Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Combined Bible Commentary

Acts 20

Acts 20 - Introduction

XX: 1. (1) "_After the tumult had ceased, Paul called to him the disciples, and bade them farewell, and departed to go into Macedonia._" Thus ended the long-continued labors of the apostle in Ephesus. The "great and effectual door," which he saw open before him but a few weeks previous, had now been... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:1

XX: 1. (1) “_After the tumult had ceased, Paul called to him the disciples, and bade them farewell, and departed to go into Macedonia._” Thus ended the long-continued labors of the apostle in Ephesus. The “great and effectual door,” which he saw open before him but a few weeks previous, had now been... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:2

2, 3. The career of the apostle for the next few months is not given in detail, but the whole is condensed into this brief statement: (2) "_And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he went into Greece;_ (3) _and having spent three months there, he resolved to re... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:4

4, 5. (4) "_And there accompanied him, as far as Asia, Sopater of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia._ (5) _These, going before, waited for us at Troas._" This sentence brings us again into company with two familiar compan... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:6

6. The delay of Paul at Philippi may be well accounted for by the strong affection which he bore toward the congregation there, and his present expectation that he would see their faces in the flesh no more. (6) "_And we, after the days of unleavened bread, sailed away from Philippi, and came to the... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:7

7. The last period of seven days included and was terminated by the Lord's day. (7) "_And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break the loaf, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the next day, and continued his discourse till midnight._" This passage indicates bo... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:8

8-10. The long and solemn discourse was interrupted at midnight, by an incident which caused great alarm, and some confusion, in the audience. (8) "_Now there were many lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled;_ (9) _and there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, who was b... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:11

11. The alarm produced by the death of Eutychus, the astonishing display of divine power in his restoration to life, and the stillness of the midnight hour in which it all transpired, could but add greatly to the solemnity which already pervaded the audience. Their feelings were too deeply wrought u... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:12

12. Recurring again to the incident concerning Eutychus, in order to state more particularly the gratification which the brethren felt at his recovery, Luke here remarks: (12) "_And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted._" The close connection of this remark with the depa... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:13

13. Paul and his whole company departed at an early hour in the morning, and the meeting breaking up at daybreak for this purpose. But their routes for the day were different. (13) "_We went forward to the ship, and sailed for Assos, intending there to take in Paul; for so he had appointed, intendin... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:14

14-16. The ship and the footman arrived together. (14) "_And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene._ (15) _Sailing thence, the next day we arrived opposite Chios. In another day we came to Samos, and remaining all night at Trogyllium, on the following day we went to Mile... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:17

17. His desire to see the brethren in Ephesus was gratified, in part, by a short delay of the vessel in the harbor of Miletus. (17) "_But from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the Church._" The distance was about thirty miles. gone up himself but for some uncertainty about th... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:18

18-21. The interview with these elders may be regarded as a type of all the meetings and partings which took place on this journey, and was, probably, described with minuteness on this account. (18) "_And when they had come to him, he said to them, You well know from the day in which I first came in... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:22

22-27. The apostle next reveals to these brethren the cause of that deep sorrow which we have seen brooding over his spirit even before his departure from Corinth. (22) "_And now, behold, I go bound in spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things which shall befall me there,_ (23) _except that the Ho... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:28

28-35. Having thus eloquently expressed himself in reference to his past fidelity and his present devotion, he gives them a prophetic warning in reference to trials which yet awaited them, and places his own example minutely before them for imitation. (28) "_Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and... [ Continue Reading ]

Acts 20:36

36-38. When these solemn and touching words were concluded, the apostle was ready to re-embark upon the vessel about to weigh anchor in the harbor, and the final farewell must be spoken. (36) "_And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all;_ (37) _and they all wept much, and... [ Continue Reading ]

Continues after advertising

Old Testament