20:1-3I While in Greece, Paul spent much of his time in Corinth. From there he wrote the letter to the Romans. Although Paul had not yet been to Rome, believers had already started a church there (2:10; 18:2). Paul wrote to tell the church that he planned to visit the Roman believers. The letter to the Romans is a theological essay on the meaning of faith and salvation, an explanation of the relation between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, and a list of practical guidelines for the church.
Life Application Study BibleActsChapter 20
Acts 20
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1872, 1873, 1874
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
20Acts 20
Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece
120 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers* and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6After the Passover* ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
Paul's Final Visit to Troas
77On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the LORD’s Supper.* Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the LORD’s Supper,* and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 2Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Paul Meets the Ephesian Elders
1313Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 4He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and* a day later we arrived at Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18When they arrived he declared, “ You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 191 have done the LORD’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 2° never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our LORD Jesus. 22“And now I am bound by the Spirit* to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the LORD Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25“ And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,* 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood*—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.* 29I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 3tWatch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32“And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. $5And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the LORD Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.
Textual footnotes
- the bread.
- blood of aif.
- 20:1 Greek disciples.
- 20:6 Greek the days of unleavened bread.
- 20:7 Greek to break bread, 20:11 Greek broke
- 20:15 Some manuscripts read and having stayed at Trogyllium.
- 20:22 Or by my spirit, or by an inner compulsion; Greek reads by the spirit.
- 20:26 Greek / am innocent of the
- 20:28a Or with the blood of his own [Son].
- 20:28b Greek overseers.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
20:4These men who were traveling with Paul represented churches that Paul had started in Asia. Each man was carrying an offering from his home church to be given to the believers in Jerusalem. Having each man deliver the gift gave the gifts a personal touch and strengthened the unity of the believers. This was also an effective way to teach the church about giving, because the men were able to report back to their churches the way God was working through their giving. Paul discussed this gift in one of his letters to the Corinthian church (see 2 Corinthians 8:1-21).
20:5,6The use of us and we shows that this is where Luke again joined the group. The last we occurred in chapter 16.
20:6Jewish believers celebrated the Passover (which was immediately followed by the Festival of Unleavened Bread) according to Moses’ instructions (see Exodus 12:43-51) even if they couldn't be at Jerusalem for the occasion.
20:8,9The “flickering lamps” were candies in lanterns. The combination of the heat from the candles and the number of people
20:35These words of Jesus are not recorded in the Gospels. Obviously, not all of Jesus’ words were written down (John 21:25): this saying may have been passed on orally through the apostles.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1873
the most important goal of his life was te tell others about Christ (Philippians 3:7-13). It is no wonder that Paul was the greatest missionary who ever lived. God is looking for more men and women who will focus on that one great task God has given them to do. 20:31, 36-38 Paul's relationship with these believers is a beautiful example of Christian fellowship. He had cared for them and loved them, even cried over their needs. They responded with love and care for him and sorrow over his leaving. They had prayed together and comforted one another. Like Paul, you can build strong relationships with other Christians by sharing, caring, sorrowing, rejoicing, and praying with them. You will gather others around you only by giving yourself away to them.
gathered in the upstairs room probably made the room very warm. This no doubt helped Eutychus fall asleep, as well as the fact that Paul spoke for a long time. Eutychus was probably between the ages of 8 to 14 years old (the age of a “young man”). 20:16 Paul had missed attending the Passover in Jerusalem, so he was especially interested in arriving on time for Pentecost, which was 50 days after Passover. He was carrying with him gifts for the Jerusalem believers from churches in Asia and Greece (see Romans 15:25, 26; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8-9). The Jerusalem church was experiencing difficult times. Paul may have been anxious to deliver this gift to the believers at Pentecost because it was a day of celebration and thanksgiving to God for his provision. 20:18-21 The way of the believer is not an easy road; being a Christian does not solve or remove all problems. Pau! served humbly and “with many tears,” but he never quit, never gave up. The message of salvation was so important that he never missed an opportunity to share it. And although he preached his message in different ways to fit different audiences, the message remained the same: Repent and turn to Christ by faith. The Christian life will have its rough times, tears, and sorrows, as well as joys, but we should always be ready to tell others what good things God has done for us. His blessings far outweigh life’s difficulties. 20:23 The Holy Spirit showed Pau! that he would be imprisoned and experience suffering. Even knowing this, Paul did not shrink from fulfilling his mission. His strong character was a good example to the Ephesian elders, some of whom would also suffer for Christ. 20:24 We often feel that life is a failure untess we're getting a lat out of it: recognition, fun, money, success. But Paul considered life worth nothing unless he used it for God’s work. What he put into lite was far more important than what he got out. Which is more important to you—what you get out of fife, or what you put into it? 20:24 Single-mindedness is a quality needed by anyone who wishes to do God’s work. Paul was a single-minded person, and
Mediterranean. Sea 0 150 Mi, 9 150 Km.
PAUL TRAVELS FROM TROAS TO MILETUS From Troas, Paul traveled overland to Assos, then boarded a ship to Mitylene and Samos on its way to Miletus. He summoned the elders of the Ephesian church to say farewell to them, because he knew he would probably not see them again.
Study feature · page 1874
PAUL RETURNS TO JERUSALEM The ship sailed from Miletus to Cos, Rhodes, and Patara. Paul and his companions then boarded a cargo ship bound for Phoenicia. They passed Cyprus and landed at Tyre, then Ptolemais, and finally Caesarea, where Paul disembarked and returned by land to Jerusalem.
Mediterranean Sea Caesarea;
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20:33 Paul was satisfied with whatever he had, wherever he was, as long as he could do God’s work. Examine your attitudes toward wealth and comfort. If you focus more on what you don't have than on what you do have, it’s time to reexamine your priorities and put God’s work back in first place. 20:34 Paul was a tentmaker, and he supported himself with this trade. Paul did not work to become rich but to be free from being dependent on anyone. He supported himself as well as others who traveled with him (he mentions this in some of his letters; See Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).
Some of this text was difficult to read in the scan; the original page image is authoritative.