Acts20
World English Bible · Public Domain
1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
2When he had gone through those parts and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
3When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
4These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
5But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
6We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
7On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day; and continued his speech until midnight.
8There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.
10Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.”
11When he had gone up, had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
12They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.
13But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.
14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene.
15Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.
16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the assembly.
18When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
20how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
22Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;
23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
24But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
25“Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.
26Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
27for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
29For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
32Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.
34You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.
35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
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