How clearly was shown the folly of their boasted reason! There's just a closeness of communion. You know how I kept back nothing that was to your profit, how I did not fail to announce my tidings to you and to teach you both publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He was constant in giving warning; he warned night and day; his time was filled up with his work. Acts 20 - Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible - StudyLight.org . This was there fulfilled in Phygellus and Hermogenes, who turned away from Paul and the doctrine he had preached (2 Timothy 1:15), and in Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth erred, and overthrew the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18), which explains the expression here. It will be observed, by the way, that there were leading men among the brethren. We find the liveliest discussions among them. 2. Very likely what happened was this. And it could be some very rough seas and all. In seeing God, in really seeing God, I see myself. Now that's a different Gaius than the one of Corinth. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus.". We just completed a conference with the worldwide distributors of Maranatha music. (Compare Isaiah 29:1-24 and Habakkuk 1:1-17), "And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Thus there was every reason for speaking of succession, if it really possessed the place which tradition gives it, both to apostles on the one hand, and to elders on the other; but there is a marked absence of any such provision. a. Grace knows how and when to bend, no less than to be as unflinching as a rock; but this is precisely what even believers in general are least able to understand. But we never have to emphasize that side. And so how they found out that they couldn't copy choruses on a little chorus sheet without infringing on the copyrights of those choruses. * Philippi was not the "chief" city of Macedonia, but Thessalonica; and as Wieseler has shown, even if the subdivisions had been known then of Macedonia Prima, Sec. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, our righteousness judge, shall give. It is evident that divine truth must be aggressive; it cannot but deal with every conscience that hears it throughout the world. Though to an eye of nature life is superlatively valuable, yet to an eye of faith it is comparatively despicable; it is not so dear but it can be cheerfully parted with for Christ. When the question came before them, "there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed." Then said I, woe is me" ( Isaiah 6:1 , Isaiah 6:5 ). Macedonia, of course, was the northern area of Greece. Not so. Half the people didn't know what was going on. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail . 3. c. 2. p. 2. c. 12. p. 212. cent. "To give," Paul said, you know, "Our Lord told us it's more blessed to give than to receive. Now this is what Paul felt. What astonished Simon Magus was the power displayed; what astonished the deputy was the truth. Of course I use this description with reference to Romans 7:1-25 by anticipation, because that Epistle was not yet written. Even as was the right of circumcision a special covenant between God and Israel, but not something that was required of the Gentiles. It's more blessed to give than to receive." It was dark. Thus having brought in the Messiah, we are shown how He had been announced by the Baptist. He fixes a brave and heroic resolution to go on with his work, notwithstanding. So both in the public gatherings there in the . Meanwhile, your heart goes out to that which is according to His own grace; and there is so much the more power, when you must speak on that which is a matter of pain. But certain notes sound out. (3.) He appeals to them concerning the faithful discharge of his ministry among them (Acts 20:26; Acts 20:26): "Wherefore, seeing my ministry is at an end with you, it concerns both you and me to reflect, and look back;" and, (1.) The truth was, that he was not the Bridegroom but His friend, and the fear of God shut out these base desires, and he felt it his joy and his duty to do the will of God, and be the witness of Him that was coming. This is a weighty practical consideration. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. But here take note of another part of their service the confirmation of the souls of those who had already believed. IV. The body of it has three parts, which deal with (1) Pauls past ministry at Ephesus (Acts 20:18-21), (2) Pauls present plans in going to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24), and (3) the future of Paul himself and of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:25-31). Until we all come into the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God. "When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy." Now I do not find this in the word of God. (NASB: Lockman) elders: Ac 20:28 11:30 14:23 15:4,6,23 16:4 1Ti 5:17 Titus 1:5 Jas 5:14 1Pe 5:1 2Jn 1:1 3Jn 1:1) There is not the slightest warrant for it in the usage of scripture. We've been praying for five years that God would establish a Calvary Chapel here in Indianapolis. There was but little fruit even for the apostle and from this wonderful discourse. The other was the Lord's Supper which was observed during or immediately after the Love Feast. Yet there is not liberty alone but a duty of conferring together on the part of those who labour. And so he walked that twenty miles as they went around by ship and met him then at Assos. Then we hear of the mighty spread of the work, not only the power with which God clothed the apostle, but also that which rebuked the superstitious use of the name of Jesus by those who without faith pretended to it. We give away music albums. They were overseers of the flock of God. And so He hates that which is destroying you. All Jews had heard in the scripture of the Holy Ghost; and more particularly John's disciples were well instructed in the fact, not only of His existence, but that the Holy Ghost was about to be sent down on believers, or rather that they were going to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Thus the evil of their own hearts was brought out among the Jews, and the more in proportion as the might of the grace of God proved itself in attracting souls to the Lord. It is significant that, in a situation similar to those he faced in many of his letters, this farewell to the Ephesian elders reads like a miniature letter of his. In Caesarea, as in Tyre, prophets warned Paul of the trouble that he would meet in Jerusalem, but he was determined to go on (10-14; see also v. 4).Finally, Paul reached his destination, Jerusalem. and this in the presence of the twelve in Jerusalem itself? Scriptural usage in every instance is simply choice. . That was his last epistle just before being beheaded by Nero. "The address is constructed in a way familiar to all readers of Pauls letters. Yet are they persons that we can truly accept as born of God; they detest sin; they love holiness; they really adore the Lord Jesus, having no doubt at all as to His glory, and that He is the Saviour. How different from the vileness of a Jupiter or of a Mercury, a god devoted to corruption and self-will, and another god devoted to stealing! It is a citation from Ireneaus' famous work against heresy (III. Paul stocked them that would come in. He spoke to them about their souls with a great deal of affection and concern: he warned them with tears. Acts 20:19 Commentaries: serving the Lord with all humility and with and we came to them in Troas in five days; where we abode with them for seven days ( Acts 20:6 ). He more than supplies for our needs. The school of Tyrannus publicly, but then also from house to house. He declares his expectation of sufferings and afflictions in his present journey to Jerusalem, Acts 20:22-24; Acts 20:22-24. Could it be that the apostle of the uncircumcision had at length succumbed to the adversary? That feeling should be in every church; for when love dies in any church the work of Christ cannot do other than wither. John's baptism was only transitional. To circumcise Timothy was precisely what the law would not have done. after I depart grievous wolves are going to enter in among you, not sparing the flock ( Acts 20:29 ). Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Luke tells us that they left Philippi after the days of unleavened bread. This is intimated in two words, I have shown you, and have taught you. The Spirit of God takes good care to record this; it was needful that it should be noted. In answer to all these perplexities, Paul directs them to look up to God with an eye of faith, and beseeches God to look down on them with an eye of favour. Faithfulness Is Better Than Life. He declined not preaching whatever he thought might be profitable, though it was not fashionable, nor to some acceptable. He believed, and believed after a very different sort, with a divinely exercised conscience by the power of the Spirit,. While Paul was at Ephesus, they kept away, for they durst not face him; but, when he was gone, then they entered in among them, and sowed their tares where he had sown the good seed. They thus bowed to the storm. To declare the truth, the whole counsel of God to man so that he would not be accountable for them. Strange to say that the poets, however fanciful, are wiser than the philosophers. To Jerusalem with the offering (20:13-21:16). Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures . So far from contrariety in this to the analogy of His dealings, it seems to me quite according to them. [1.] And the name of the Lord was published throughout all the region." It is quite true that Paul would not have an improper person forced on him in the work. So there accompanied him to Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe ( Acts 20:4 ). "Which when the apostles,* Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? But it was quite an uproar, until finally the town clerk stood up and appeased the crowd telling Demetrius that there are courts of law, if he has any real case against Paul and all to bring it before the courts and let it be settled in a lawful matter. God is said to teach his people to profit, Isaiah 48:17. His progress, or circuit, for the visiting of the churches he had planted . For he was in a hurry to be, if it were possible for him, in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. "And some days after Paul said to Barnabas" (the younger takes the lead), "Let us go again and visit the brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.". He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. And so that was the feast of the Passover was now over because that was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Hey, that's always what a man says when he really sees God, "Woe is me!" His tactics in Europe differed from those in Asia at least in this the first place where the gospel was preached. He would let them know what, in the midst of their boasted knowledge, they themselves confessed they knew not. 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. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. So from Miletus they sent to Ephesus, called the elders of the church. Again, "He hath determined the times before-appointed" (everything is under His guidance and government); "and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him (" God," it should be here, according to the best authorities: "The Lord" is not in keeping with the teaching in this place. The Greek physician Galen wrote that his students took down his medical lectures in shorthand, so perhaps this is what Luke did on this occasion. Enduring Word Bible Commentary Acts Chapter 17 Acts 17 - Paul in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens Videos for Acts 17: Acts 17:1-15 - Turning the World Upside Down Acts 17:16-34 - At Mars Hill A. God's work in Thessalonica. He does not know particularly the things that shall befal him at Jerusalem. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. And he said, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, back off, Paul. Old or new speculations in philosophy are alike vain. He tells them that he was now taking his last leave of them (Acts 20:25; Acts 20:25): I know that you all, among whom I have been conversant preaching the kingdom of God, though you may have letters from me, shall never see my face again. And when [he found out that] the Jews were lying wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia ( Acts 20:2-3 ). He was bound in spirit, as all good Christians are poor in spirit, endeavouring to accommodate themselves to the will of God if they should be reduced to poverty. Christian faith appropriates to itself what was said to Him. Secondly, This ministry was received from the Lord Jesus. Acts 19. If it be said that the people must have chosen for them to ordain, the answer is, that the people did not choose at all. I know I'm going to be thrown in jail. Acts 20:17 Elders Acts 20:18-25 Asia Acts 20:26-27 Whole Counsel of God Acts 20:28-38 Church of God Acts 20 Bible Study Questions (Handout) ACTS 20:1 1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. And, especially, they should help persons to apply the truth to themselves and their own case. Acts 20:2 says that when he had gone through those parts he came to Greece. "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.". Assuredly faith in the action of the Holy Ghost is of all importance, both in the church, and also in the service of Christ. Always the emphasis upon your giving to God rather than what God has given to you. All should give full weight to facts which if denied or overlooked would only weaken the testimony which God has given. IVL. "My chief desire is to finish my course with joy. He's talking about the ministry, talking to His disciples. I don't go along with Tertullian, but it seems that as early as the time of Tertullian, which was before Constantine, that the first day of the week was already a common practice in the gathering of the church.Now it could be that there was a dispute over which day of the week you should worship the Lord in the early church because in two of Paul's epistles he makes mention of the fact that it really doesn't matter which day you worship the Lord. They must feed the church of God, must do all the parts of the shepherd's office, must lead the sheep of Christ into the green pastures, must lay meat before them, must do what they can to heal those that are distempered and have no appetite to their meat, must feed them with wholesome doctrine, with a tender evangelical discipline, and must see that nothing is wanting that is necessary in order to their being nourished up to eternal life. "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost:" nothing can be more distinct than the place that the Spirit of God has assigned Him, nothing more emphatic than the manner in which the inspired writer draws attention to the fact in these commencing verses. "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things which God had done with them." This vivid story is clearly an eye-witness account; and it is one of the first accounts we have of what a Christian service was like. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Such a preacher as this they all knew Paul had been; and, if they will carry on the same work, they must walk in the same spirit, in the same steps. But a new feature comes out here which the Spirit of God lets us see henceforth in all the journeys and labours of the apostle Paul; that is, the hatred which the unbelieving Jews felt at the preaching of the truth to the Gentiles. I believe what happened is that Paul did lay on such a heavy witness to Nero, that it was a now-or-never situation for Nero's salvation. "And Paul beckoning. And so these silversmiths stirred up the city and they were gathered together in the arena crying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Gods of silver and gold were the offspring of men's art and imagination. As faith looks to God and the truth, unbelief flies to influence of one kind or another, of females on the one side, and of great men on the other. We may pray that the Lord restore a person's life for our benefit, but it surely doesn't benefit them. Whatever, you know, pleases you.When the church in Jerusalem sent to the Gentile believers concerning their relationship to the law, they mentioned nothing about the observance of the Sabbath day. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel ( Acts 20:33 ). This is the serious evil that now begins to show itself. Nothing would be easier than to bestow the title of elders within a sect, or for the law of the land to sanction it. Not, of course, but that the Holy Ghost had to do with the action of a Peter, or a John, or of any others that have come before us in the previous accounts of this book; but it is expressly said here and not without an admirable reason, and of the deepest interest to us, because God is here preparing the road and instructing His servants as to His ways, more particularly in the church among the Gentiles. But, poor fellow, he was beheaded suffering for Jesus' sake. He was a man that was consistent with himself, and all of a piece; take him where you would he was the same at all seasons, he did not turn with the wind nor change with the weather, but was uniform like a die, which, throw it which way you will, lights on a square side. That the word was so used in later times by ecclesiastical writers is true; that this is its meaning in scripture is palpable error. Those teach for God that teach people to profit. here also the Jews instigated the Gentiles. They had faith, they looked to His person; but they had not intelligently laid hold of His work for the peace of their souls. Sometimes the best lessons are object lessons. Omit many before tears, and for lying in wait read plots . [1.] To draw men after themselves. Thus God takes particular pains to show that the apostle Paul had the same sign and voucher of his apostleship as attached to Peter and John before. It was a beautiful thing. AND FROM MILETUS HE SENT TO EPHESUS, AND CALLED THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH. In Exodus when God gave the Sabbath day law, God said it was a special covenant between Him and Israel. However, here among these Jews, the rulers were anxious to get all the help possible from others for the understanding of the word of God, and for its just application. (1.) There's always that. Now I do not hesitate to say, that so far from Paul being under legal prepossession in this act, on the contrary he never did anything in his course that showed him to be more completely above it. Thus Paul had begun the good work at Ephesus, thus free had he been of his pains; and why then should they be sparing of their pains in carrying it on? They did not only though in church, but from house to house. I know you believe the scriptures," you know. And now, look you, I know that all of you, amongst whom I went about preaching the Kingdom, will see my face no more. Peter in writing his epistle said, "Feed the flock of God which is among you." Watch that one who is constantly emphasizing what you ought to be giving to God. And what instructions he gave to them they would give to the people under their charge. It was Christ that put them into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12); it is he that carries them on in their ministry, and from him they have strength to do their service and bear up under the hardships of it. We have had the irritation and the murderous opposition of the Jews in Jerusalem. I commend you to God and the Word of His grace. I'm an unclean man" ( Luke 5:8 ). Messages on Acts 20 | Desiring God It is to confound with (or its equivalent, ). They thought, because, while Paul was with them, the rage of the Jews was most against him, that, when he had gone out of the country, they would be quiet: "No," says he, "after my departure you will find the persecuting spirit still working, therefore take heed to the flock, confirm them in the faith, comfort and encourage them, that they may not either leave Christ for fear of suffering or lose their peace and comfort in their sufferings." And they brought in the boy alive and were greatly comforted. And I love the eating together. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. There appears to me full liberty to break bread any day provided that some adequate or just reason call for it: Acts 2:1-47 is, to my mind, conclusive authority for this. "They chose them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, commending them to the Lord, on whom they believed.". Acts 20 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole - The Bible I love commitment. Always some new gimmick to take a second offering or a third offering. The tired Eutychus, overpowered by the stuffy atmosphere, succumbed to sleep and fell to the courtyard below. Impossible for the world to overthrow those who bear the worst it can do, give God thanks, and wait for His kingdom. But now they shall see his face no more. Testimony of the gospel of the grace of God. (2.) And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. It is not now the time to dwell on the details, beautiful as the scene is, and attractive to the heart as it may well be. I'm sure that Paul was crying now. His discourse was pregnant with suited truth, for he points out the one true God, who made the world and all things therein a truth that philosophy never, acknowledged, and now denies, and would disprove if it were possible. Acts 20 ESV - Paul in Macedonia and Greece - After - Bible Gateway You yourselves know that these very hands served my own needs and the needs of those who were with me. And in turning his back upon the Gospel, I believe he became possessed by an evil spirit. First, He looks upon his life as a course, a race, so the word is. Our wisdom is to use what God has given us, not to pretend to the same authority as Barnabas and Paul had. There was a constant warfare ahead to keep the faith intact and the Church pure. There is need of pastors, not only to gather the church of God by bringing in of those that are without, but to feed it by building up those that are within. Bible > Commentaries > Acts 20:19 . Galatians 1:1 denies such an inference. 1. One was what was called the Love Feast. So he went back upstairs and broke bread and ate; and he talked with them a long time until dawn came and so he departed. Does He make provision to continue what dishonoured Him? Barnabas, on the contrary, would have Mark with them, and at length so strongly urged this as to make it the necessary condition of his own association with the apostle. Now Paul took this literally. He did not amuse them with nice speculations, nor lead them into, and then lose them in, the clouds of lofty notions and expressions; but he showed them the plain truths of the gospel, which were of the greatest consequence and importance, and taught them as children are taught. This is what is referred to. I therefore believe that resurrection is not meant in the earlier text at all, but raising up Jesus as the Messiah, as it is also written in the second Psalm: "Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee." They had, by the way, also, we are told, John to their minister. Solemn prospect! "The Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women." Was it not thoroughly according to it? How sweet is the grace of God, and what an unexpected blow to the pretensions of the Pharisees that believed! And so that faithful minister. Righteousness (that is, consistency with our relationship) is not all. He, conscious of his weakness, covets the power that he would like to wield, having still the consciousness of the place to which he was called, but from which he has fallen; for God put every creature under him, and although through sin he is fallen from his estate, he has in nowise abandoned his pretensions, and he would fain have the power that would enable him not to hold up only, but to reverse if possible the sad consequences of the fall. They do nothing of the kind. It is not merely that the bishops were styled presbyters (the higher dignity including the lower), but the presbyters Paul calls bishops, which could only be because they are both descriptive of the same men and office. So completely is the Spirit of God regarded as the directing person in the church. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel . There he stayed with Mnason, who was a Jewish Christian from Cyprus and an early member of the Jerusalem church. Probably, now the windows there, of course, weren't glass windows, they were just openings, open windows; sitting there in the window he fell out the window into the patio below, three stories. 3. From him you received the trust, and to him you must give up your account, and therefore take heed to yourselves. Observe, First, The apostleship was a ministry both to Christ and to the souls of men; and those that were called to it considered more the ministry of it than the dignity or dominion of it; and, if the apostles did so, much more ought the pastors and teachers to do so, and to be in the church as those who serve. And God knows what a destructive force sin is. He didn't want to go all the way up to Ephesus and back because he desired to get to Jerusalem in time to participate in the feast of Pentecost. This was spiritual wisdom; but was it simply instinct? He spoke words of encouragement to them and bade them farewell and departed to go to Macedonia. So Paul said one man esteems one day above another, another man esteems every day alike. &c. cent. (they were generally just the same to Paul in one place as in another) "stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Discoursed (); Acts 17:17, note. 1. [2.] "I read in Christianity Today, someone wrote a letter into Christianity Today and they told how that they had problems their church was wanting to sing choruses. Now Priscilla, as I cannot doubt, knew more than her husband; it was therefore desirable that she should contribute her help. How I held back nothing that could [benefit you or be of] profit to you, but I have showed you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house ( Acts 20:20 ). He preached repentance as God's great command (Acts 17:30; Acts 17:30), which we must obey--that men should repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance (so he explains it, Acts 26:20; Acts 26:20); and he preached it as Christ's gift, in order to the remission of sins (Acts 5:31; Acts 5:31), and directed people to look up to him . Some people esteem one day above another, some esteem another day above another, you know. Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. (4.) Two things this great and good man is in care about, and if he gain them it is no matter to him what becomes of life:-- [1.] He put his arms round him and said, "Stop making a fuss, for his life is still in him." 20:7-12 On the first day of the week, when we had gathered together to break bread, Paul, who was about to leave on the next day, spoke to them, and he prolonged his talk until midnight. It is not requisite for a man to be a scholar in order to reject the thought as false. This was part of the travel that Paul had planned earlier (19:21-22). Far from thinking that it is not good and wise, I admire the ways of the Lord even in this deprivation of ground for boasting. The present state in nowise alters or modifies the principle: on the contrary, it is an immense comfort that as ministry never did flow from the church, so the present broken state of the church cannot overthrow the place and responsibility of those who minister in the word. Legally the Jewish father could not own his own children born of a Gentile mother, or vice versa. It is your honour that you are employed for God, who will own you in his service; but then your carelessness and treachery are so much the worse if you neglect your work, for you wrong God and are false to him. Hence those are really wrong, not to say inexcusable, who assume to do the work that apostles or their delegates alone could do, not such as content themselves with doing their own duty, and refuse a delicate and authoritative task to which they are not called of the Lord.