Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 20
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.
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.
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.
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.
Commentary:
20:1 Paul departed from Ephesus for Macedonia (probably going first to Philippi). In the final days of his Ephesian ministry, after writing 1 Corinthians (see note on Acts 19:22), Paul had had considerable conflict with the Corinthian church, making a “painful” visit to them (probably by sea) and writing a “tearful” letter upon his return to Ephesus (2 Cor. 2:1–4), which he at first regretted having sent (2 Cor. 7:8–9). As his time in Ephesus neared its completion Paul wanted to return to Corinth, but feared how he might be received there after having sent the harsh letter. He evidently sent Titus ahead to “test the waters” at Corinth. Upon leaving Ephesus (Acts 20:1), Paul did not head directly to Corinth by sea, but first went north, visiting the Christian communities along the way and hoping to meet up with Titus returning from Corinth. He went to Troas, and then possibly on to other churches in Macedonia (2 Cor. 2:12–13). In Macedonia (perhaps at Philippi, Thessalonica, or Berea) Titus finally joined him and brought the good news that the church had repented of its opposition to Paul’s leadership and had become reconciled to him (2 Cor. 7:5–16). Paul then wrote 2 Corinthians.
20:2 Greece (Gk. Hellas) is another name for the province of Achaia, where Corinth was located.
20:3 Paul stayed at Corinth for three months, likely the winter months (see 1 Cor. 16:6), when sea travel was more dangerous. Syria. Paul’s goal was to sail to a Syrian port, with Jerusalem as the final destination (Acts 19:21). Paul wrote Romans (c. a.d. 57) during this final Corinthian visit (see Introduction to Romans: The Ancient City of Rome; and note on Rom. 16:1–23). In it he explained that his reason for going to Jerusalem was to take a collection from his Gentile churches to the needy Christians in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:22–29; for other references to this collection, see Acts 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8–9). Gathering this collection was one of the purposes behind this final visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia. he decided to return through Macedonia. This would take Paul back once again to the churches of Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi.
20:4 accompanied him. In discussing the “collection for the saints” in 1 Cor. 16:1–4, Paul noted that it would be accompanied by official representatives from the churches. Their presence would give safety from robbery and also would provide a public guarantee of Paul’s integrity in handling the funds. The men listed here (Acts 20:4) as accompanying Paul represent all the areas of his missionary work. Aristarchus. See note on 19:29.
20:5 These went on ahead. This group may have included all the representatives or just the two Asians, who perhaps arranged for the final voyage from Troas (on this city see note on 16:8).
20:7–16 Paul Travels to Miletus. The journey to Jerusalem continued, with an incident at Troas in which Paul restored the life of a youth (vv. 7–12). This is followed by a detailed itinerary of the voyage to Miletus (vv. 13–16).
20:2 Greece (Gk. Hellas) is another name for the province of Achaia, where Corinth was located.
20:3 Paul stayed at Corinth for three months, likely the winter months (see 1 Cor. 16:6), when sea travel was more dangerous. Syria. Paul’s goal was to sail to a Syrian port, with Jerusalem as the final destination (Acts 19:21). Paul wrote Romans (c. a.d. 57) during this final Corinthian visit (see Introduction to Romans: The Ancient City of Rome; and note on Rom. 16:1–23). In it he explained that his reason for going to Jerusalem was to take a collection from his Gentile churches to the needy Christians in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:22–29; for other references to this collection, see Acts 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8–9). Gathering this collection was one of the purposes behind this final visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia. he decided to return through Macedonia. This would take Paul back once again to the churches of Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi.
20:4 accompanied him. In discussing the “collection for the saints” in 1 Cor. 16:1–4, Paul noted that it would be accompanied by official representatives from the churches. Their presence would give safety from robbery and also would provide a public guarantee of Paul’s integrity in handling the funds. The men listed here (Acts 20:4) as accompanying Paul represent all the areas of his missionary work. Aristarchus. See note on 19:29.
20:5 These went on ahead. This group may have included all the representatives or just the two Asians, who perhaps arranged for the final voyage from Troas (on this city see note on 16:8).
20:7–16 Paul Travels to Miletus. The journey to Jerusalem continued, with an incident at Troas in which Paul restored the life of a youth (vv. 7–12). This is followed by a detailed itinerary of the voyage to Miletus (vv. 13–16).
Questions:
- In Acts 20, Paul is on the move once again. After staying in Greece for three months, he returns to Macedonia after threats on his life prevented him form going to Syria. Paul took seven companions with him. These were guys that Paul was discipling, training up. They were the next generation of leaders. Paul knew that he wouldn't be around forever and that the work must continue after he was gone. He was actively passing the torch. What about you? Who are you intentionally pouring into and discipling? Who are you training up in the way of the Lord? Parents, are your kids on this list?
- Not only should every believer be pouring into someone younger than them in the faith, but they should be POURED into by someone further along. We all need spiritual mentors we can turn to in times of need, or simply to be encouraged in our walk with Jesus. Is there someone like this in your life? If you don't have a consistent, intentional relationship with this kind of person, who could you ask?
Prayer Topics:
- That God would show you who you should be pouring into.
- That God would show you who you could ask to pour into you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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