23 and 1 Cor 1:14. Tychicus has several mentions elsewhere: Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Tim 4:12 and Tit 3:12. Trophimus is mentioned in Acts 21:29 and 2 Tim 4:20.