On the Road Again - Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, Troas...Jerusalem
[ READ ] Acts 20:1-16
Paul in Macedonia and Greece
1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Eutychus Raised from the Dead
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Eutychus Raised from the Dead
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Paul was quite a traveler! As we have been “walking” through Acts, have you paused to consider the risk, the distance, the time and energy that Paul and his crew invested in moving to and being in each place? The first two verses of this section of scripture tell the reader a bit about why Paul went to each place.
Encouragement.
Later in Romans 1:11-12 Paul shares in words what he has practiced during his Gospel-focused missionary journeys.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Paul traveled far, but God has placed people near to us who also need to hear the good news and see how God is at work in our generation. Lives are at stake!
How far do you or I go out of our way to encourage another in the truth of the Gospel, in our marriage, our families, our work places, our neighborhoods, or our churches?
- Kim Williams
Encouragement.
Later in Romans 1:11-12 Paul shares in words what he has practiced during his Gospel-focused missionary journeys.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Paul traveled far, but God has placed people near to us who also need to hear the good news and see how God is at work in our generation. Lives are at stake!
How far do you or I go out of our way to encourage another in the truth of the Gospel, in our marriage, our families, our work places, our neighborhoods, or our churches?
- Kim Williams
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Who was encouraged in Verse 1? What happened before the encouragement?
+ Who was encouraged in Verse 2?
+ Where did Paul and his disciples spend three whole months? A record in Acts! What caused his departure?
+ Paul speaks until midnight in Troas knowing he was leaving the next day. What does that demonstrate about this encourager? What else of significance happened that evening? What was the result in Verse 12?
+ Who was encouraged in Verse 1? What happened before the encouragement?
+ Who was encouraged in Verse 2?
+ Where did Paul and his disciples spend three whole months? A record in Acts! What caused his departure?
+ Paul speaks until midnight in Troas knowing he was leaving the next day. What does that demonstrate about this encourager? What else of significance happened that evening? What was the result in Verse 12?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where are you and I willing to go to share the Good News?
+ What are you and I willing to sacrifice to share the Good News?
+ What obstacles seem insurmountable as we think of sharing the Good News? What obstacles were overcome in this section of Scripture?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where are you and I willing to go to share the Good News?
+ What are you and I willing to sacrifice to share the Good News?
+ What obstacles seem insurmountable as we think of sharing the Good News? What obstacles were overcome in this section of Scripture?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, you are worthy of all honor and praise! Forgive me when the way I use my time, energy, and resources doesn’t necessarily reflect this truth in my life. Remind me that as a believer, I have everything I need to share the good news of the gospel. Give me eyes to see who needs to be encouraged and comforted with Jesus’s free gift of salvation in my sphere of influence. And that Jesus’s steadfast, love and faithfulness never changes over generations. Give me courage to walk in obedience to You even when there seem to be obstacles and sacrifices.
+ Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, you are worthy of all honor and praise! Forgive me when the way I use my time, energy, and resources doesn’t necessarily reflect this truth in my life. Remind me that as a believer, I have everything I need to share the good news of the gospel. Give me eyes to see who needs to be encouraged and comforted with Jesus’s free gift of salvation in my sphere of influence. And that Jesus’s steadfast, love and faithfulness never changes over generations. Give me courage to walk in obedience to You even when there seem to be obstacles and sacrifices.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What is one thing that stood out to you in the Scripture above? How can you translate that truth into your experience? Who can you share this living and active truth with today?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What is one thing that stood out to you in the Scripture above? How can you translate that truth into your experience? Who can you share this living and active truth with today?
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