Acts 20 - Paul Says Goodbye to the Ephesians!

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Through Macedonia and Greece

Paul goes to back to strengthen churches in Greece and Philippi taking various men with him. We don't hear much about these men. This shows how many different people were part of the early  church. Importantly, we see the plural pronoun "we" indicating that Luke was with Paul and the others on this trip. It is important because he was reporting firsthand these events. Again, the New Testament is not a bunch of fairy tales but history. Anyone alive during this period could have swiftly diminished the authority and authenticity of the New Testament by proving these events to be false. 

These traveling companions of Paul were probably representatives from other churches who had sent money with Paul to Jerusalem. They were also present as ambassadors from the churches Paul has founded among the Gentiles, and were there to vouch for Paul’s good stewardship in regard to the collection destined for Jerusalem.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On a Sunday in Troas they came together to break bread, which was the tradition which had been established. Most commentators believe this was a celebration of the Eucharist, which Jesus instituted the night before he died. Troas is at the tip of Turkey near the Aegean Sea. It was a port Paul traveled out of to get to Europe (Macedonia, Grece). Paul spoke until midnight. I.e. Not the thirty minute sermon you all hear at church. LOL. 

While he was speaking, a young man watching from the window (it must have been packed) fell from the window and apparently died, because he had fallen into a deep sleep. The man fell three floors down and was pronounced dead. Paul went down laid on the man and said, "Don't be alarmed the young man is not dead." Jesus had told the disciples, "You will do greater things than me", and now his prediction was being fulfilled through the apostle Paul! Paul continued talking until daylight. There must have had Red Bull in those days too. LOL

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

As I have mentioned before, Ephesus became a center for the early church. Paul spent most of his time there and also developed deep relationships with the people there.

“You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents

Paul shares with them that as he goes back to Jerusalem, he knows there will much much opposition. The Holy Spirit warned him that much hardship awaited him. Note the relationship with the Holy Spirit. He listened to the Holy Spirit speak to him audibly, or through the deep impression in his heart. And here is a synopsis of Paul's heart, 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

This was Paul's singular mission and passion. He was ready to die for it. I pray for a heart like his. May we have the same passion to reach lost people for Christ. As Paul concludes his farewell to the Ephesian elders, he gives them this admonition, 

Keep 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. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Paul knew that there would be those who came after him, who would try to destroy the work he had done. Paul reminds them that the Holy Spirit had made them overseers of the flock. Again we see the very personal nature of the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit communicated to the early church. 

Shepherds don’t only feed; they also lead. Under the guidance of the Chief Shepherd and in the community of God’s people, they lead the people of God to where God wants them to be.

We see the depth of the relationships Paul had built with the church in Ephesus. 

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

This is one of the most poignant verses in all of scripture. As a pastor for many years every church I have left has been an emotional experience. The relationships you build with people in the church are different than other relationships. They are deeper and exist here on earth and also into eternity.