Introduction
Paul encourages believers in their faith (v 2).
He talks to the elders from Ephesus for the last time.
Verses
1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
2When he had gone through those parts, and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
3When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
4These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
5But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
6We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
7On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.
8There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.
10Paul went down and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.”
11When he had gone up, and had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
12They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.
13But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.
14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene.
15Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.
16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.
18When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
19serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
20how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus.
22Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;
23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.
24But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
25“Now, behold, I know that you all, amongst whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.
26Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
27for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
29For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in amongst you, not sparing the flock.
30Men will arise from amongst your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
32Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance amongst all those who are sanctified.
33I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.
34You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.
35In all things I gave you an example, that so labouring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Questions
1. Why had the disciples at Troas gathered together on the first day of the week?
v 7 On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, ...
2. What did Paul warn the Ephesian elders at Miletus would happen after his departure?
v 29 and 30 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in amongst you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from amongst your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
3. How did Paul encourage them with what God could do for them?
v 32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance amongst all those who are sanctified.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 6 After leaving Ephesus, Paul goes to Macedonia and then Greece where he becomes aware of a Jewish plot. He then retraces his steps and comes to Troas
- v 7 to 12 During a long evening talk at Troas, a young man falls asleep and falls from a third-floor window, but is healed by Paul
- v 13 to 24 Paul wants to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and starts his journey. He stops at Miletus and sends for the elders from Ephesus and tells them what he has done and the opposition he has had
- 25 to 38 As Paul says goodbye to the elders from Ephesus, he reminds them of their responsibility to care for the believers and warns them against false teachers, some of whom will come from within the church. He reminds them of the importance of God's message which can build them up and give them an inheritance
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