Acts20
English Standard Version
1 the , for the , them, he and .
2 he had gone had , he .
3 he , and when a plot was the as he was to , he to .
4 the , son of , ; of the , ; of , ; the , .
5 went on and were for ,
6 the of , we , we for .
7 the day of the , when were to , with , to on the , he his .
8 the we .
9 , the , into a as . And being , he the was taken .
10 and , taking him in his , , Do be , .
11 when Paul had gone had , , , and .
12 they the away , were a .
13 the , , to , he , to go by .
14 he , we on and .
15And from we the ; we ; and the day we .
16 had to , so might to , he was to , , on the of .
17 he and the of the to come to him.
18 they , he to : You I the the I ,
19 the with with to the of the ;
20 I did from to that was , in house to ,
21 to to of of .
22 , , am , by the , what will to ,
23 the to me in .
24 I do of any as to , if only the I the , to to the of the of .
25 , , of I have about the will again.
26 I to am the of ,
27 I did to the of .
28Pay careful to to the , the has , to for the of , he his .
29 will come , the ;
30 from own will , to the .
31 be , for I did to .
32 I to to the of , is to build you to the those who are .
33I no .
34 to to those who .
35In all I have by in this we the the of the , he , It to to .
36 when he had these , and .
37 there on the part of ; and ,
38being most of because the he had , not . they the .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Paul's journeys. (1–6). Eutychus restored to life. (7–12). Paul travels towards Jerusalem. (13–16). Paul's discourse to the elders of Ephesus. (17–27). Their farewell. (28–38).
vv1-6
Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.
vv7-12
Though the disciples read, and meditated, and prayed, and sung apart, and thereby kept up communion with God, yet they came together to worship God, and so kept up their communion with one another. They came together on the first day of the week, the Lord's day. It is to be religiously observed by all disciples of Christ. In the breaking of the bread, not only the breaking of Christ's body for us, to be a sacrifice for our sins, is remembered, but the breaking of Christ's body to us, to be food and a feast for our souls, is signified. In the early times it was the custom to receive the Lord's supper every Lord's day, thus celebrating the memorial of Christ's death. In this assembly Paul preached. The preaching of the gospel ought to go with the sacraments. They were willing to hear, he saw they were so, and continued his speech till midnight. Sleeping when hearing the word, is an evil thing, a sign of low esteem of the word of God. We must do what we can to prevent being sleepy; not put ourselves to sleep, but get our hearts affected with the word we hear, so as to drive sleep far away. Infirmity requires tenderness; but contempt requires severity. It interrupted the apostle's preaching; but was made to confirm his preaching. Eutychus was brought to life again. And as they knew not when they should have Paul's company again, they made the best use of it they could, and reckoned a night's sleep well lost for that purpose. How seldom are hours of repose broken for the purposes of devotion! but how often for mere amusement or sinful revelry! So hard is it for spiritual life to thrive in the heart of man! so naturally do carnal practices flourish there!
vv13-16
Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty calls us another way.
Key Words
θόρυβος (thórybos): a disturbance
παύω (paúō): to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
προσκαλέομαι (proskaléomai): to call toward oneself, i.e. summon, invite
μαθητής (mathētḗs): a learner, i.e. pupil
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παρακαλέω (parakaléō): to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)
ἀσπάζομαι (aspázomai): to enfold in the arms, i.e. (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome
ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai): to issue (literally or figuratively)
Μακεδονία (Makedonía): Macedonia, a region of Greece
Cross References
Acts 20Establishes first-day-of-the-week gathering for Christian worship and collection of alms.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly links 'the first day of the week' with the apostolic term 'the Lord's Day'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the Holy Spirit's warnings in every city regarding Paul's coming bonds in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identifies the manual labor of Paul's hands in tentmaking to support himself and companions.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Expands on Paul's ministry in 'those parts,' noting he preached as far as Illyricum.
Supported by JFB
Identifies 'Sopater of Berea' as Sosipater, Paul's kinsman who joined in sending greetings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Aristarchus and Gaius as Paul's travel companions previously caught in the Ephesian riot.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elijah stretching himself over the dead child matches Paul's physical action of falling upon Eutychus.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Elisha laying upon the dead child parallels Paul's bodily embrace to restore life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records Paul's prior, settled plan to travel through Macedonia/Achaia and then on to Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Christ's purchasing of the church with redemption through His own blood.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ's command to Peter to 'feed my sheep' parallels Paul's charge to the elders.
Supported by JFB
Christ's foundational warning concerning false prophets who are inwardly 'ravening wolves.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Samuel's final public protestation of financial integrity closely mirrors Paul's farewell appeal.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Underpins the cultural custom of physical kissing and embracing as a sign of Christian fellowship.
Supported by Matthew Poole