Acts 20 Paul Finishes Third Journey, Exhorts Ephesian Elders
Summary

Paul departed from Ephesus after three years due to the tensions that had developed in both the Jewish and Gentile segments of the city. He went to Macedonia and on to the cities in Greece where he had preached before. He then went to Troas, a city north of Ephesus, where a young man fell from a window and Paul raised him from the dead. From Troas, he went to Miletus and called for the elders of the church at Ephesus to meet with him there. His message to them recalls his time and labors with them and admonishes them to take care of both themselves and the church. He would not see them again.

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

20After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

7On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

Question 1

What should we learn about the time and purposes of the church assembling for worship?

13But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

17Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Question 2

What was Paul’s “manner“ (characteristics) of serving and preaching among them?

Question 3

What did Paul see in his future?

Question 4

What were Paul’s concerns for the elders and church at Ephesus in the future?

Question 5

What does he recommend that the elders do to protect themselves and build up the church?

36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

People
  • Paul

    • Preaching in Greece and back to Ephesus

  • Associates

    • Sopater of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus of Asia

  • Eutychus

    • Raised from dead at Troas

  • Elders of the Ephesian church

    • Met with and exhorted by Paul

Places
  • Macedonia and Achaia (Greece)

    • vss.1-6

  • Troas

    • vss.7-12

  • Miletus

    • vss.15-38

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

20After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Acts 20:2

Greece here refers to Achaia and the cities where Paul had established congregations.

We should note that Paul continues to gather the collection for the saints in Judea as he travels (see Romans 15:25-26; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24).


Acts 20:4

There are seven men accompanying Paul. These are identified with churches or geographic areas.

These, no doubt, are messengers of churches who contributed to needs in Judea (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).


Acts 20:6

Notice, we are back in a “we” section indicating that Luke also accompanied Paul at this time.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

7On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

Acts 20:7

Christians met on the first day of the week to worship (see also 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10).

Some question whether this was Saturday evening (Jewish) or Sunday (Roman accounting of time). It is most likely Roman in this part of the world (sunrise to sunrise).


Acts 20:9

Eutychus’ age is unknown. He falls as a result of going to sleep in the window.

13But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 20:13

Assos was a port twenty miles southwest of Troas, on a volcanic hill facing the island of Lesbos.


Acts 20:15

Chios was the island birthplace of Homer who wrote The Illiad and its sequel, The Odessey.

Samos was the island birthplace of Pythagoras who discovered the geometric Pythagorean Theorem


Acts 20:15

Miletus is thirty miles south of Ephesus. On to Jerusalem would have been a trip of over 600 miles

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

17Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
Acts 20:17

The following verses contain the only speech of Paul given exclusively to Christians in Acts. The address is given to the “elders” (plural). There is nothing here about a presiding “bishop”.

In vs. 17, they are called (Gr: elders); in 38, they are identified as both (overseers, bishops, superintendents) and (shepherds or pastors). See also1 Peter 5:1-4.

19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:30

This might refer to these particular men or to men who would serve among the elders later.


Acts 20:35

This reference is not directly quoted from one of the Gospel accounts.

36And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts 20:38

Their great sorrow was his words that they would not see him again (see vs. 25).

Perspectives

The disciples met for worship (specifically here the Lord’s Supper) on the first day of the week.

Paul’s preaching was exemplary. It provides an example of the spirit and actions of preachers today.

Elders have necessary responsibilities to guard their own lives and take heed to the church as well.