Acts 20

Acts 20:1

Good News for Everyone An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Acts www.easyenglish.info Marion Adams This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

Words in boxes are from the Bible.

Tap the * before a word to show an explanation.

Chapter 20 Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, 20:1-6 v1 After the *riot, Paul sent for the *believers and he encouraged them. Then he said goodbye to them. He left to go to Macedonia. v2 He travelled through those regions and he encouraged the *believers there with many messages. At last, he arrived in Greece. v3 He stayed there for three months. Just before Paul sailed to Syria, he discovered something. Some of the *Jews were plotting against him.

So, he decided to return through Macedonia. v4 Sopater, Pyrrhus’s son from Berea, went with him. So, did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Gaius from Derbe was also with him. Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia also went. v5 These men went on ahead. They waited for us in Troas. v6 After the *Festival of *Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi.

And 5 days later, we met the other men in Troas. We stayed there for a week.

Verse 1 Before he left, Paul encouraged the *believers. He had already decided to make this journey (see Acts 19:21). He was worried about the Christians in Corinth. He had written to them. He had visited them and Timothy had visited them. But there were still many problems. They had not followed his advice. They were not loyal to him. He had sent his helper, Titus, to Corinth. Titus brought another letter to them. We cannot be sure what Paul wrote in this letter. This is because we do not have it. Paul intended to meet Titus in Troas. So, Titus could tell him more about the *church in Corinth.

Verses 2 We do not know how long Paul was in Macedonia. But it was probably more than a year.

Verse 3 Paul stayed in Greece during the winter of *AD 56 to *AD 57. He probably stayed in Corinth. He wrote his letter to the *Romans from there. Then he prepared to sail to Syria. But he discovered a *Jewish plot to kill him. Perhaps the *Jews remembered him from before (Acts 18:12). So, he went back to Macedonia.

Verses 4-6 Luke gives a list of the people who went with Paul. They came from different *churches. The Christians in these *churches had given money to help the Christians in *Jerusalem. They would go with Paul to deliver it to the Christians in *Jerusalem.

Sopater, Aristarchus and Secundus went on behalf of the Christians in Macedonia. Gaius went on behalf of the Christians in Asia. Tychicus and Trophimus went on behalf on the Christians in Asia. Timothy was probably there to help Paul.

Probably, this group travelled together through Macedonia. Then, they separated. Paul stayed in Philippi for the *Passover (see also Acts 12:3). This was the most important *Jewish *festival.

Luke met Paul in Philippi. We know this because the ‘we’ passages start again. They travelled together to Troas. The voyage lasted 5 days. The wind was against them. Before, they had sailed across in two days (Acts 16:11). Paul’s last visit to Troas, 20:7-12 v7 On the first day of the week, we met together. We broke up bread and we shared it. Paul talked to the people until midnight because he was leaving the next day. v8 We were meeting in the upstairs room. There were many lamps there. v9 A young man was sitting by a window. He was called Eutychus. As Paul talked, Eutychus became more and more sleepy. When he was asleep, he fell. He fell from the third storey down to the ground below. When they picked him up, he was dead.

v10 Paul went down. He threw himself on Eutychus and he hugged him. He said, ‘Do not worry! He is alive.’ v11 Then Paul went back upstairs. He broke up bread (see note) and he ate with us. He talked until dawn and then he left. v12 The *believers took the young man home alive. They were very happy.

Verse 7 Paul and his companions stayed in Troas for a week. But Luke wrote about only one event. It was a very important event. This story also shows us how the members of the early *church *worshipped together.

They met ‘on the first day of the week’. This was Sunday. So, we know that the first *Christians *worshipped on Sunday. God raised Jesus from death on a Sunday.

*Believers from the *church at Troas were there. Paul and his companions were there too. The meeting was in the evening. This was because people worked during the day. Paul had much to say to them. He was leaving the next day.

Verses 8-10 ‘Young man’ here means a boy between 8 and 14 years old. Many people were in the room. There was a lot of smoke from the lamps. The young man, Eutychus, was sitting by a window, probably so that he could breathe the cool air. But he could not stay awake. He fell out of the window.

Some students say that Eutychus did not really die. He was just unconscious. They say that Paul knew this. But Luke was there. He saw everything that happened. He gives many details in his story. Luke was a doctor. He says that Eutychus was dead. Eutychus came back to life when Paul hugged him.

Verses 11-12 It was probably early Monday morning before Paul broke bread with them. *Jews broke up bread and shared the pieces before a meal. This was their custom. Jesus did this the night before he died. Then Paul and the *believers ate a meal together (see note on Acts 2:46). After that, Paul spoke with them until he left. From Troas to Miletus, 20:13-16 v13 Paul decided to travel by land. He went on ahead to the ship. We sailed to Assos where we intended to meet Paul. Then we intended to take him on the ship. He had told us to do this. v14 He met us at Assos and he came on the ship. We sailed on to Mitylene. v15 Next day, we sailed from there and we arrived in a place near Chios. The day after that, we reached Miletus. v16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus. This was because he did not want to stay too long in Asia. He was in a hurry. He wanted to be in *Jerusalem for *Pentecost if possible.

Verse 13 Paul decided to walk to Assos. He used the *Roman road. It was about 32 kilometres (20 miles) from Troas. It took much more time to sail there. Perhaps Paul wanted to stay and teach a little longer.

Verses 14-16 Paul met them at Assos and came on the ship. They sailed south. They visited some ports on their way to Miletus. Paul did not want to stop at Ephesus. Maybe that was because it was too soon after the *riot. Also, he was in a hurry to reach *Jerusalem. Paul says goodbye to the *church leaders from Ephesus, 20:17-38 v17 From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus. He asked the *church leaders to meet him. v18 When they arrived, he said this to them. ‘I was with you when I first came to Asia. You know everything that I did. v19 Some of the *Jews plotted against me. They caused trouble for me and I wept. But I served the *Lord. I was humble. v20 I *preached and I taught you in public. I *preached and I taught you in your homes. I told you anything that would help you. I held back nothing. You know this. v21 I told both *Jews and *Gentiles to turn to God. I told them to *repent. I told them to have *faith in our *Lord Jesus.

v22 Now I must obey the *Holy Spirit. I am going to *Jerusalem. I do not know what will happen to me there. v23 I only know this. In every city that I visit, the *Holy Spirit has warned me. I will go to prison and I will have troubles. v24 But my life is worth nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to finish the task that the *Lord Jesus gave me. The task is to tell the good news about God’s *grace.’

Verse 17 Paul did not want to return to Ephesus. But he wanted to speak to the *church leaders there. So, he asked them to meet him in Miletus. Miletus was 48 kilometres (30 miles) south of Ephesus.

Paul’s speech was for a *Christian audience. It is the only speech in Acts like this. All Paul’s other speeches were for *Jewish or *Gentile audiences. Luke was there and he heard Paul’s speech. He remembered it and he wrote it down. The speech was like one of Paul’s letters but it was shorter.

Verses 18-21 First, Paul spoke about when he was with them. He reminded them about that time. In his letters, he also reminded the Christians about when their *churches started (Philippians 1:5; 4:15; Colossians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-15).

He spoke about the problems that he had. But he still carried on doing what God wanted. The *Greek word for ‘served’ here means to be a slave. Paul belonged to God and he obeyed God completely.

He mentioned that ‘some of the *Jews plotted against me’ (verse 19). But Luke does not mention this in Acts 19. Paul tells us some more in 1 Corinthians 15:32.

Paul reminded them that he *preached to crowds. He *preached to people in their homes. He told the good news to *Jews and to *Gentiles. The *Greek word for ‘held back’ has a special meaning. It means ‘to hold back because of other people’s opinions’. Paul was always bold. He did not worry about other people’s opinions of him.

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell people about Jesus. We may upset our friends. We may be afraid that people will *persecute us. People may insult us and they may do bad things to us. These things happened to Paul because he *preached the good news. But that did not stop him. He wanted people to receive *salvation. He did not change God’s message. He did not make it easier. He told them that they must change their lives. They must turn to God and they must be sorry about their *sins. They must have *faith in Jesus *Christ. There is no other way to receive *salvation.

Verses 22-24 Next, Paul told them that he intended to go to *Jerusalem. He was honest with them. He did not know what might happen. He was obeying the *Holy Spirit. But he knew that it would be dangerous. People would put him in prison. He might die. But he was willing to lose his freedom and his life. He was like a runner in a race. He knew where he must go. He must not become tired and he must not stop. He must finish the work that Jesus had given him.

v25 I have travelled from place to place. I *preached to you about God’s *kingdom. But now, I know this. None of you will ever see me again. v26 So, today, I tell you this. I am no longer responsible for any of you! v27 I have told you everything that God wants you to know. I have held back nothing. v28 Look after yourselves. The *Holy Spirit has put people in your care. Look after them. Be like *shepherds in God’s *church. He bought this *church with his own blood.

v29 I know this. After I leave, people like fierce wolves (wild animals that attack and kill other animals) will come in among you. They will attack the *church. v30 Some of your own people will tell lies. They will do this to lead *believers away. They will do this to make *believers obey them. v31 Be careful! Remember this. For three years, night and day, I kept warning you and I wept many tears.

Verses 25-27 This verse reminds us of Ezekiel 33:1-6. God chose the *prophet Ezekiel to warn the *Israelites. They must stop *sinning, or they would die. If Ezekiel did not warn them, he was responsible for their death. But if he did warn them, he was not responsible. Paul was like Ezekiel. God had chosen him to tell people God’s message. If anyone did not obey God’s message, it was their own fault. Paul had done everything that he could to spread the good news.

Verse 28 First; Paul said that the leaders must look after themselves. He meant this in a *spiritual way. They must live good lives. They must trust and obey God. Then, they would be able to look after the *church.

Paul said that they must ‘be like *shepherds’. Jesus said, ‘I am the good *Shepherd’ (John 10:11). We are like his sheep. The leaders are Jesus’ helpers. They are also like *shepherds. The *Christians are like the sheep. *Shepherds look after the sheep. They lead them and they protect them from attack.

Paul reminded them that these sheep belonged to God. They were his *church and they were precious. God had bought them ‘with his own blood’. Jesus is God. God is Father, Son and *Holy Spirit.

Verse 29 Paul kept using this example of *shepherds and sheep. He warned about false teachers. They were people like fierce wild animals. Paul was thinking about some *Jewish *Christians. They had already come to the *churches in Galatia and Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9). They did not *preach the real *gospel.

Verses 30-31 Paul also warned about *spiritual attack in the *church. He said that people will obey false teachers instead of obeying *Christ. Good teachers always talk about *Christ, not about themselves. They encourage people to obey *Christ. But false teachers want to be important. They want power over people and they lead people away from *Christ.

Paul urged them to watch for attack. He had warned them all the time that he was with them. We know that Paul was right to warn them. False teachers did come to them (see Paul’s Letter to Timothy and Revelation 2:1-6).

v32 Now I put you into God’s care. Remember the message about his *grace. This message can make you strong. It can give you the *blessings that belong to you, God’s people. v33 I have never wanted anyone’s money or clothes. v34 You know that I have worked with my hands. So, I provided all that I and my friends needed. v35 I showed you that, by hard work, we must help weak people. I showed you by everything that I did. Remember that the *Lord Jesus said, ‘It is better to give something than to receive something. This is because God will *bless you more.’ v36 After this, Paul knelt down. They all did this. He prayed. v37 Everyone was crying. They hugged him and they kissed him. v38 They were especially sad. This was because Paul had said, ‘You will never see me again.’

Then he went to the ship and they went with him.

Verse 32 Paul could not look after them any longer. He was going away. But God could look after them. So, Paul put them into God’s care. They had the *gospel. That was all that they needed. They would grow in *faith by means of God’s *grace.

Verses 33-34 Paul reminded them of something that is really important. *Church leaders must look after God’s people. That is their responsibility. But they must not do this to get a reward. Paul was like a model for them. He had not asked them for anything. He had made tents in order to earn money. He had helped ‘weak people’. ‘Weak people’ were those who could not look after themselves. Perhaps this would be because they are poor or sick.

‘It is better to give something than to receive something. This is because God will *bless you more’ (verse 35). Jesus’ words here are not in the *Gospel accounts. Perhaps Paul heard them from one of the 12 *apostles in *Jerusalem.

Verses 36-38 Paul loved these Christians very much. The Christians loved Paul very much too. He was not just their teacher. He was their dear friend and like their brother. They were all very sad. This was because they would never meet again.

© 1997-2005, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

April 2005

Visit our website: www.easyenglish.info

var w0 = new Array;w0[0]=’<b%3Eriot</b%3E ~ when an angry crowd complain about something. They make lots of noise and they sometimes fight.’;w0[1]=’<b%3Ebeliever</b%3E ~ a person who knows *Christ and accepts him.’;w0[2]=’<b%3EJew</b%3E ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.