The big picture
After unrest in Ephesus, a city where he has taught at length, Paul leaves to visit other believers. Paul is a messenger of Jesus, the risen Lord whose grace he proclaims. His travels include encouragement, a dangerous night gathering, and changing plans under threat. He heads toward Jerusalem, the chief Jewish city. On the way, he calls the Ephesian elders to meet him. His farewell names both his own coming suffering and the dangers their churches will face after he goes.
In this chapter
- Encouragement Along a Changed Route Acts 20:1-6
When the uproar ends, Paul embraces the believers and leaves for Macedonia, a region across the sea.
- A Fall Interrupts the Night Gathering Acts 20:7-12
On the week's first day, believers gather to share bread.
- A Meeting Arranged Beside the Route Acts 20:13-17
Paul chooses to walk to Assos, a coastal town, while the others go by ship.
- A Witness Ready for the Cost Acts 20:18-27
Paul reminds the elders how he served among them with humility, tears, and trials.
- Watch the Flock and Yourselves Acts 20:28-32
The elders must watch themselves as well as the flock.
- Hands That Give and a Tearful Goodbye Acts 20:33-38
Paul says he has not desired anyone's money or clothes.
Central truth
Paul continues caring for believers as danger approaches, charging their leaders to guard the flock and serve without greed.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 38Acts 20:1-6
Encouragement Along a Changed Route
When the uproar ends, Paul embraces the believers and leaves for Macedonia, a region across the sea. He encourages churches there, then spends three months in Greece. A plot against him changes his plan to sail directly onward. He returns through Macedonia instead. Companions from several communities travel with him or go ahead to wait at Troas, a coastal city. After the feast of unleavened bread, which recalls rescue from slavery, Paul and those with him sail from Philippi, a city. They reach Troas in five days and stay a week. Threats alter the route without ending the visits.
In everyday life
A district midwife changes her route after a threat closes the direct road to several villages. Colleagues from those places carry supplies ahead while she takes the longer crossing. Appointments continue through shared planning rather than an insistence on the first map. Paul's visits strengthen churches, and the threat against him is a plot to kill.
Notice
Acts 20:4 Companions come from several different communities. The list shows this work drawing people together across places, rather than Paul travelling as an isolated figure.
Acts 20:1-6
King James Version1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
4And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
Acts 20:7-12
A Fall Interrupts the Night Gathering
On the week's first day, believers gather to share bread. Paul speaks until midnight because he leaves the next day. In the lamp-lit upper room, Eutychus, a young man sitting at a window, falls deeply asleep. He drops from the third floor and is taken up dead. Paul goes down, embraces him, and says his life is in him. He returns upstairs, eats, and continues talking until dawn. The young man is brought back alive, giving the group great comfort. The gathering's long teaching includes both a terrifying loss and a return to life.
In everyday life
An emergency volunteer sits with a family after a young relative survives a serious fall. Nobody resumes the evening as though fear never entered it. They keep looking toward the occupied chair, relieved by the presence they nearly lost. Their comfort has a living face. Acts describes Eutychus taken up dead and then restored alive through Paul's intervention.
Notice
Acts 20:12 The comfort comes with the young man brought alive. The account does not leave the result as Paul's reassurance alone; the gathered people receive him back.
Acts 20:7-12
King James Version7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Acts 20:13-17
A Meeting Arranged Beside the Route
Paul chooses to walk to Assos, a coastal town, while the others go by ship. They take him aboard there and continue by several islands and ports to Miletus, another coastal city. He has decided to pass Ephesus rather than spend longer in the region. He hopes to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost, a Jewish feast. From Miletus he sends for the Ephesian elders, the local church leaders. His limited time does not remove his concern for them. He arranges a meeting that fits the route without entering the city itself.
In everyday life
A hospice trainer has only one connection before her next assignment. Rather than abandon contact with an earlier team, she asks its supervisors to meet her at the port. They bring their notes and sit together before the ship leaves. A brief stop still becomes deliberate care. Paul's meeting concerns leaders responsible for God's church.
Notice
Acts 20:17 Paul calls the elders to him instead of passing without contact. The travel decision saves time while still making space for the church's leaders.
Acts 20:13-17
King James Version13And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:18-27
A Witness Ready for the Cost
Paul reminds the elders how he served among them with humility, tears, and trials. He taught publicly and in homes, withholding nothing useful. His message to Jews and Greeks called for repentance toward God and faith in Jesus. Now he goes toward Jerusalem, compelled in spirit, knowing only that imprisonment and hardship await. Completing the service Jesus gave him matters more than preserving his own life. He expects them to see him no more. He declares himself free of responsibility for their loss because he has faithfully told them the whole counsel of God.
In everyday life
A retiring flood engineer sets the full risk file before the local maintenance team. She has walked the banks with them, visited homes, and explained every danger she knows. She cannot control their later choices, but she has not hidden unwelcome facts to keep their favour. Paul's responsibility is to testify fully to God's saving grace despite coming imprisonment.
Notice
Acts 20:27 Paul's claim of a clear conscience rests on not withholding God's whole message. It concerns faithful witness, not a claim that every hearer responded well.
Acts 20:18-27
King James Version18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Acts 20:28-32
Watch the Flock and Yourselves
The elders must watch themselves as well as the flock. The Holy Ghost, God's Spirit, has made them its carers. The church belongs to God and has been purchased at the cost of blood. Paul warns that destructive teachers will enter like wolves, and some from within will twist truth to gather followers for themselves. He asks them to remember his three years of tearful warnings. Finally, he entrusts them to God and the word of grace. That word can build them up and give them a share among God's holy people.
In everyday life
A sheep-farm owner briefs the next caretaker beside a gap in the fence. Threats come from outside, but a careless worker inside can also scatter the flock by leading it wrongly. She asks him to check his own habits as closely as the boundary. Church elders guard people from distorted teaching and depend on God's word of grace.
Notice
Acts 20:30 The threat can arise from among the leaders themselves. Paul's warning requires self-watchfulness, not only suspicion of outsiders approaching the community.
Acts 20:28-32
King James Version28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 20:33-38
Hands That Give and a Tearful Goodbye
Paul says he has not desired anyone's money or clothes. His own hands have supplied his needs and those of his companions. He has shown how work can support the weak. He recalls Jesus' teaching that giving brings greater blessing than receiving. Then he kneels and prays with the elders. They weep, embrace him, and grieve especially at his warning that they will not see him again. They accompany him to the ship. The farewell joins a record of practical generosity with the pain of losing a trusted teacher's presence.
In everyday life
An ageing toolmaker places repaired equipment in the apprentices' hands before leaving the workshop. They know he often worked extra hours to supply what they lacked. Their thanks turn to tears as he reaches the door, because the tools cannot replace his daily presence. Paul's farewell also entrusts a church to God through prayer.
Notice
Acts 20:35 Work is linked to supporting the weak, not only meeting one's own needs. Paul's example gives the elders a pattern of leadership expressed through giving.
Acts 20:33-38
King James Version33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 20:1 begins with “And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 20:24 forms a natural hinge: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have…”
The final note
Acts 20:38 leaves the reader with “Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Paul, Asia, know, Lord, bread, days help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- loft
- An upper floor or storey in a building.
- overseers
- People entrusted with watching over and caring for a community.
- coveted
- Desired something belonging to another person for oneself.
Music and video connected to the passage
No exact media match is cataloged for this passage yet. New material can be connected when it becomes available.