Bible Commentaries
Acts 20

Verse 4

.Acts 20:4

Trophimus: Acts 20:4, Acts 21:29 an Asian co-worker apparently of Ephesus. One of eight friends who accompanied Paul at the end of the 3rd missionary journey.[ see 1 Corinthians 16:3-4; 2 Corinthians 8:19-20 ] He was the innocent cause of the riot in the Jewish Temple that almost cost Paul his life.

None from Corinth are list in Acts 20:4, where the representatives to Jerusalem with this offering are mentioned. Some have asserted that it was possible that Titus, who went earlier, was their representative, but there is no mention of him in Acts. cf. 1 Corinthians 16:3-4; 2 Corinthians 8:19-20.

(See 2 Corinthians 12:16 and context where Paul seems to have accused to planing to steal this money by deceit.)

Verse 7

Acts 20:7

first day of the week -- Sunday, the day the church gathered for worship, because it was the day of Christ’s resurrection. Cf. Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, John 20:19; 1 Corinthians 16:2.

The writings of the early church Fathers confirm that the church continued to meet on Sunday after the close of the NT period. Scripture does not require Christians to observe the Saturday Sabbath: 1) the Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17; Nehemiah 9:14; Ezekiel 20:12), whereas Christians are under the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3; Heb. 8); 2) there is no NT command to keep the Sabbath; 3) the first command to keep the Sabbath was not until the time of Moses (Exodus 20:8); 4) the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) did not order Gentile believers to keep the Sabbath; 5) Paul never cautioned Christians about breaking the Sabbath; and 6) the NT explicitly teaches that Sabbath keeping was not a requirement (see notes on Romans 14:5; Galatians 4:10-11; Colossians 2:16-17). - MSB

break bread -- LORD’S SUPPER - Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29,

"Upon first day of the week" - Acts 20:7,

Note: This is the same wording used for the weekly contribution- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and for the Sabbath- Exodus 20:8.

Verse 15

Acts 20:15

Acts 20:14-15. Only biblical mention of Samos.

Samos is a

Place-name meaning “height.” Small island (only 27 miles long) located in the Aegean Sea about a mile off the coast of Asia Minor near the peninsula of Trogyllium. In the strait between Samos and the mainland, the Greeks defeated the Persian fleet about 479 B.C. and turned the tide of power in the ancient Near East. Traveling from Jerusalem to Rome, Paul’s ship either put in at Samos or anchored just offshore (Acts 20:15). (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p.1438).

The rendering of the ESV on Acts 20:15 is: “And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched [emp. mine, L.M.] at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus.” They could have just stayed overnight in the ship in the harbor, departing the next morning, or they could have deboarded the ship to actually be on the island itself (briefly of course). The text does not say. [L.M. = Leon Mauldin ]

Verse 27

Acts 20:27

Verse 28

Acts 20:28

ELDERS & DEACONS Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 & 1 Timothy 5:17, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:17.

CHURCH -- Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 5:23-27, Acts 20:28.

The Church is the "Body of Christ," Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24,

There is one body- Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Colossians 3:15,

Saved "Added by the Lord"- not "Voted In," Acts 2:47, 2 John 1:9-10,

Verse 29

Acts 20:29

FALSE TEACHERS - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Matthew 24:24, Acts 20:28-30, Galatians 1:7-9, Deuteronomy 18:21-22.

To Support false teachers is Sinful- 2 John 1:10-11.