SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20
Bible Verses:
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 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.” (Acts 20:22-24)
“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.(Acts 20:28)
“So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. “Now 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.” (Acts 31-32)
“In 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.” (Acts 20:35)
THROUGH MACEDONIA AND GREECE (vs. 1-6)
Paul set out for Macedonia and arrived in Greece and stayed for 3 months. Upon knowing a plot against him, he sailed for Syria through Macedonia. Those who accompanied him were Sopator from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
EUTYCHUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AT TROAS (vs. 7-12)
Paul spoke to the people until midnight. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window and got into a deep sleep. He fell to the ground from the third storey and was dead. Paul went down and put his arm around and said: “Don’t be alarmed, he is alive” (v. 10). Then he went upstairs to break bread and ate. The people took Eutychus home alive and were greatly comforted.
PAUL FAREWELL TO THE EPHESIANS ELDERS (vs. 13-38)
Paul went to Ephesus and talked to the elders of the church. He announced his decision to go to Jerusalem by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul knew he will be facing danger and hardship in Jerusalem. He did not know what will happen to him and whether they can see him again or not. But he considered his life worth nothing to him because he wanted to finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
In his farewell message, Paul reviewed his past ministries (vs. 18-21), shared his present concern (vs. 22-24) and revealed future dangers. (vs. 28-31)
INSTRUCTIONS OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIAN ELDERS:
- “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flocks of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with his own blood” (v. 28)
- “Savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flocks. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. So be on guard” (vs. 29-31)
- “I have supplied my own needs and of my companions with my hard work. You must help the weak, remember the word of Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (vs. 34-35)
THOUGHTS:
- The miracle of Eutychus gives us spiritual meaning. Eutychus means “Fortunate”. He had done nothing deserving of God’s help; yet God’s grace has restored him to life. He had fallen from 3rd storey (all have fallen in Adam) and he was dead (all had fallen in Adam) and he was dead (all were dead in sin) but he was given life by grace alone. We are also saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
- Paul was a humble leader who watered the seed of the Word with tears (v. 19). This is a pattern for the pastors to follows.
- Paul’s love for his people compelled him to ignore the warnings and press on to Jerusalem in order to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Let us all seek every opportunity to spread the gospel of God.
- Paul named of 2 dangers: Wolves attacking from outside the flock (v.. 29), and false teachers from within the flock (v. 30). These exist in the church today. So, let us keep watch!
- Paul warned God’s servant not to be covetous but to display unselfish attitude of giving rather than receiving.
- There is a beautiful Christian fellowship between Paul and the believers. He loved and cared for their needs. They responded with sorrow over his leaving. We must build strong relationship with other Christians by sharing, caring, sorrowing, rejoicing and praying with each other.