Verse 1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
Note that the Apostle Paul was always having to flee a city after those serving the Devil created riots. He was never guilty of any crime against the citizens of these cities, against the local governments or against Rome. He was a man that never had a home, never had a physical family, and never had any financial stability. He lived entirely by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 2-3 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And 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.
Returning to the cities of Macedonia the Apostle Paul visited the Christian believers and strongly encouraged them in the Faith. But when he traveled to Greece and stayed put for a few months, the Jews once again attempted to stop him and to silence his ministry.
Verses 4-6 And 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. 5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. 6 And 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.
Sopater is thought to have come from Berea and his name means “saviour of his father”. Aristarchus was from Thessalonica and was accompanying the Apostle Paul of this third missionary journey. Secundus is only mentioned in the verse above and nowhere else in the New Testament, his name meaning “fortunate”. Gaius had been traveling with Paul and Timothy and his name means “lord”. And of course, Timothy who had been with the Apostle Paul throughout most of his missionary journeys was also present. This group of men headed to Jerusalem visiting various congregations as they passed through their cities.
Application: The LORD never sends one of His children out to witness to the unsaved and to preach and teach believers without providing support from other believers. He will always make sure that His servants have a support group of some kind, which in the Apostle Paul’s situation was the faithful men listed above as well as others he met along the way. These relationships should be cherished and nurtured as they are from God and are very special. Remember that when Jesus sent His disciples out to minister to the people, He sent them in groups of twos and not by themselves. “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits;” Mark 6:7 Believers need each other which is why the command was given as recorded in Hebrews 10:25 to not forsake the assembling of the believers together. Converted Christian believers need each other as indicated in the following verses. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name; there am I in the midst of them..” Matthew 18:20
Verses 7-9 And 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. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And 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.
Application: The first day of the week corresponds to today’s Sunday. The early Church met on their first day of the week and today the first day of the week is Sunday. This is probably from where the tradition of attending a church on Sunday came. But in reality, every day should be a sabbath or a day of remembering and serving the LORD Jesus Christ.
Application: Notice how long the Apostle Paul preached. Today most pastors restrict their sermons to about one hour and most congregations cannot tolerate sitting and listening to the Word of God for more than an hour. Why? What has changed since the early Church? Could it be that there lacks a sincerity amongst God’s people? Have today’s Christian believers relegated the things of the LORD to a position somewhere after work, family, friends, sports, chores, and entertainment? Think about it.
People in previous centuries used to name their children with a specific purpose in mind. Names had meanings and the children were named according to the parents’ vision of their child. This is why this writer gives where possible the meaning of the names found in Scripture. Eutychus’ name means “fortunate”. It was very fortunate that the Apostle Paul was in attendance when this young man fell three stories out of a window to his death on the ground below.
Verses 10-12 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When 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. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
A miracle happened through the Apostle Paul in that Eutychus was not injured. However, he was dead and the Holy Ghost/Spirit through the touch and prayer of the Apostle Paul raised him up again so that he got up and walked back up to the room and had a meal. This event would have had a profound effect upon the people gathered in that upper chamber and their faith would have been greatly increased and the Church strengthened.
Verses 13-16 And 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. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15 And 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. 16 For 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.
Assos was a Roman seaport in Asia and the name means “approaching”. When the Apostle Paul reunited with his traveling companions they sailed to Mitylene which was the chief maritime town of the island of Lesbos in the Aegean sea. The name means “mutilated”. Chios was another island in the Aegean sea and the name means “snowy”. Likewise, Samos was yet another island and the name means “a sandy bluff”. Trogyllium was a town on the island and the name means “a cache”. Miletus was another maritime city and the name means “pure white fine wool”. All these ports and islands were on the way to Ephesus which had been the Apostle Paul’s home base, yet he was in a hurry and was not going to stop there to visit the Church. Instead, he summoned the leadership of the Ephesian church to come to him at Meletus as recorded in verse 17 below.
Verses 17-19 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And 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, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
The rest of this chapter contains the Apostle Paul’s farewell address to his friends and fellow Christian believers from Ephesus. He starts by reminding the Church elders of his behavior and actions that have remained constant all through the years. First he served the LORD with humility, not elevating himself above others, but serving God and others with a deep sense of his littleness in relation to the grandeur and majesty of the LORD Jesus Christ and the importance of the ministry entrusted to him. Then he mentions the many times of persecution by the Jews that brought him sorrow and many tears.
Application: Most people tend to give up or quit their endeavor if the path to success becomes difficult and burdensome. The Apostle Paul could have given up preaching and teaching the Gospel when he first encountered resistance from his fellow countrymen or when he was first thrown into prison and cruelly beaten. But he never quit. When he suffered persecution from devils, he never quit. His own words describing the many trials and temptations he endured are recorded in 2 Corinthians 11:24-33.
“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those thing that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”
How and why did the Apostle Paul keep going under the very difficult circumstances he encountered throughout his entire ministry? Because he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He had an encounter with the Creator of the Earth, God Almighty, and he yielded his life to Jesus. He was baptized and filled with the Spirit of Christ and from that day forward he never looked back at his former life and his former position as an educated, powerful Pharisee, but only looked forward to the spiritual and physical journey he would be taking in the name of Jesus Christ. He was changed and he no longer lived to please mankind but lived to please the LORD and to do His will and to see as many people saved from sin, death and Hell as he could. The lives of others were more important to the Apostle Paul than his own. Being obedient to the will of God was more important to the Apostle Paul than being obedient to the will of mankind or to his own desires. He died to self and lived for Jesus. As a result, most of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul and today’s believers only have an understanding of the New Covenant and the doctrine that governs it because of the Apostle Paul. All truly converted born again Christian believers owe this man a huge debt of gratitude. And all truly converted born again Christian believers can learn from the Apostle Paul if they chose to allow the LORD to use them in ministry. Those believers who have only had a casual meeting with Jesus, carnal believers, will never achieve anything for the Kingdom of God unless they die to self and put Jesus first in everything in their lives. This is what the Apostle Paul did. Think about it.
Verses 20-21 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul was not a “closet Christian”. He proclaimed the truth of the Gospel to all people in public forums and he did not hold back telling the truth or “sugar coat” the reality of the Gospel message. He was not afraid to preach to people of power including the Caesar of Rome. He was not too proud to hold meetings in fields, near rivers, in private houses or anywhere else the LORD sent him. He always testified of Jesus to the Jews first and then the Greeks, and his message was always the same: repent with a sincerity of heart, be baptized, be filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit, and live for Christ Jesus.
Verses 22-23 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
The Apostle Paul knew that his going to Jerusalem would result in his physical freedom coming to an end, but he continued to head there regardless of what might befall him. He had faith that the LORD Jesus Christ was always with him and that nothing would happen that was not in His will. Being obedient to the LORD was more important than personal safety.
Verse 24 But 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.
The Apostle Paul knew that this physical life was only temporary and that there would be a more glorious spiritual life after his tabernacle or body was no longer living. All he wanted to do was to finish his ministry in a way that would be pleasing to the LORD.
Application: Grace and mercy are not the same thing. Mercy is not giving sinful people what they deserve – punishment. Grace is giving sinful people what they do not deserve – salvation. The Gospel is about grace from God. Anyone can receive eternal life in Heaven by simply answering the call of God and becoming born again. The call of God on the lives of wicked people is one of grace. Wicked people deserve physical and spiritual death because the wages of sin is death. But through the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God, a way was provided to be saved from sin, death and Hell, and that way is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the grace of the LORD.
Verses 25-27 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
The Apostle Paul most likely was referencing a passage from the Prophet Ezekiel. “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 33:7-9 The Apostle Paul told all people that he came into contact with about the LORD Jesus Christ and about salvation from sin, death and Hell.
Application: This writer has encountered numerous people who claim to be Christians and who only read and study the New Testament books. Some of these people only read and study the New Testament books written by the Apostle Paul. They disregard the Old Testament writings and so they believe that verses like the ones in Ezekiel quoted above do not apply to them in this day and age. Says who? Who can decide that only some of God’s Word is applicable to them and to Christians today? Jesus and the apostles quoted from the Old Testament books continually. The Gospel includes all of God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation. Therefore, the verses above in Ezekiel apply to all believers today. If taken seriously, and all of God’s Word should be taken seriously, then Christians who fail to tell the people they live with, work with, or interact with in anyway each day about Jesus are going to be held responsible by the LORD on judgement day if those people never repent and die in their sins. This does not mean that a believer is held responsible for the choices of people after they hear the Gospel to reject Jesus and to chose Hell instead of Heaven. It only applies to the failure of God’s people in speaking to and warning the unsaved about the love of Christ, about His saving grace, and the consequences of rejecting the Gospel message and rejecting Him.
Verses 28-29 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. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
The Greek word translated as “take heed” is “prosecho” and it means beware or to give attention to. The Apostle Paul was warning the leadership of the Church to do as he had done, and testify of Jesus to all people and feed the congregation with the Word of God because it belonged to the LORD as He had bought and established the Church through the shedding of His blood at Calvary. They were to care for it after he, Paul, was no longer available to do so. And he warned that people he referred to as grievous wolves (metaphor for cruel, greedy, and destructive men), would be sent into the Church by Satan and his devils to destroy that which had been established by God through his ministry and that of others.
Verses 30-31 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
The Apostle Paul also warned that “of your own selves” or from within the Church itself men would come forth preaching and teaching a different gospel that would confuse people and cause them to withdraw from the Church and from the sound teaching they had received.
Application: Unfortunately the words of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the verses above have come true down through the centuries and are even more impactful today as it is obvious that the Church, in the Western world at least, has fallen away from the truth of the Word of God, teaching false doctrine and using false bibles. Satan has risen up in these last days and he is taking captive men and women who are being blinded to the truth. They attend a church and have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. They are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. See 2 Timothy 3:5-7 The Apostle Paul saw this in his day and that is why he shed tears and tried to warn all believers.
Verse 32 And 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.
The Apostle Paul had no choice but to commit the keeping of these Christian believers to the LORD as he would no longer be able to care for them and keep them on the right path, but he did so with the confidence that the LORD would continue to build up the Church. However, this “letting go” of his ministry to these precious, converted, born again Christian believers must have been very difficult for the Apostle Paul who had spent his entire adult life serving Jesus Christ and serving others.
Verses 33-34 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
The Apostle Paul set the example of how a servant of the LORD should live which includes taking care of one’s own needs and not expecting others to do so. This does not mean that God’s ministering servants cannot receive and accept gifts from believers, but their source of income and other necessities should be through trusting God for their needs and through using the skills and talents God has given to them to earn a living and to help others.
Application: Pastors and evangelists should be called by God to the ministry. God does the choosing. But often the pastor has chosen a career in the pulpit and is not called by God. And often a pastor will turn down a pastorate in a particular church if the salary is not large enough and does not include a retirement plan and health care benefits. If a church congregation decides to pay a pastor a salary, then that decision is a congregational one that the members of that particular church decide to gift to the pastor. Unfortunately in today’s churches most pastors have become employees of the church they pastor instead of employees of the LORD God Almighty. If a pastor accepts a position in any church and if he is truly called by God to minister in that church, the money will be there to meet the pastor’s needs because God has promised to care for His people. The size of the income a pastor can make at a church should not be the deciding factor as to where that pastor ministers. Pastors should go where God sends them. This is true for evangelist, teachers, and other people ministering unto the LORD. This concept may seem foreign in western society, but it is common enough in Asian or African countries and in what is termed third world countries where pastors work a regular job and minister to their congregations successfully because they are in the will of God. The Apostle Paul was a tent maker and these working pastors are following his example.
Verse 35 I 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.
Application: One type of “fruit” a converted Christian believer should produce is a grateful heart for all the LORD gives and therefore a giving heart so that others will be blessed. The Church will always have needy people in the congregations and it is the job of the Church to help these people with their needs, and not the job of any government agency. Once money or services are taken from government agencies by believers, they are unequally yoked to a wicked system and they become slaves to that system. Jesus told His disciples on several occasions to feed thousands of people with limited resources. They did not petition the local governor or Rome for resources to do so, but had faith and did exactly what Jesus told them to do, and no one went away hungry. God has not changed. He will provide for His people.
Verses 36-38 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. (Acts 20)
Application: If you, the reader, have a godly pastor, cherish that pastor and be supportive as the time may come when that pastor leaves for one reason or another. It is a true statement that one only knows what one has when one no longer has it.