Acts 20:7-38 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 20:7-38

• What is the funniest or strangest thing you have ever seen in a church meeting?
• Context:
  • We will see a strange an event happen at a church service where Paul is speaking tonight.
  • Last time Paul was leaving Greece he went to Philippi  but sent some of his party on ahead to wait in Troas for Paul and the others with him.  By the way the word “We” is being used again by Luke so this means he is back traveling with Paul again. Evidently Luke had been left in Philippi to help the new church there and is now back with Paul. Paul and his companions spend a week in Troas before traveling on. 
• Acts 20:7-12
• 7 On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, 9 and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, because he’s alive.” 11 After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul talked a long time until dawn. Then he left. 12 They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.
  • What was the primary reason the church came to together on the 1st day of the week according to verse 7?
    • To break bread…What does that mean? A reference to the Lord’s Supper
  • What time do you think their Sunday service started?
    • Sunday was a normal; work day for the 1st Century world so believers had to gather early in the morning before starting their work day or in the evening after working that day.  It appears this was an evening meeting. So people would have been tired.
  • Why do you think they chose to meet on the 1st day of the week?
    • It is when Jesus resurrected it is also when the Lord appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. We see in Acts that early on the followers of Christ chose to meet on this day
  • Why do you think Paul kept talking until all hours of the night?
    • I think Paul thought he would never be this way again and was trying to encourage and teach. Notice when Paul stopped talking…Day Break!  
  • How does Paul handle the Eutychus fall?
    • Paul interrupts the service to see what happen to the one who fell out the window. The boy is dead yet Paul does something like Elijah puts his whole body on the boy… the power of God saves him. This also like what Peter did raising the Christian lady Tabitha from the dead, found in Acts 9.
• Acts 20:13-16
• 13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul on board, because these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and the day after, we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.
  • Why do you think Paul walked to Assos instead of sailing with the others?
    • I think it was to spend as much time as possible with the Christians in Troas…this would have been a twenty mile walk for Paul.
  • Why does Paul want to avoid Ephesus?
    • I don’t think he was afraid to go back but if he went there it would be just to say hi and bye…which would mean another emotional good bye which could be time consuming and emotionally draining. In fact he may have thought it would delay his return to Jerusalem.
  • What is Paul’s ultimate destination?
    • Paul has set a goal for himself Jerusalem by Pentecost…I wonder why?  Paul wanted to take part in the feast?  There would be more pilgrims there at that time visiting Jerusalem maybe his hope to be able to preach about Christ in Jerusalem.
• Acts 20:17-21
• 17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
  • Why does Paul send for the elders of the Ephesus church?
    • Evidently they were stuck in port of a few days. The Elders were about 30 miles away…Paul wants to see them one more time. So someone went and got them
  • If you look at verses 17-21 what is Paul doing?
    • Reviewing his time with them and reminding them of his example and also defending his actions and ministry…Why would Paul feel like he needs to defend his ministry?  Because there are those who are trying to undermine it… Jewish Christian who don’t like Paul bringing Gentiles into the church; Jews; Pagan religions which were losing followers to the truth…Jealously from other evangelists or leaders.
• Acts 20:22-31
• 22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.
  • Look at verses 22-24 what is Paul’s point here?
    • He is explaining his present plans and travels even his motivation.
  • Do you find anything interesting about the Holy Spirit’s guidance to Paul?
    • Compelled by the Spirit for him to go where the Spirit knows Paul will have hardship…did you notice how often the Spirit warns Paul? In every city? What does that mean? Were prophets in the church were warning Paul what lay ahead for him?
  • What was Paul main concern his safety or something else?
    • See verse 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. 
  • Why could Paul claim he was innocent of any man’s blood?
    • Because he has done what Christ called him to do; preach and teach the Word of God.
  • What does Paul charge these elders to do?
    • See verse 28  Keep watch over themselves and the flock they serve.
  • How did God pay for His church?
    • Verse 28 With his blood…does God have blood? Jesus did…
  • Why do the elders need to keep watch?
    • Paul knew trouble was coming from inside and outside the church…Is this the only time Paul has warned them? He says he has warned them for 3 years.
• Acts 20:32-38
• 32 “And now I commit 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 who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
  • What does Paul commit them too?
    • “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace… What does mean for the Elder? Elders better know the word of God and be practicing it!
  • What kind of example did Paul give them according to verses 33-35?
    • Supported himself and others…But what is the point? Working allowed him to help the weak.
  • How hard was this farewell?
• TAKE AWAY
  • Does any of this have application in the church today?  
  • The Holy Spirit may direct us where it is not easy or fun.
  • The church will always be in a spiritual battle; the attack is the same from inside and outside the church. The attack will often be to distort the truth
  • What is the implication for leaders in the church?
    • They need to be committed to God’s Word they need to look after themselves and the congregation
  • What if we are not a leader; how does it apply to us?