Paul made a quick stop at Ephesus, the most important city in the Roman province of Asia. There he left the others behind, including Priscilla and Aquila (see 18:26).
He sailed to Judea, landing at Caesarea, the headquarters of the Roman forces of occupation. After a visit to the church at Jerusalem, Paul returned to Antioch, the church that had originally commissioned him. This marked the end of his second missionary journey.
In Antioch, he spent valuable time reporting what God had done through him and those who ministered with him. He shared the excitement and challenges of their work with the home church.
After some time, Paul began his third mission journey. He traveled by land through Galatia and Phrygia, again visiting Christians he had led to faith in Christ on his previous trips. It was important to him that these new believers did not lose their way or abandon their faith (see Ephesians 6:10–20; 1 Timothy 1:18–20; 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:10).