Acts 20: Meeting with the Ephesian Elders at Miletus

  • Paul wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians during this period
    • Probably a 2 year period between verses 1-6.
    • The riot at the theater in 19.23-41 convinced Paul it was time to leave Ephesus
    • The open door of 1 Cor.16.9 had been slammed shut.
    • He headed to Macedonia: Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. He had sent Titus to follow up Timothy’s visit. See 2 Cor.2.12, 13; 7.5-7; 8.6,23. Titus was then to bring word to Paul how the Corinthians were faring. (2 Cor.2.13).
    • Troas: seaport on the Aegean Sea where Paul had received the Macedonian call (16.8-10).
    • Paul was on his way to Jerusalem to take offerings/gifts from the churches due to the famines/difficulties encountered by their Christian brethren there.
      • The churches of Galatia were represented by Gaius and Timothy.
      • The churches of Asia were represented by Tychius and Trophimus.
      • Probably Paul or Titus was asked to represent them. Why?
        • These messengers probably help to carry the contribution
        • So large a contribution could be hidden better when distributed among several men.
        • Paul could have been taking such a large group of Gentile Christians to impress the Christian Jews about the power of the Gospel toward the Gentiles.
        • These men could personally thank their Jewish brethren.
          • See 1 Cor. 16.3,4
          • See also 2 Cor.8.19, 20, 21.
  • V.6: “we stayed there seven days (Troas). Notice the word “we” (Luke).
    • The last time “we” was used was in Acts 16.11,12. He was in other places and returned to Paul at this time.
    • 7 days probably indicated Paul’s desire to meet with Christians on the 1st day of the week to break bread.
  • V.7-12: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…”
    • The family atmosphere in the church at Troas was quite impressive.
    • The early church met on the 1st day of the week because Jesus arose from the dead on that day.
    • Justin Martyr, born in 100 AD, probably the most important of early Christian writers wrote, “Sunday is the day on which we all hold common assembly, because Jesus Christ, our Savior, on the same day rose from the dead.”
    • Christians are never instructed to keep the 7th day, the Sabbath. See Colossians 2.14, 16.
    • The church was established on the 1st day of the week. See Acts 2.1; Lev.23.16.
    • The Jews kept the 7th day in memory of the physical creation. (Exodus 20.8-11).
    • 1 Cor. 16.2: “on the first day of the week to worship, the heart of their worship service was the Lord’s Supper.
      • “Break bread” can mean either a common meal (Acts 2.46) or to partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Matt.26.26; Acts 2.42; 1 Cor.10.16; )
      • Lord’s supper was eaten on the Lord’s Day; 1 Cor.11.20; Rev. 1.10;
      • The early Christians observed the Lord’s Supper only on the first day of the week, never on any other day!
      • “And Paul began talking with them…”
        • Greek for talking “dialegomai” where we get our word dialogue.
      • “Preached until midnight”…the problem was not to get them to come (like today), but to get them to go home!
    • Eutychus fell into a deep sleep.
      • Crowded room; 3rd floor; lack of oxygen due to all the oil lamps and large crowd, plus the late hour…he went to sleep.
      • He fell out the window and died.
      • Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9); Paul raised Eutychus.
  • V.13: Paul’s companions went by ship (40 miles) and Paul walked overland (20 miles) to Assos.
  • The group came to Miletus and called the Ephesian elders to meet him there.
    • He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
    • 30 miles from Miletus to Ephesus
    • The elders (always plural) the Bible never speaks of only one elder, pastor, or bishop overseeing a congregation.
    • V.20: he did not shrink from declaring to them anything that was profitable.
    • Paul preached both publicly and from house to house.
    • Taught both Jews and Greeks (a preacher is ready to help no one until he is ready to help everyone.
  • V.24: “I do not count my life as dear to myself, so that I might finish the course.”
  • V.25: “I am innocent of the blood of all me…for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole council of God.”
    • God holds people accountable for handling His Word rightly.
  • V.29: “I know after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them.”