Chapter 19 ended with a riot in Ephesus during Paul’s three-year stay there on his third mission trip, and this chapter begins with the end of that riot. We see Paul leave Ephesus and spend 3 months in Corinth. We also catch part of Paul’s return voyage to Jerusalem, along with both a financial offering from the Gentile converts to the troubled Jerusalem church and a delegation representing the Gentile converts themselves. Paul stops along the way to meet for the final time with the Ephesian elders, whom he had put in place during his ministry there, and we read his final words to them. Let’s take a look.
1) V1-6 – 1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Leaving Ephesus for Macedonia and Greece, Paul ended up spending 3 months in Corinth, probably in response to many of the problems that church was having (detailed in the Corinthian correspondences). While en route and there, Paul colleted both financial contributions and volunteer delegates from the Gentile converts for the Jerusalem church. In early or mid April 57 AD, Paul’s delegates to Jerusalem left Cenchreae, the port city of Corinth from whence Phoebe delivered Paul’s letter to the Romans, by ship, but Paul and Luke went a different route due to a plot against Paul’s life (v3). They would meet up later in the voyage and hope to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost (v16), which was the last week of May. From the Philippian port of Neapolis, it took Paul and Luke five days to reach Troas, four more than when they had gone earlier in the opposite direction. They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread at Troas (v6), with the body of believers there, remaining 7 days.
2) V7-16 – 7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. 13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
Paul taught late into the night during his stay in Troas. A young man named Eutychus was in the audience, and Paul’s sermon put him to sleep. He fell out a third story window, but thankfully, he was alive and well. After continuing to teach through the night and into the next morning, Paul and company made their way to Miletus, visiting several cities along the way (v13-15).
3) V17-27 – 17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. 25Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Delayed in the harbor of Miletus, probably due to cargo issues for the ship, Paul invited the Ephesian elders to come down 30 miles and visit him. No mention is made of a Christian congregation in Miletus, but there is plentiful evidence of a Jewish synagogue there at that time, with a number of God-fearers as well. Though his overarching message to the Ephesian elders was a warning of impending danger, both from within and without (v18-38), in v18-27, Paul talks mainly about himself and his ministry, concluding that he has fought the good fight and would not likely see them again.
4) V28-38 – 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
In the second half of his final speech to the Ephesian elders at Miletus, Paul issues serious instructions for them to guard their church because of impending danger both from within and without (v29-30). Paul quotes Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give that to receive” (v35), though the gospel accounts do not record Jesus ever saying this. After praying together, the Ephesian elders bid Paul farewell and accompanied him to the ship bound for Caesarea – the port for reaching Jerusalem by land.
Footnotes
- 20:28 Traditionally bishops
- 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.