DAY 20
Acts 20:1-38
Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece
When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 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.
4 Several 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. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After 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
7 On 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. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As 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. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then 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. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Paul Meets the Ephesian Elders
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The 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.
16 Paul 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. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I 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. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I 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. 24 But 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. 26 I 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 leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch 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.
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And 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.’ ”
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.
1. The act of encouragement may seem to be a bit of a lost art, but Paul understood the benefits and the necessity of encouraging believers as the church spread throughout the land. Often, it is much easier to criticize other believers when we see something we don’t like or agree with. What are you doing to actively encourage others around you as part of your relationship with God? Do you find it easier to criticize or to encourage? What may God be calling you to do in light of this reflection?
2. Part of our discipleship model at Be Hope Church is to go and tell – it is part of an active discipleship model of spiritual formation that requires something from us which we practice through serving. Conversely, a more traditional understanding of discipleship that has been particularly prevalent in the Evangelical church is a model of discipleship that is more akin to a stay and deepen model. This understanding of discipleship places a large emphasis on learning and studying Scripture and devoting oneself to God through spiritual depth and understanding. While these two are not mutually exclusive, Luke writes more in Acts about the active model of discipleship, maintaining a focus that is set on spreading the good news of Jesus through evangelism. What do you make of this focus on missionary work through evangelism as one of the primary means of spiritual growth? Which do you gravitate towards – active (go, tell and serve) or passive (stay, deepen and study) discipleship?
3. Paul clarifies one of the most important aspects of salvation in Acts 20:21, where he states that his message was that show Jews and Gentiles the necessity of repenting from one’s sins and turning to God. Often, we want the benefits of giving our lives to Christ via our devotion, but skip over the first step of repentance. To repent means to literally change directions and turn towards God. Practically speaking, it means to be sorry for your sin and to turn away from it. What are the areas of your life that you haven’t turned away from that God is calling you to give to Him? Have you proclaimed faith in God without taking the necessary first step of repenting? Why do you think this is such an important part of having true, authentic faith?
God, I pray today that you would mobilize me in the mission that you have for my life. I pray for forgiveness for the moments that I have criticized and torn down your church and your flock, and I ask that you would show me ways that I can be an encouragement to those around me. Just as You have previously spoken in Scripture, the tongue has the power to bring both death and life. I pray that my words would be life-giving and encouraging to those around me, and that you would transform my outlook to begin to look for ways to help build up others in the Kingdom instead of tearing them down. Mobilize my life in accordance with the mission and work you have set out for me. Amen.
LIFE IS NOT MEANT TO BE LIVED ALONE. YOU WERE CREATED TO EXPERIENCE LIFE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.