Acts
Chapter
20
1~~And
after the uproar {mob action in Ephesus} was ceased, Paul called
unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go
into Macedonia.
{Note: Very tender scene. Leaving people with whom he had great rapport. The Greek syntax for 'departed' means a single act followed with a process. So, this verse covers a long period of time. During this time, Paul wrote II Corinthians (circa 58AD) and later Romans in (59 AD).}
2~~And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.
3~~And having abode there three months. And a plot by the Jews became known unto him, as he was about to sail into Syria. He made the decision to return through Macedonia {by land}.
{Note: There was a group of Jews that plotted to kill Paul - maybe a thousand Jews involved from all over. They were planning the best time to strike and were going to get him on this ship going back.}
4~~And there accompanied him into Asia {Turkey} Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus {Gaius number 2 'Secundus'}; and Gaius of Derbe {Gaius number one}; and Timotheus; and of Asia . . . Tychicus and Trophimus.
{Note: This great Pauline team is more of a traveling seminary then anything else.}
5~~These going before waited for us at Troas {Troy}.
6~~And we {the writer -Luke and his group} sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days {took Paul 2 days from the other direction} where we abode seven days.
7~~And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples had assembled together to break bread {short communion ritual}, Paul kept on preaching {to discuss based on what you think - an analysis} and preaching unto them to their advantage . . . ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight.
{Note: This is the night before Paul is leaving. The communion was short. Paul's speech was long - a four hour plus sermon}.
8~~And there kept on being many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
{Note: means this was a very dark night and there were many oil lamps burning oxygen. Lack of oxygen, long sermon, late at night, add youth and you get sleepiness.}
9~~And there sat in a window a certain teenager named Eutychus {means 'good luck'!}, being fallen into a deep sleep as he fought the sleep . . . and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep {now he is out}, and fell down from the third floor, and was lifted up dead.
10~~And Paul went down, and stretched himself out over him, and embracing him said, "STOP YOUR LAMENTING! . . . for his SOUL is now in him.
{Note: The people were in panic palace wailing and crying and screaming. Paul quieted the scene and then resuscitated the teenager. Resurrection is to die, come back to life and never die again. Only Christ has done that to date. Resuscitation is to come back to life, but to die again.}
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.
13~~And we {Luke's group} went before to depart, 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 {Paul} in, and came to Mitylene {on the Island of Lesbios - where lesbianism got its name}.
15~~And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios {famous for its wine}. And the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium {two cities that were playgrounds for the Roman Empire} and the next day we came to Miletus.
{Note:
Seems that Paul and his team were in need of well deserved rest and
relaxation. Paul to be ready for his big sin and
punishment
. . . the others for their great ministries. Of course Paul
rebounds, cursing is turned to blessing, and we are blessed with the
Pauline Prison Epistles!}
16~~For Paul had made up his mind {means in the Greek to be bullheaded about it} to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia . . . for if he delayed it would not be possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost {4th class condition - wished it would be possible but did not believe it was possible}.
{Note: This is Paul's will NOT the will of God for him to go to Jerusalem. The beginning of his great sin - and Paul will be warned three times not to go to Jerusalem.}
17~~And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
{Note: the elders were the pastors of the various churches in Ephesus.}
18~~And when they were come face to face with him, he said unto them, "You remember, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons."
{Note: The pastors came TO Paul. Paul is reminding them of his ministry in Ephesus.}
19~~"Serving the Lord with all humility of mind {orientation to grace and the Plan of God}, and with many tears, and pressures, which accompanies me by the lying in wait of the Jews."
{Note: Paul is under great danger and pressures from RELIGION - the legalistic Jews.}
20~~"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and I have also categorically taught you over and over again publicly, and from house to house."
{Note: 'Kept back nothing' is a nautical idiom in the Greek - by captains orders the sails are taken down to slow down the ship - with the negative, means Paul taught and taught these pastor-teachers all he could - in categories of doctrines. In Ephesus, the churches met in private homes hence RBT teaches that the plural 'elders' is the pastor-teacher (singular) in each of the many houses - hence 'elders' (means the one in authority). As far as doctrine to be taught, only the one with the gift of pastor-teacher can make that decision. There are other men and women with spiritual gifts like the gift of administration that handle the money and operations of the church.}
21~~"Making
a solemn and earnest declaration both
to
the Jews, and also to the Greeks {to witness with a follow-through}
. . . repentance {change of mind} toward God, and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ."
22~~"And now {dramatic pause} . . . I go {from one place to another - from Miletus} to Jerusalem, having been impeded by the Spirit, not knowing the things that I will encounter there."
23~~Except that the Holy Spirit makes a solemn warning in every city, keeping on saying that imprisonments and pressures await me."
{Note: Paul probably 'feels' he is going out of the geographic will of God, but is NOT a direct order at this point. For Paul to 'not know' is very unusual for the dogmatic Apostle of Grace! Paul rationalizes that the pressures are for advancement, not wanting to recognize they will be for discipline.}
24~~"But none of these things move me {hardheaded}, neither do I count my life dear unto myself {not afraid to die}, for the purpose that I might finish my laps with joy {idiom for laps in a racetrack - run his course} . . . and the ministry which I have received from the immediate source of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
{Note: Paul's doctrine remains true. His application to his life is failing though.}
25~~ "And now, behold, I know that you all . . . among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God . . . shall see my face no more."
{Note: Paul is stating he will see these pastor-teachers no more. Paul does return to Ephesus, but whether or not he sees any of these men again in time is not documented.}
26~~"Because of this {because he has trained them} I testify this day {on the record}, that I keep on being {absolute status quo} pure from the blood of all {idiom here for 'failures of others'}."
{Note: This is an idiom. Paul is saying he has done his responsibility to these pastor-teachers, he has taught them all the doctrine he could. So 'pure' means he met his obligation to them. His responsibility was to study and teach. What they do with the doctrine - application - is up to them! It is not 'on his head' we might say today.}
27~~"For I have not held back {to shun his responsibilities} in repeating and communicating again and again unto you all the designs {decrees} of God."
{Note: Pattern of teaching is presented here. Teach the doctrines, then teach them again and again, until they not only have HEARD the doctrine, but the CAN NOT FORGET IT!}
{Warning
to the Pastor-teachers about their great responsibility to their flock}
28~~"Beware,
and always beware, with regard to yourselves,
and
to all the flock which the Holy Spirit Himself has appointed you
overseers . . . to keep on feeding the church which belongs to
God
. . . which He has purchased with His own blood.
{Note: In the Greek there are a few words for 'feed'. Here is 'poimaino' which means to feed with authority. With sheep it is ruling with the shepherd's staff - so is with authority!"
{False
teacher warning}
29~~"For
I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves {came to
mean bullies} shall infiltrate among you, not sparing the flock.
{Note: Continuing the analogy of a shepherd watching over its flock, when Paul leaves, Ephesus will not have an apostle watching over the churches until Timothy comes. False teachers will be coming to lead the flock astray from True Bible Doctrine.}
{Apostate
teacher warning}
30~~"Also
from your own selves shall men arise, speaking distorted things, to
seduce away disciples after them {to listen to their ideas instead of
going 'after bible doctrine'}."
{Note: Now Paul is saying that not only will people outside this group of his students that are now Pastor-teachers be leading the flock astray, but ALSO some of these people will lead the flock to follow their 'personalities' / programs instead of keeping their eyes on the Lord and True Bible doctrine. Seduce is the key word. It indicates people will leave Bible doctrinal teaching based on emotional responses - human good, pleasing personality of the pastor, etc. instead of concentrating on the quality of the content that the teacher teaches.}
31~~" Therefore constantly be alert with regards to yourself, and remember {bible doctrine metabolized in your soul}, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
{Note: The Greek word used here for alert is not the one for ' alert from outside forces like in a sentry on duty'. This time "Gregoreuo' is used which is to watch your self and what you do. This says to be alert to what you are teaching. Stay with ICE teaching - word by word, sentence by sentence, precept on precept, category on category of doctrines.}
{Note: Noutheteo is a compound Greek word - to place and in the mind. So to 'Warn' is to place in your mind something to use as a reference. Paul gave them bible doctrine as their reference.}
32~~"And now, brethren {believers}, I make a deposit with you to God . . . and through the word of His grace . . . which is able to build you up {what doctrine can do for you} . . . and to give you an inheritance {sum total of God's plan for you in Phase III} among all those who are sanctified . . . with the result that their sanctification continues for ever and ever."
{Note:
3 sanctifications in view here:
Phase I sanctification - set apart - salvation - because of
faith in Christ. We are positionally with His son at the cross
(Positional Truth - Relationship with God through Christ).
Phase II sanctification - knowledge of doctrine, mind of Christ,
filling of Spirit to Glorify Christ, production of divine good,
produces the character of Christ- experientially like Christ on
Earth (Experiential Relationship with Christ in Time).
Phase III resurrection body minus old sin nature minus human
good -ultimately like His son in a resurrected body (Ultimate
Sanctification).}
{Paul's
motivation verses 33-35}
33~~"I
have coveted no man's silver {money}, or gold {the principal of
wealth}, or apparel {other details of life}."
{Note: 3 categories of details of life. Paul did not cater to the wealth or desire materialistic things - he set the example for the preachers he is teaching. You can not communicate bible doctrine and covet at the same time. However, also does not mean the preacher should be kept poor!}
34~~"For you yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities and to them that were with me."
{Note: Paul worked and supported himself and the seminary students whose job was to study, study, and study!}
35~~"I have pointed out to you all things {made an issue of doctrine}, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak {means needy and often obnoxious}, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus . . . how He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
{Note: Giving commemorates the grace of God.}
{Note: These words of Jesus were passed down by word of mouth. This phrase was first recorded right here in the bible.}
{Note:
1) Giving expresses the principal of Grace.
2) The principal of Grace depends of the character of the
giver.
3) The person gives based on who and what HE is, not based
on the deserving characteristics of the receiver.}
{Benediction
to the pastors conference}
36~~And
when he {Paul} had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with
them all.
37~~And they all wept considerably {out of gratitude - happiness weeping}, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him {custom in the ancient world - a kiss to the side of the neck}.
38~~Constantly sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
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