After having answered the Corinthians’ question(s) concerning the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1–4), Paul goes on to share his travel plans. Before he preached the gospel in Corinth for the first time, he had been in Macedonia (a province just north of the province of Achaia, where Corinth was situated). There he had preached the gospel in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (Acts 16:1 – 17:34).

Since that time about three years have passed, three years during which Paul was hindered from visiting the young Macedonian churches (1 Thessalonians 2:17–18). By now he firmly intends to pass through Macedonia.