Welcome to chapter 20 of my Acts study. I’m so glad you’ve come. Today, traveling. Joy and sorrow and many towns in this chapter. Come study with me. Take care and be on guard.
Let’s Pray:
Lord Jesus, it’s difficult to read of these places in this day, knowing how they’ve changed since Paul and Silas and Timothy and Luke were alive and walking around them. So I’m asking, help us understand and help me focus on this present moment of study not what has come since. Help us take care of ourselves and be on guard at all times. I’m so glad and so thankful to have You lead. For Your Glory, Lord.
Please read Acts 20:1
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
1 After the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had encouraged them he told them goodbye, and set off to go to [a]Macedonia.
The uproar of the last chapter, remember? The near riot in the colosseum? The opposition to the faith? Yet, run, Paul did not, he sent for the disciples, the ones in Ephesus, and said goodbye first.
Please read Acts 20:2-6
2 After he had gone through those districts and had encouraged the believers, he came to Greece. 3 And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece). 4 He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and were waiting for us (including Luke) at Troas. 6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Always there is opposition. So instead of sailing for Syria (Antioch probably) he walked to Troas. I find it very kind that there were traveling companions. Even if some were sent ahead, they met up before they all left. He reached them in five days.
A Long Night of Worship
Please read Acts 20:7-12
7 Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight. 8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled, 9 and there was a young man named Eutychus (“Lucky”) sitting on the window sill. He was sinking into a deep sleep, and as Paul [b]kept on talking longer and longer, he was completely overcome by sleep and fell down from the third story; and he was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and threw himself on him and embraced him, and said [to those standing around him], “Do not be troubled, because [c]he is alive.” 11 When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked [informally and confidentially] with them for a long time—until daybreak [in fact]—and then he left. 12 They took the boy [Eutychus] home alive, and were greatly comforted and encouraged.
There is power in the Word. Jesus is our life and sustainer, that’s how Paul was able to talk all night and then travel. Focus on this though… that talk greatly comforted and encouraged the people. Granted, having the boy alive was also comfort and encouragement, but that isn’t all that did that. The Word was comforting and encouraging.
Please read Acts 20:13-16
Troas to Miletus
13 But we went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go [a shorter route] by land. 14 So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and sailed on to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus]. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of [d]Pentecost.
There must be a special something that happens in Jerusalem on Pentecost. It is after all, a festival, a celebration during the Feast of Weeks. It’s one of my favorite holidays to mark, I just haven’t quite figured out what to do to mark it. Maybe by the next one I’ll have more than just the menu planned.
When you hear the word Pentecost does it remind you of anything? Acts 2 perhaps? It’s a fulfilled holiday but still worth celebrating.
Please read Acts 20:17-18a
Farewell to Ephesus
17 However, from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to meet him there]. 18 And when they arrived he said to them:
I suppose to summon someone in that time, meant send a person to get them. Like Cornelius sent several men to get Peter back in Acts 10.
Please read Acts 20:18b-21
“You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now], 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me]; 20 [you know] how I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house, 21 solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation].
Urging them to turn in repentance for the forgiveness of sins that is the gift of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our salvation. He is our freedom. He is our strength and hope and constant companion. Have faith.
Compelled by the Spirit
Please read Acts 20:22-24
22 And now, compelled by the Spirit and obligated by my convictions, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. 24 But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].
What a goal! Testify faithfully of the good news of God’s precious and undeserved grace. That grace, is God not giving us what we deserve, but so much better of a gift because it frees us from guilt and grants us eternal life.
Please read Acts 20:25-27
25 “And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, [e]will see me again. 26 For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God.
The whole purpose and plan of God. Thank You, God for the book of Ephesians which is another way Paul shared this purpose and plan with that church and us.
Please read Acts 20:28
Take care and be on guard.
28 Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.
“But be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.” Jesus in Mark 13:23
“Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.” Jesus in Mark 13:33
Please read Acts 20:29-31
29 I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers]. 31 Therefore be continually alert, remembering that for three years, night or day, I did not stop admonishing and advising each one [of you] with tears.
This is why we must remain alert and on guard. The risks are great. Trust God. Focus on Jesus. Stay alert and on guard.
Commending them to God
Please read Acts 20:32
32 And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose—all believers].
Look what it is to be commended to God. He is our protection. He is our loving care. His word confers counsel and promises of His favor and that grace is able to build us up.
Please read Acts 20:33-35
33 I had no desire for anyone’s silver or gold or [expensive] clothes. 34 You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’”
What a wonderful reminder of all we have to be grateful for. All we have to have faith for. Encouraging messages all throughout it. So stay alert and be on guard.
So Grateful
Please read Acts 20:36-38
36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And [f]they began to weep openly and threw their arms around Paul’s neck, and repeatedly kissed him, 38 grieving and distressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
They will know we are Christians by our love. Look at the love and sorrow they have for Paul. Thank You Lord that Love is the command. Thank You, Lord, that there are many letters in the Bible by the hand of Paul. Thank You for the words in this chapter of faith and love and warning and protection. For the encouragement to stay alert and on guard. We are always safe in Your hands. Amen. Have faith.
Footnotes
[a] Acts 20:1 Macedonia – Northern Greece.
[b] Acts 20:9 Paul kept on talking – Luke (the writer) takes a good-natured poke at Paul when he describes Paul’s long-winded preaching. Anyone who studies Paul’s letters, especially in the original Greek, will soon discover that Paul was a vivacious, wonderfully emotional servant of the Lord who was never stingy with words.
[c] Acts 20:10 Eutychus is alive – Lit his soul is in him.
[d] Acts 20:16 Pentecost – The yearly Jewish festival which celebrated the harvest
[e] Acts 20:25 ‘None of you will see me again.’ Paul did not to expect to return to Ephesus, but he did. See 1 Tim 1:3.
[f] Acts 20:37 The elders from the church in Ephesus – Lit there was considerable weeping of all.