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Summary

Acts 20:1–6 – Paul’s Journey Through Macedonia and Greece

What happens:
After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, encouraging believers there. He spends three months in Greece, then, learning Jews plot against him, sails back toward Syria, accompanied by several companions. He lands at Troas, where they stay a week.

What it means:
Paul’s pastoral heart drives him to strengthen new churches even at personal risk. He adapts his plans in response to hostility, trusting God’s guidance in mission strategy.

Acts 20:7–12 – The Eutychus Incident

What happens:
On the first day of the week, the believers gather in an upper room to break bread and listen to Paul preach until midnight. A young man named Eutychus, sitting by the window, falls asleep and tumbles from the third story. He is picked up dead, but Paul embraces him, speaks life into him, and Eutychus is restored alive. They then break bread and continue talking until dawn.

What it means:
The power of God is present even amid human frailty and fatigue. Paul’s faith-filled intervention demonstrates that Christ’s life-giving authority accompanies the proclamation of the gospel.

Acts 20:13–16 – Paul’s Hasty Departure

What happens:
When daylight comes, Paul bids farewell to the believers in Troas and travels by ship to Assos, where he meets his companions. They sail to Mitylene, cross to Chios, approach Samos, and stay at Trogyllium. On the next day they reach Miletus because the winds prevent them from landing at Ephesus.

What it means:
Paul’s urgency to reach Jerusalem underscores his devotion to God’s call despite delays. He values face-to-face encouragement, willing to navigate challenging travel conditions to minister to his flock.

Acts 20:17–24 – Paul’s Message to the Ephesian Elders

What happens:
From Miletus, Paul sends for the elders of the church in Ephesus. He reminds them of his life among them, serving with humility, tears, and trials. He warns that after his departure fierce wolves will arise, and even among them some will distort the truth to draw away disciples. Paul testifies that he has served the Lord with integrity, proclaiming repentance and faith in Christ, and that the Spirit now bears witness that chains and hardships await him in Jerusalem—but he is compelled to complete his ministry of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

What it means:
Authentic leadership models sacrificial service and unwavering proclamation of the gospel. Vigilance against false teaching and steadfast commitment to Christ’s call define true shepherding.

Acts 20:25–27 – Paul’s Solemn Charge

What happens:
Paul declares that he is innocent of the blood of all, for he never shrank from declaring to them the whole counsel of God.

What it means:
Full fidelity to God’s revealed will exempts overseers from responsibility for those who perish for rejecting the gospel. Proclaiming the complete message is essential for faithful ministry.

Acts 20:28–31 – Shepherding the Flock

What happens:
Paul urges the elders to keep watch over themselves and all the flock, which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers to shepherd the church of God purchased with Christ’s blood. He warns them that after his departure savage wolves will enter and that from among their own number men will rise up speaking twisted doctrines to draw away disciples.

What it means:
Spiritual oversight is both divine appointment and solemn duty. The church’s well-being depends on leaders’ spiritual vigilance and commitment to doctrinal purity.

Acts 20:32–35 – Commendation to God’s Grace

What happens:
Paul commends the believers to God and the word of his grace, which can build them up and give them inheritance among the saints. He reminds them of his own example: working hard to support his needs and those of his companions, and that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

What it means:
The gospel itself sustains the church and secures believers’ future. Generosity and service reflect Christ’s character and bring deeper blessing than worldly gain.

Acts 20:36–38 – Farewell at Miletus

What happens:
Paul kneels and prays with the elders. They weep, embrace him, and escort him to his ship, sorrowing most at his declaration that they will never see his face again. They accompany him to the shore.

What it means:
Deep bonds of love and mutual care are the fruit of faithful ministry. The pain of separation underscores the preciousness of gospel partnerships and the cost of following God’s leading.

Application

  • Remain humble and sacrificial in service, following Paul’s example of tears and hard work
  • Guard your community against false teaching by affirming the whole counsel of God
  • Depend on the word of God’s grace to build up yourself and others, trusting its sustaining power
  • Embrace generosity as a pathway to blessing, prioritizing giving over receiving
  • Cultivate deep, loving relationships in ministry, recognizing their eternal significance and cost

Bible

1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

4And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

13And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

15And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28Take 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.

29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

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