Bible Study/Commentary

  1. Bible Study/Commentary
  2. Chapter & Audio
  3. Q & A

Overview of Acts Chapter 20

Acts chapter 20 narrates Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders during his journey to Jerusalem.

The chapter provides insights into Paul's ministry, his commitment to the Gospel, and the challenges faced by the Elders of the church.

The focal point is Paul's emotional farewell speech to the elders, emphasizing the importance of faithful leadership, and the endurance of disciples, in the face of adversity.

Verses 1-6: Paul in Macedonia and Greece!

"After silencing the uproar, Paul encouraged the disciples, bid them farewell, and left for Macedonia.

He traveled through the region, offering much encouragement, and eventually reached Greece.

After spending three months there, he intended to sail to Syria but learned of a plot by the Jews, against him.

He decided to return through Macedonia, accompanied by Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus.

These companions went ahead to Troas, while Paul sailed from Philippi, after the days of Unleavened Bread.

In five days, he reached Troas and stayed there for seven days."

Verses 7-12: Eutychus Raised from the Dead at Troas!

On the first day of the week, a group gathered to share a meal, and Paul spoke to them.

His speech continued late into the night in a room filled with many lamps.

A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window, falling asleep, fell dead from the third-story window.

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.”

And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

And they took the youth away alive, and were comforted.

Verses 13-16: Paul's Journey to Miletus!

They proceeded to the ship and sailed to Assos, where they planned to pick up Paul, who had decided to travel by land.

After meeting up with Paul in Assos, they continued their journey, sailing to Mitylene, then reaching Chios, Samos, and finally Miletus.

Paul had intentionally avoided Ephesus to save time, as he was rushing to arrive in Jerusalem, ideally before the day of Pentecost.

Verses 17-27: Paul's sends for the Ephesian Elders!

When they arrived, Paul said to them:

"You know how I lived among you, serving the Lord with humility, tears, and enduring trials, caused by the plots of the Jews, from the very first day I set foot in Asia.

I didn't hold back from teaching you the whole counsel of God, publicly and privately, testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I'm going to Jerusalem, led by the Spirit, uncertain about what awaits me there, except that the Holy Spirit warns me in every city, that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Yet, I value my life not at all, compared to finishing the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.

I realize you won't see my face again.

I declare myself innocent of your blood, because I didn't hold back in teaching you, God's complete counsel.

Verses 28-35: Paul's Warning to the Elders!

He said to the elder, "Take heed to yourselves, and to the flock, which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for God's church, which He bought with His blood."

After my departure, ravenous wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock.

Even from your own ranks, men will arise, speaking twisted things, to draw disciples after their selves.

So, be vigilant, remembering that I tirelessly admonished you, for three years.

Now, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which can strengthen you, and grant you an inheritance, among the saints.

I coveted no one's silver or gold, or apparel.

You know, that my hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak.

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give, than to receive.’”

Verses 36-38: Prayer, & Weeping!

Having said these things, Paul knelt down and prayed with them.

There was much weeping as they embraced and kissed him, and were deeply sorrowful, because they knew they would not see his face again.

They accompanied him to the ship."

Summary!

Acts chapter 20 shows Paul's extensive travels, highlighting a miraculous event in Troas, and his urgent journey to Jerusalem.

The focal point, was Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, revealing his commitment to faithful leadership, and his concern for the well-being of the church.

The chapter shows the emotional, and spiritual aspects, of the Elders responsibility of overseeing the Church, and the enduring impact of Paul's ministry.

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. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 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. 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. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 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

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. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 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.