Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to lose time in Asia; he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if he possibly could, by the day of Pentecost.
In context
14When he met us at Assos we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we came the next day opposite Chios; the day after we crossed to Samos, and the day after that we reached Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to lose time in Asia; he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if he possibly could, by the day of Pentecost. 17From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18When they arrived he said to them: “You know how I lived among you the whole time, from the first day I set foot in Asia:
