Bible Study/Commentary
Overview of Acts Chapter 20
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There 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. 4 Sopater 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. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but 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
7 On 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And 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. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 But 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. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And 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. 16 For 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
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And 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, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But 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. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay 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. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And 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. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In 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.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being 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.
Q&A
Acts 20:1-3
Q1: Where did Paul go after the uproar in Ephesus, and what did he do there, as mentioned in Acts 20:1-3?
A1: Paul departed from Ephesus, passing through Macedonia and Greece. In Corinth, he spent three months, and as he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was made against him by the Jews.
Acts 20:4-6
Q2: Who accompanied Paul on his journey, and why did they stay in Troas, as mentioned in Acts 20:4-6?
A2: Several companions, including Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus, accompanied Paul. They waited for him in Troas, while Paul and Luke sailed ahead.
Acts 20:7-12
Q3: What significant event happened in Troas during Paul's stay, as mentioned in Acts 20:7-12?
A3: On the first day of the week, the disciples gathered to break bread, and Paul, intending to depart the next day, prolonged his speech until midnight. A young man named Eutychus fell from a window and died but was revived by Paul.
Acts 20:13-16
Q4: What was Paul's plan after Troas, and why did he hurry to reach Jerusalem, as mentioned in Acts 20:13-16?
A4: Paul went ahead to Assos, intending to take a ship, while the others went by land. He wanted to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost and didn't want to spend time in Asia, hastening to be there, if possible, by that day.
Acts 20:17-21
Q5: How did Paul address the elders of the church in Ephesus, and what did he testify about his ministry, as mentioned in Acts 20:17-21?
A5: Paul called for the elders of the church in Ephesus. He testified about his ministry, serving the Lord with all humility and tears, and proclaimed repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:22-24
Q6: What did Paul say about his journey to Jerusalem, and what did he foresee, as mentioned in Acts 20:22-24?
A6: Paul, bound in the Spirit, was going to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there except that the Holy Spirit testified to him that imprisonment and afflictions awaited him.
Acts 20:25-27
Q7: What did Paul say about his ministry and the gospel, as mentioned in Acts 20:25-27?
A7: Paul declared that he had not shrinked from declaring to the Ephesians the whole counsel of God and testified to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:28-31
Q8: What charge did Paul give to the elders, and what warning did he provide, as mentioned in Acts 20:28-31?
A8: Paul charged the elders to pay careful attention to themselves and to all the flock, warning them that fierce wolves would come from among them, and to be alert, remembering his tears and his admonition for three years.
Acts 20:32-35
Q9: How did Paul commend the elders to God and express his own example in labor and generosity, as mentioned in Acts 20:32-35?
A9: Paul commended them to God and to the word of His grace. He reminded them of his own example, working with his hands to support himself and those with him and sharing with those in need.
Acts 20:36-38
Q10: How did the elders react to Paul's farewell, as mentioned in Acts 20:36-38?
A10: The elders fell on Paul's neck, kissed him, and sorrowed most of all for his words that they would see his face no more.