ACTS LESSON 43

    We will begin this lesson in Acts 20:1 "And after the uproar was
ceased, Paul called unto [him] the disciples, and embraced [them], and
departed for to go into Macedonia."

    In the last lesson, we had seen Demetrius, and the other
silversmiths, who made a living engraving figures of the false goddess
Diana, grabbing two of Paul's companions and bringing them to open
trial. They were released after they decided there were no charges.
Now we see Paul warmly greeting the accused.  Paul lost no time in
getting out of this evil city of Ephesus.  He and his companions go
back to Macedonia.  Probably, Priscilla and Aquila left at this time,
also.

    Acts 20:2 "And when he had gone over those parts, and had given
them much exhortation, he came into Greece,"

    We see, here, that Paul and his companions ministered along the
way.  They were checking still on churches they had already started.
Perhaps, they were setting standard doctrine for the Christians at
this time.  He probably thought them to be doing okay, and proceeded
on to Greece.

    Acts 20:3 "And [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."

    Whether this visit was Athens, or not, we do know that Paul was
very interested in these people, and he stayed three months preaching
there. These Jews are probably the angry ones from Corinth, and they
really are plotting to kill Paul. Somehow Paul finds out their evil
plan, and changes his plan to sail to Syria. It will be safer to go by
Macedonia, so Paul changes his plan.

    Acts 20:4 "And 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."

    The name Sopater means saviour of his father. This is the first
mention of Sopater. We do find out that he was a product of Paul's
ministry in Berea. Secundus is first mentioned here, as well.  His
name means second. Tychicus means fortuitous, fortuitous means
happening by chance. Tychicus is mentioned again in Colossians 4:7-8
and in Ephesians 6:21-22. Paul speaks very highly of him, calling him
a faithful minister and a beloved brother. It seems when Paul could
not go to a particular church, he would many times send Tychicus to
tell of his affairs to them. Again in Titus 3:12, Paul sends him on a
mission for him, and in II Timothy 4:12, we see Paul sending Tychicus
to Ephesus. It appears that Trophimus was a brother to Tychicus.
Trophimus is a Greek name which means nourishing. In II Timothy 4:20,
Paul writes that he left Trophimus in ill health at Miletum.

    Acts 20:5 "These going before tarried for us at Troas."

    It appears that all these others went ahead of Paul.

    Acts 20:6 "And 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."

    This tells us that this happens in the early spring. Unleavened
Bread and Passover are about the time Easter occurs. This trip of five
days should not have taken but two, so it must have been a troublesome
trip. This seven day stay was probably occasioned because it was the
seventh day that would have been the Lord's day (the first day of the
week).

    Acts 20:7 "And 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."

    We see, here, that Paul's message was a long one.  It lengthened
into the night, even unto midnight. They just did not want to let go
of Paul. In these early days of the church, there was much time spent
in teaching the newcomers the doctrine of Christianity. They all
needed to share that they might gain strength from each other.  Even
Paul needed to know that he was not the only Christian in the world.

    Acts 20:8 "And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where
they were gathered together."  Acts 20:9 "And 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."

    This fall would have been 24 feet or more. This young man falling
 asleep, while Paul was preaching, might encourage ministers today,
 who have people fall asleep while they are preaching. It is not so
 bad, if they did this to Paul. Probably, he was sitting in the window
 to get a breath of fresh air. Eutychus means good fortune. We will
 find that he is fortunate.

    Acts 20:10 "And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing
[him] said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him."

    We see, here, that his fall was to glorify God.  Paul falls on him
(to pray with great power) and then announces that he is alive.  God
restored the man completely.

    Acts 20:11 "When 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."

    This is speaking of Paul going right back to ministering. Perhaps,
we modern ministers should take note of this powerful man of God who
taught the Word until the break of day. This type of preaching and
teaching is very pleasing to God. When the ministry lasts that long,
God knows you mean business.
    Acts 20:12 "And they brought the young man alive, and were not a
little comforted."

    This would be a time to shout praises to God!  The young man is
alive. God has performed a miracle.

    Acts 20:13  "And 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."

    It appears that Luke (we) and some of the others took a ship to
Assos, and waited there for Paul who walked there.

    Acts 20:14 "And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and
came to Mitylene."

    Here, Paul entered the ship with them and went on to Mitylene.
This was the chief city of the island of Lesbos in the Aegaean Sea.
This area was famous for riches and literary character.

    Acts 20:15 "And 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."

    This is just a detailed description of their journey. It does not
appear that Paul ministered at these ports along the way. The
destination was Miletus, which was thirty-six miles south of Ephesus.
This was a very evil place. They had a temple of Apollo here. Paul
will minister here.

    Acts 20:16 "For 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."

    We see again, Paul rushing to get back to Jerusalem to keep a
feast. This time the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost occurs fifty days
after the resurrection of Jesus so this occurs on our calendar in
early June. If he had stopped at Ephesus, they would have insisted on
him staying a while, so Paul deliberately sails by Ephesus. It is a
mystery why Paul seemed so compelled to keep the Jewish feasts.
Possibly, he was doing this so he might be able to minister more
easily to the Jews. It seems that many of the early Christians still
clung to the feasts and sacrifices, until the temple in Jerusalem was
destroyed, cutting the ties.

                                 Notes








                           Acts 43 Questions


1.  As soon as the uproar was over, where did Paul go?
2.  Who had caused the problem?
3.  What false goddess was the problem over?
4.  Who probably left this evil city Ephesus when Paul left, two
    people?
5.  In verse 2, we learned that Paul went where?
6.  How long did they stay there?
7.  Who laid wait for Paul to capture him?
8.  Where had he planned to sail to?
9.  Where did he go instead?
10. Who went with Paul?
11. What does Sopater mean?
12. What does Secundus mean?
13. What does Tychicus mean?
14. What two nice things does Paul call Tychicus?
15. Who was Trophimus?
16. What feast was just over as they sailed from Philippi?
17. How many days did they stay at Troas?
18. What day did the disciples come together to break bread?
19. How long did Paul preach here?
20. What happened that caused a pause in Paul's message?
21. What did Paul do to revive him?
22. When did Paul depart?
23. What happened to the young man that fell out of the window?
24. How did Paul go to Assos?
25. Who is the "we" in verse 13?
26. When they took Paul in the ship, where did they go?
27. Why had Paul sailed by Ephesus and not stopped?
28. When does Pentecost occur?

                                 Notes