Bible Commentaries
Acts 20

Introduction

Bought With The Blood Of Jesus Acts Twenty

Paul traveled to Macedonia and then into Greece. It was often seen in his life that persecution might cause a Christian to move from his present location. However, this must never cause him to move from his purpose of working for God.

Christians can read God's word, study, pray, and sing while they are apart from one another. Communion can only be kept when the church comes together on Sunday; the Lord's Day or the first day of the week. Each Sunday Christians should break bread as a memorial of Christ's death. ( Act_20:7 )

In Troas, Paul healed Eutychus, who fell from a third floor window after falling asleep. Eutychus was brought to life again. The situation with Eutychus, (1) disturbed the preaching, (2) provided an opportunity to confirm the message by miracle, and (3) reminds us that we should be well rested and prepared for worship.

Paul called for the elders from the church at Ephesus. He reminded them that God had made them overseers. Elders must be true to this calling. Paul told these elders that the church was purchased with Jesus' blood. They were reminded of Paul’s work at Ephesus and they were told that false teachers would be found in the church there. They were to be grounded so solidly in the word of God's grace that they could protect the flock from these grievous wolves.

The separation of Paul from the elder from Ephesus was painful. As He separated from these brethren, "It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them."

Verses 1-6

Paul went through Macedonia and Greece Act_20:1-6 : When the uproar that had been caused by Demetrius at Ephesus ceased Paul called for the Christians at Ephesus. He embraced them, comforted them, and exhorted them to hold fast to God. After this He separated to go into Macedonia. He visited churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. As he went from church to church he established the Christians in the faith of the Gospel.

Form Macedonia Paul went to Greece and stayed there for three months. When some of the Jew plotted against him he decided to return by way of Macedonia. Through these events in Paul's life we observe God's care over his ministry, and we also observe Paul's concern for the churches that he had helped to establish.

Paul and several brethren went to Troas after the days of unleavened bread. The Jewish feasts are mention only to mark the time of the year. These feasts along with the entire law had been abolished, and are not to be observed by Christians. Paul and his company stayed in Troas for seven days in order to be there on the first day of the week for worship.

Verses 7-12

Paul's last visit to Troas Act_20:7-12 : At Troas Paul and his companions came together with the church to break bread. As the disciples were gathered Paul preached to them until midnight because he was leaving the next morning. In the upstairs room where they met there were many lights.

While Paul was speaking a young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. Paul preached for a long time and this young man became very sleepy. He fell three floors to the ground and was taken up dead. Paul went down and took Eutychus in his arms. He said, "Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him." "And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." ( Act_20:12 )

Verses 13-16

The voyage from Troas to Miletus Act_20:13-16 : Paul's mission work carried him to many places to preach. It seemed that he did not like to travel by ship, even though he did so at times. Here he decided to travel by land to Assos. The rest of the missionary team went on ahead by ship from Troas and sailed unto Assos.

Paul told the brethren he would meet them at Assos and he did. As a Christian it is important that you keep your word when you tell someone that you are going to do something. The ship then took them to Mitylene. This was only a brief stopover but you can rest assured that someone there heard the gospel. From Mitylene they sailed the next day over against Chios. The following day they reached Samos. The day after that they sailed to Miletus. Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, because he did not want to spend too much time in Asia. He was in a hurry and wanted to be in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost in order to have an opportunity to preach the Gospel to the Jews that would come from everywhere to Jerusalem.

Verses 17-38

Paul visited with the elders from Ephesus Act_20:17-38 : Paul called for the Elders from the church at Ephesus to meet with him at Miletus. He reminded them that he had never tried to obtain the applause of men. He only tried to please God! They knew how Paul had taught in the Jewish synagogue at Ephesus, then in the school of Tyrannus and house to house. He did not hold back from telling anything that would help them go to heaven.

Paul knew that danger awaited him in Jerusalem, but he was willing to go for God. He did not care what happened to him, as long as he finished the work the Lord gave him to do. Paul felt that he would never see these brethren again so he wanted to strengthen them in the faith. He had freely communicated to the church at Ephesus everything God wanted them to know.

Paul warned the elders to take heed to themselves and to all the Christians that the Holy Spirit had put in their care. They were to be shepherds over this flock of God. This church had been bought with the blood of God's Son. Paul warned these elders that after he left they should be on guard for false teaches that would arise among the elders. He had warned them for three years, with tears in his eyes, about his matter.

These false teachers would come in like wolves to destroy the flock. They would twist the scriptures to their own destruction. Their purpose would be to "to draw away disciples after them." Elders must watch carefully to keep the church from being carried away with the error of the wicked.

At last Paul placed these brethren in God's care. He emphasized the value of God's work in building up His saints. He reminded them that Jesus had said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." After Paul finished speaking, he knelt down with the brethren and prayed. They were especially grieved because Paul had told them, that they would not see him again. After this they accompanied Paul to the ship.