Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Corinthians 8:17

"For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord." — 2 Corinthians 8:17 (ASV)

For indeed he accepted the exhortation . . .—The words have a twofold purpose:—

1. To show that Titus was authorized by the Apostle, and acting at his request;
2. that he was so eager to go that he did not even need to be requested.

The tense, “he went,” is what is known as the epistolary aorist. Titus was to start, probably, as the bearer of this letter.