Acts 20

Acts 20:1

And this commotion being thus composed at Ephesus, Paul called all the Christians together, and having constituted Timothy bishop of Ephesus, 1 Tim. i. 3, he took his leave of them and departed from Ephesus, and passed the direct way from thence (by Troas, 2 Cor. ii. 12, 13.) to Macedonia.

Acts 20:2

And there he spent some time instructing and confirming them in the faith and in all Christian practice, (see note [b] John xiv.,) and after that, departing thence, he wintered in Epirus, Tit. iii. 12, and came into Greece.

¹⁸ no heady thing, μηδὲν προκεῖτε. ¹⁹ the court days are come, and the proconsuls are

present. ²⁰ seek or require any thing, τί ἐπιζητεῖτε. ²¹ accused of a riot for this day’s

work, ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον.

Acts 20:3

And there he stayed three months. And being now on his journey to Syria, to carry alms to Judæa, he was diverted by an advertisement that the Jews which knew of his purpose laid wait for him in the way thither, to rob him, and to take away his life: thereupon he changed his determination, and resolved to go a little out of his way, and again to pass through Macedonia the third time. 4, 5. And Sopater went along with him as far as Asia, never parting from him; but Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius, and Timotheus, and Tychicus, and Trophimus, these six, went not with him through Macedonia, (Sopater only doing so,) but went before to Asia, and expected Paul and his company at Troas, who accordingly came thither.

Acts 20:6

And after the passover we departed from Philippi in Macedonia, and came and met them at Troas, and stayed there with them seven days.

Acts 20:7

And on the Lord’s day, or Sunday, the Christians being met together to receive the sacrament, (Acts ii. 46,) Paul spake to them at large, and meaning to be gone the morrow, continued his exhortation to them until midnight. ¹ resolved, ἁγίπτετο γνώμη. ² And Sopater of Berna accompanied him as far as Asia, Ἐντείνετο δὲ αὐτῷ ἄχρι τῆς Ἀσίας Σάκ. Βερ. ³ on the, ἐπὶ τῆς.

Acts 20:11

And they spent the time together in receiving the sacrament of the body of Christ; and Paul further instructing them till the next morning, then he departed.

Acts 20:12

And the youth that fell out of the window, and was dead, ver. 9, recovered; and they were joyful at it. • Assos, a sea town of Asia, there intending— b not to go in or stay at Ephesus, but to pass by, because he would—

Acts 20:13

[a] Assos] Strabo maketh this Assos a city of Æolis, l. 15, p. 735, and so, saith he, doth Hellanicus, Ἑλλάνικος Αἰολίδα φησί, l. 13, p. 610. And so (saith 7 Stephanus Byzantius) doth Alexander Cornelius, Ἀλέξανδρος δέ ὁ Κορνήλιος ἐν τῷ περὶ τῶν παρ’ Ἀλκμᾶν τοπικῶς ἱστορουμένων, Μιτυληναίων ἄποικον ἐν τῇ Μυσίᾳ φησὶν Ἄσσον, “Alexander Cornelius saith that Assos is in Mysia:” for what is there Mysia is all one with Æolis in other writers; for of Mysia saith 2 Pomponius Mela, Ex quo ab Æoliis incolli cœpit, Æolis facta, “From the time that it was inhabited by the Æolians it was called Æolis;” and 3 Pliny, Æolis proxima est, quondam Mysia appellata, “Æolis, sometime called Mysia.” This Assos is by Strabo reckoned as the first principal sea town of Mysia, going from Lectum to Caicus over against Lesbus and Adramyttium, mentioned here, ch. xxvii. 2. Ἀπὸ Λεκτοῦ μέχρι Καΐκου ποταμοῦ ἐστι τὰ περὶ Ἄσσον, καὶ Ἀδραμύττιον, καὶ Ἀταρνέα, καὶ Πιτάνην, καὶ τὸν Ἐλιώτικὸν κολπὸν, οἷς πᾶσιν ἀντιπαρήκει ἡ τῶν Λεσβίων νῆσος. Strabo Geogr. l. 13, p. 581.

Acts 20:17

But yet, desirous to speak with the bishops of Asia, (see note on ch. xi. 6,) he sent to Ephesus, the chief metropolis of Asia, and by that means gave notice to the bishops of Asia that they should come to him to Miletus. c Ye know in what manner I behaved myself among you of Asia, all the space of three years that HAMMOND, VOL. I.

Acts 20:20

And how without all fear or tergiversation I freely declared to you all things that I thought useful for you to know, willing to use all opportunities of instructing any, both in the public synagogues, ch. xix. 8, and in private schools, ver. 9, and in your several houses, whither I also came,

Acts 20:21

Preaching to the Jews and proselytes in their synagogues, and to the Gentiles elsewhere, the whole doctrine of the gospel, assuring them that there was pardon to be had from God upon amendment of their former lives, forsaking of all the impieties which they had been guilty of through neglect of the Mosaical law and the dictates of nature, which before they stood obliged to observe, and exhorting them that they should live according to the pure doctrine of Christ for the future. 22—24. And now I am agoing to Jerusalem, willing and ready to endure what shall befall me there, and foreseeing that there I shall be apprehended and imprisoned, being told it by those that have the gift of prophecy, (as afterwards again it appears he was, ch. xxi. 4.11,) wheresoever I come; and I am prepared for it; and I know not whether death itself may not attend it; but whatsoever it is, I am ready to suffer it for the gospel’s sake, (see ch. xxi. 13,) and count nothing of it, no, nor of loss of life, if I may successfully preach the gospel, and serve Christ faithfully in the office which he hath intrusted to me: (see note [d] Heb. xiii.)

Acts 20:22

[b] bound in the spirit] What bound in spirit signifies may perhaps be judged by the like phrase, poor in spirit, Matt. v. 2. That signifies him, which though he be not actually poor, yet is prepared to bear poverty contentedly. And so Paul resolving to venture the hazard of imprisonment here, by going up to Jerusalem, whither if he go he knows, and the Spirit of God tells him, ver. 23, it will befall him, may be said to be bound in spirit. But it may also be interpreted only of his presaging and foreseeing his bonds, which being revealed by the Spirit of God to others of him, and probably immediately to him also, he may be said to be δεδεμένος τῷ πνεύματι, bound in the spirit in that respect. Nay, it is possible it may signify no more than resolved, and so bound in spirit, or full purpose of mind, as ch. xix. 21. Ἔθετο ἐν τῷ πνεύματι, he purposed in spirit: but this more unmovable than that. See ch. xxi. 12, 13.

Acts 20:25

And now this I know, that after this my departure from you ye are never likely to see me again, ye, I say, of Asia, whom I have so long conversed with, preaching the gospel among you: and therefore I shall take this long farewell of you.

⁴ how I have not drawn back, or, refused to declare unto you whatsoever was profitable,

and to teach, obliv ὑποσυνέλθμην τῶν συμφερόντων, τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν καὶ διδάξαι.

ᵃ being bound in spirit I go.

Acts 20:26

And to that end I proclaim to you all, that I am guiltless of that ruin that will, I foresee, befall those that do not keep close to Christ, having done my best to prevent it.

Acts 20:27

For I have fully communicated to you the whole Christian doctrine, which may serve you as an antidote against all the heresies which are likely to break in among you, ver. 29.

Acts 20:28

Wherefore, ye that are bishops or governors of the several churches of Asia, Revel. i. 11, (see note on Phil. i. 6,) and who were designed to that office by the appointment of God himself, look to yourselves, and to the churches committed to your trust, to rule and order all the faithful Christians under you, those whom that Christ might gain to himself he laid down his own life to purchase them.

[c] hath made you overseers] What ἱθετο, put, or set, or appointed, importeth here, is somewhat uncertain. It may signify their ordination to the episcopal office, attributed to the Holy Ghost, as to the original, by whose descent upon the apostles they were authorized to communicate this authority, to give commissions to others who were to succeed them in the dignity and office of governing of churches. But it may also signify the act of designation, election, nomination to this dignity, which at that time was done by the special revelation of God, and so might properly be attributed to the Holy Ghost. So of Matthias it appears that he was designed by lot, and chosen by God to succeed Judas in his office, Acts i. 24. So ch. xiii. 2, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Saul and Barnabas for the work, &c. So Timothy the bishop of Ephesus is said to be advanced to it, διὰ προφητείας, by prophecy, by particular revelation; of which St. Chrysostom saith, that as the priests anciently were made by prophecy, so Timothy was τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ ψήφῳ, “by the suffrage of God chosen to his office,” ἠρήθη εἰς τὴν ἱερωσύνην. So saith Clemens Romanus Ep. ad Cor., that “the apostles constituted bishops, δοκιμάσαντες τῷ πνεύματι, trying or approving them by the

Acts 20:29

For it is certain that when I am gone you will soon be solicited with false teachers, seducing the faithful, and doing great mischief.

Acts 20:30

And some of your own churches shall vent pernicious false doctrines, to make divisions and factions, and get followers.

Acts 20:31

Be ye careful therefore, remembering how much sorrow and tears it hath cost me to forewarn you of these things beforehand.

Acts 20:32

And now I recommend you to God and the gospel, (see note [d] Heb. xiii.,) which if adhered to will be able to instruct and perfect you, and to bring you to the bliss of saints.

Acts 20:33

I have not endeavoured to make any worldly advantage by my preaching.

Acts 20:34

But you can witness for me that I have, by working at my trade of making tents, maintained myself and those that are with me. * appointed you bishops. † govern. τουμαλεν.

Acts 20:36

And therefore this being granted by all, what need is there of this so much ado?

Acts 20:37

For this Paul &c. hath neither robbed your temples nor spoken any thing against your goddess Diana.

Acts 20:38

As for Demetrius and the tradesmen that depend on him, if any man hath done them any injury, let them form their indictment or accusation; it is now a fit time for them to have justice done them; the court sits, let them bring in their charge.

Acts 20:39

But if you have any other suit or controversy among you, it shall be referred to such a meeting or judicature as the law appoints for such matters. ### CHAP. XX.