Chapter Twenty
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
20:1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
After the uproar (Greek thorybon, a violent opposition, a loud clamor) things settled down and Paul gathered the disciples to express his farewell and to encourage them to continue the ministry as he was now leaving for Macedonia.
20:2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
Revisiting the churches along the way through Macedonia (possibly overseeing the collection for the believers in Jerusalem Paul wrote about in Romans 15:25-29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4), Paul offers encouragement for all of the believers. Luke records that Paul then came to Greece, up to this time Luke referenced this region by the name Achaia, the Roman province that included Greece and Thessaly. This is the only appearance of the name Greece (Greek Hellas) in the New Testament.
20:3 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.
Paul spent three months in Greece undoubtedly stopping at the various churches like those in Athens, Corinth, Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi to offer to them encouragement. But when he was was scheduled to sail for Syria a plot against him was discovered, so he changed his plan to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater, Aristarchus (one of the men who were seized during the riot in Ephesus, see Acts 19:29), Secundus, Gaius of Derbe (likely the same Gaius that was seized with Aristarchus in Ephesus), Timothy, Tychicus (will become a minister, see Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12), and Trophimus (see Acts 21:29; 2 Timothy 4:20). Some of these men may have been appointed by their local church to represent them and present a gift on their behalf to the church in Jerusalem, which may have been the reason Luke added the detail of their origin.
20:5 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.
The men went ahead to Troas while Paul and at least Luke stayed in Philippi to celebrate the spring festival, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits. Possibly due to weather the voyage took five days to sail to Troas (normally a two-day trip). The other men rejoined Paul and Luke and stayed in Troas for seven days.
Eutychus Suffers Fatal Fall then is Brought Back to Life
20:7 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.
On that Sunday while they were together to “break bread” (often considered a metaphor for the Lord’s Supper or communion, which may be true here, but Luke also uses the term to refer to the act of eating a meal) and Paul was talking to them, likely teaching as he intended to leave the next day. His talk went on until midnight that evening.
20:8 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.
Luke notes that there were many lamps (Greek lampades, non-specific light source, could be a lantern, torch, candle) in the room where Paul was teaching. He identifies Eutychus as a young man who was sitting at a window (perhaps the reason Luke mentions that there were many lamps is that the room may have been very warm from all the lamps and Eutychus was sitting near a window to stay cool) and as he fell asleep he fell out of the window from the third floor and was taken up (Greek ērthē, to be picked up or taken, this is not an assumption as some interpret) as dead. Since Luke was a physician (see Colossians 4:14) he would have been qualified to determine if he had died and he reports here that the impact killed Eutychus.
20:10 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.”
Similar to the actions of Elijah and Elisha bringing someone back to life (see 1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34) Paul immediately went down and bent over him (Greek epepesen, to fall upon, to lay on) and took him in his arms and told everyone not to panic as Eutychus was alive and well. Luke does not report anything else said or done.
20:11 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.
Paul returns to the room, has something to eat, and then talks with them until dawn, after which he left. They took Eutychus home alive and everyone was greatly comforted.
Considerations
Sunday Morning Worship
The reference that Paul and his traveling companions gathered together to break bread on the first day of the week is often used to justify the current scheduling of the “Sunday Morning Worship.” One of the more often debated subjects within Christianity is in regards to the Sabbath and related to that is, what day should be set aside for worship. Regarding the Sabbath we know it as the seventh day of the week, a day of rest given to Israel as a sign of the Mosaic Covenant (see Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since there is no command in the New Testament for believers to observe the Sabbath, nor did the council that met in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:1-35) impose an observance schedule, and the fact that Paul denounced the requirement for any observances of the law in Galatians 4:10-11, most Christians do not officially observe the Sabbath (Sunday is not a Sabbath day). But then pertaining to Sunday (or as the Bible always references the day, the first day of the week), many Christians point to Sundays as being the day of Jesus’ resurrection, which is true but there is nothing stated to assemble on that day. Sadly, history indicates that Sunday was selected so that there would be minimal association with the Jewish Sabbath. Regardless, that is what Christianity (okay most of Christianity) has embraced, and has to some degree become what non-believers see and understand as they watch their Christian neighbors go to church on Sunday mornings, it can serve as a witness. While not a mandate for believers to assemble for worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, it is strongly encouraged.
Accelerating Towards Jerusalem
20:13 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.
Everyone but Paul sailed from Troas to Assos (approximately 25 miles south), Paul decided to walk to Assos instead of going by ship. Some believe that he wanted a last minute opportunity to teach the local believers
20:14 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.
When Paul arrived in Assos they brought him on board the ship and sailed to Mitylene on the Island of Lesbos. From there they arrived the next day to the Island of Chios and on the following day to the Island of Samos, all of these were small islands are in the Aegean Sea. The next stop was Miletus, which is south of Ephesus on the mainland.
20:16 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.
Luke explains that Paul wanted to bypass Ephesus to minimize time spent in Asia as he was in a hurry to get back to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost.
Paul Speaks With the Ephesian Elders
20:17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
Not wanting to stay in long, but wanted to at least bid farewell to the believers in Ephesus, Paul invites them to come down to Miletus, which they did.
20:18 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,
Paul offers a tearful departure message of hope and encouragement. He reflects on his life with them stating that he lived among them from day one, in other words he is saying that his life has been an “open book” to them, with nothing to hide, offering himself as an example of how to live.
20:19 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.
Paul continues by saying that he served Jesus with all humility and tears. That he was willing to face trials and challenges, including facing the many plots of the Jews that were seeking to put him to death. He also noted that he did not withhold anything that was profitable while teaching them in the public as well as in people’s homes. And that he testified to both the Jews and Greeks the need to repent of sin while turning to God, and to have faith in Jesus Christ. Paul was emphasizing that to serve God is to serve others, even when it becomes painful or threat of death.
20:22 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.
Paul announces that he is now compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem, and admits he doesn’t know what will happen to him there. But he is aware through the Holy Spirit that he will spend some time in jail and that suffering and hardship awaits him. He notes that he doesn’t consider his life worth much without completing the ministry he received from Jesus, that of testifying to others the gospel of the grace of God.
20:25 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.
He lets them know that he won’t be back, that none of them will see him again. He also told them that over the years he had expounded on the whole counsel of God to them, he taught it all, he didn’t shy away from any subject (see below). Therefore he is innocent of the blood of all those he taught, that they all know God’s Word thoroughly. Not that he would be guilty of any sin if he didn’t teach, it is an expression that conveys that they all know what they personally need for salvation and for them to teach others the same. Just as Paul will later write to the church in Ephesus the responsibility of the church is, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesian 4:12-13, ESV)
20:28 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.
Paul calls them to pay careful attention (Greek prosechete, originally a nautical term referring to keeping the ship going the right way, to hold the course, which is also an imperative to keep watch) to both themselves and the believers that the Holy Spirit put under their care as well as to also care for the church of God (all believers). This requires ongoing diligence, patience, and passion. The moment apathy, impatience, or lack of care creeps in, Paul knows that they can quickly fall prey to fierce wolves, being enemies of God, after he leaves. Paul then identifies that the wolves can also come from within (see Jude 1:4), those who will distort the truth in such as way that will cause some disciples to follow a lie instead of the truth.
20:31 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.
As Paul nears his conclusion, he offers his last ‘therefore’, being another imperative to always be alert. And while being alert, to remember that he never stopped from correcting them with tears and that they are to do the same for those they teach. He then commends them to God and to the word of His grace. Which is able to build them up (and all believers) to face life knowing that they will receive an inheritance with all those who are sanctified (those made clean with the blood of Jesus, referring to all believers).
20:33 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.’ ”
He further testified that he never coveted any one’s property, and that he worked to supply his own needs and the needs of his companions. Paul understood that a true God-serving ministry is not motivated by money. Jesus Himself said “No one can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and money” (see Matthew 6:24). He knew that God will always provide where He guides, he later wrote, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV). The love of money separates true followers from false followers and teachers. Paul is calling for believers to always help those that are weak and those that are in need, to continue giving oneself to others. He quotes Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (this is the only quote of Jesus in the Bible that is not recorded in the gospels).
20:36 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.
After speaking to the believers from Ephesus, Paul knelt down and prayed with them. Luke records that there was “much weeping” hugs, and kisses, but also that they were most sorrowful over hearing that they would never see him again. They then went with him to the ship.
Considerations
The Whole Counsel of God
Every believer should know what Paul was talking about when he spoke of “the whole counsel of God.” In the simplest form the phrase means to read, learn, and know the entire Bible, from the beginning of Genesis through to the end of Revelation. But in reality it is actually more than just the knowledge of the Word, it is also in the application of what is known and then demonstrated through a relationship with Jesus, doing as He calls us to do.
As believers we need to know what pleases God and those things that displeases Him. Therefore we can’t pick and choose what we want to learn about by selecting certain topics or favorite verses. We need to be committed to learning as much as possible, whenever possible. This also prevents us from blindly accepting any false teaching as this issue has permeated churches and has the potential to steer people away from God all while they think they are hearing it from a reliable source. The only way to recognize false teaching is to know the genuine article. Click here to read more about the whole counsel of God.
False Teaching
Almost instantaneously after Jesus and the apostles started teaching we see false teachers and prophets arriving. As pointed out several times on this website, the problem of false teaching was warned about by Jesus, and every epistle writer long before the first century closed. The problem has not only been magnified by number, it has become more complex and insidious today, often masquerading as the true interpretation of God’s Word. Don’t fall victim to false teaching, study and know the Bible!