18. Paul's Farewells (Acts 20:1-38)

Journey through Acts  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 543 views

Paul's farewells and exhortations to his congregations in Greece and Asia Minor

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Introduction

Introduction

unlike other Pauline language throughout Acts>
Instead of evangelism and apologetics, this is encouragement to believers and exhortation to the church’s leadership.
This is therefore more like the Pauline material we find in the Pastoral Epistles.
This is about the time Paul is:
Just leaving the uproar in Ephesus
Writing 1 and 2 Corinthians
Collecting the Jerusalem relief offering, which might explain his traveling companions.
They represent areas where Paul had ministered
They may be representing their own churches’ in support of Jerusalem
They represent an example of early catholicity of the church
Saying his final goodbye to the churches of Asia Minor as he presses on towards Jerusalem and then to Rome and death.
Has faced a series of dangerous and even life threatening situations in his ministry.
Still his concern is to comfort, encourage, exhort (παρακαλέω) the congregations he has planted and nurtured.

Start of Paul’s Farewell Journey ()

From Ephesus to Troas ()

Encouraging the Believers ()

unlike other Pauline language throughout Acts>
Instead of evangelism and apologetics, this is encouragement to believers and exhortation to the church’s leadership.
This is therefore more like the Pauline material we find in the Pastoral Epistles.
This is about the time Paul is…
writing 1 and 2 Corinthians
collecting the Jerusalem relief offering, which might explain his traveling companions.
They represent areas where Paul had ministered
They may be representing their own churches’ in support of Jerusalem
They represent an example of early catholicity of the church
saying his final goodbye to the churches of Asia Minor as he presses on towards Jerusalem and then to Rome and death.

Encouraging the Believers ()

Acts 20:1–3 NLT
1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
Paul’s travel plans ()
Acts 19:21 NLT
Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”
Nurturing the fruit of his earlier work even as he presses on to Jerusalem and Rome
Earlier visits had been for proclamation, evangelism, apologetics.
This circuit was to encourage/exhort (παρακαλέω)
In all the towns
Many encouraging messages
Plot against Paul’s life leading to changing travel itinerary
Plan was to sail to Syria
Increased danger aboard a ship at sea
We hear none of that on this visit.
All the more risk if he and his companions were known to be carrying large sums of money that the Jerusalem relief would have entailed.
Decides to go overland through Macedonia.
But we hear of a plot against him which threaten

Travel Companions ()

Acts 20:4–6 NLT
4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
Probably not fellow missionaries but rather the fruit of his labors
Fruit of his labors
Delegates demonstrating the emerging “catholicity” of the church
Look at the regions represented by this team of coworkers
Berea and Thessalonica in Greece
Derbe from Asia Minor, and the Roman “province of Asia”
The offering for Jerusalem probably on the agenda for this group
Celebrating the Christian “Passover” (i.e., Easter) in Philippi
The “we” language picks up again after some time, indicating Luke has rejoined Paul
Maybe Luke had stayed in Philippi
Now Luke continues with the team until they arrive in Jerusalem (), though he is absent from the scene in Miletus.

Final Visit to Troas ()

Acts 20:7–12 NLT
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Death and Resuscitation of Eutychus
Acts 20:17a NLT
17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
Acts 20:7a NLT
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
Acts 20:17a NLT
17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
Principles of Christian worship
Principles of Christian worship
Preaching with Signs Following ()
Local believers meeting in an upstairs room.
Acts 20:7b–12 NLT
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Acts 20:17b NLT
17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
Not a house church meeting in someone’s large home
Not meeting in a hall like that of Tyrannus
Might be something like a meeting in someone’s apartment today
Meeting on the first day of the week instead of the Sabbath
If Jewish reckoning, this could have been Sabbath evening.
If later Christian reckoning, Sunday evening.
Gathering to…
Share in the Lord’s Supper (κλάσαι ἄρτον, v. 7)… and eat together (κλάσας τὸν ἄρτον καὶ γευσάμενος, v. 11)
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), .v. 11)
Eucharist (κλάσαι ἄρτον, vv. 7, 11)—first time we’ve heard of breaking bread together start of the book ()
Love feast--”snack church” (γεύομαι)?
Hear the preaching (διαλεγομένου τοῦ Παύλου ἐπὶ πλεῖον)
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), .)
Was perhaps dialogue rather than just monologue
Took a long time, as “Paul kept talk till midnight” (παρέτεινέν τε τὸν λόγον μέχρι μεσονυκτίου, v. 7), “Paul spoke on and on” (διαλεγομένου τοῦ Παύλου ἐπὶ πλεῖον, v. 9), then “until dawn” (ἄχρι αὐγῆς, v. 11)
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), .v. 7), “Paul spoke on and on,” then “until dawn.”
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), ), then “until dawn.”
Maybe the norm, although Luke’s comments may hint that this was extraordinary
Perhaps the length of the service is connected to understanding that this is their last chance with Paul.
Meetings after dark
Evidence: talk of lamps, midnight, and going on till dawn
Significance
Roman laws against religious groups meeting after dark
Roman slander about what Christians did after dark
Harmless meeting
Dialogue
No orgies, cannibalism, or talk of insurrection.
Family-like meal
Religious teaching and dialogue, family-like meal, and the occasional resurrection from the dead.
Resurrection from the dead

Paul Meets the Ephesus Elders in Miletus ()

From Troas to Miletus ()

Coastal Voyage to Miletus ()

Acts 20:13–15 NLT
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus.

Bypassing Ephesus ()

Acts 20:16–17 NLT
16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

A Farewell to the Ephesians ()

First retroperspective/prospective narrative ()

Paul’s way of life in Ephesus ()

Acts 20:18–21 NLT
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

Paul’s future trip to Jerusalem ()

Acts 20:22–24 NLT
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Second restrospective/prospective narrative ()

Paul’s ministry among the Ephesians ()

Acts 20:25–27 NLT
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

Paul’s Warning about “Wolves” ()

Determination to Go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-

Paul’s Past Example ()

Acts 20:18–21 NLT
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

Paul’s Future Sufferings ()

Acts 20:22–27 NLT
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

Paul’s Warning about “Wolves” ()

Acts 20:28–32 NLT
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Acts 20:28–32 NLT
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
The “shepherd” and the “flock”
Guard (προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ)
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), .)
“yourselves”
“…the flock”
“the church of God...”
“… which he purchased with his blood”
Possibly “with the blood of his own,” i.e., of his Son?
“the church… over which he has appointed you as overseers” (ἐπίσκοπος)
Not hierarchical order overseeing multiple congregations; that is an anachronism
Synonymous with πρεσβύτερος and ποιμήν, “elders” and “pastors”
The “vicious wolves”
Source
The “sheep”
From outside: “… will come in among you”
From inside: “… men from your own group”
Among the Ephesian church (cf. ; ; ).
By the second century, Asia Minor was hotbed of heresy (esp. Gnosticism).
Coming “… after I leave”
Effect
“… not sparing the flock”
“… will rise up and distort the truth to draw a following”

Paul’s Example ()

Acts 20:33–35 NLT
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Not living off others
Not a lover of money (, ; , )
Able to help others, “more blessed to give than to receive”
Michael W. Holmes, The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Lexham Press; Society of Biblical Literature, 2011–2013), .
Unlike the false teachers’ avarice ()

Farewell ()

Acts 20:36–38 NLT
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more