John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 16:8

"But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;" — 1 Corinthians 16:8 (ASV)

I will remain. From this statement I have argued above that this epistle was sent from Ephesus, rather than from Philippi. For the probability is that the Apostle speaks of the place where he was at the time, and not of a place that would require him to make a long circuit to reach. Furthermore, in passing through Macedonia, it would have been necessary to leave Corinth when already near it, and cross the sea to reach Ephesus.

He accordingly tells them beforehand that he will remain at Ephesus until Pentecost, adding the reason—so that they might wait for him more patiently. Erasmus has preferred to render it—until the fiftieth day, influenced by frivolous conjectures rather than by any solid argument. He objects that there was not yet any day of Pentecost appointed among Christians as it is now celebrated; and this I grant.

Erasmus argues that Pentecost here should not be understood as referring to the Jewish solemnity, because in various instances Paul annuls and condemns the superstitious observance of days (Galatians 4:10; Romans 14:5; Colossians 2:16–17). However, I do not concede to him that Paul celebrated that day at Ephesus because he was influenced by a superstitious regard for the day. Rather, it was because there would be a larger assembly at that time, and he hoped that this would present an opportunity for him to propagate the gospel.

Thus, when Paul was hastening to Jerusalem, he stated that the reason for his haste was that he might arrive there at Pentecost (Acts 20:16). While others presented themselves there to sacrifice according to the ritual of the law, he himself had another objective: that his ministry might be more effective in proportion to the size of the attendance.

It would be, however, an excessively poor interpretation to understand Paul here as simply specifying fifty days. Besides, when he expressly says τὴν πεντηκοστήν (the Pentecost), he must be understood as speaking of a particular day. Regarding this festival, see Leviticus 23:16.