The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 30
Acts 20:1-38
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 30
Acts 20:1-38
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June 30 ~ Acts 20:1-38
After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
From Troas to Miletus
13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
This is one of the clearest pictures of true apostolic ministry that we find in the New Testament! First we see the apostle Paul with a team of men that he had personally discipled and raised up from his missionary journeys. These men were now following Paul much like the Lord Jesus raised up the 12 apostles. Paul had called them to follow him and were being mentored from him on a journey together. They were getting hands on experience preaching the gospel and ministering to people and planting new churches! This was the apostle Paul’s dream team! This is one of the things that is a trademark of true apostolic ministry. They have this ability to bring out the best of others and develop them into spiritual leaders to plant and grow new churches. Apostles multiply themselves by developing others into their callings and ministries.
The Lord had opened to Paul this great door of effective ministry in Ephesus. He labored there for over two years. Paul planted this church out of a dozen men that had believed in the baptism of John whom he led into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Apparently this group of men, now empowered with the Holy Spirit, were on fire and began to spread the news of the gospel all over that region. It was here that the apostle Paul organized a training center to teach the disciples and like Jesus, he sent them out to preach the gospel and that whole region heard about Jesus Christ and the result a strong church was raised up with capable spiritual leaders and elders. It was this group of people that were the fruit of Paul’s ministry that he called to meet with and share his final message.
The Lord had shown him that this would be the last time that he would see them. You know, true apostles do not try to control and manipulate the churches that they plant. This is a great example of the apostle Paul releasing these leaders and this church to develop under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Paul was fully aware that the evil one would seek to destroy this church that’s why he gave strong words of warning to beware of those that would try to attack from without and divide from within. What did Paul do? He committed them to God and to the word of his grace pointing the church and the leaders to the word of God and reminding them that it was the Holy Spirit that had called these pastors to feed and now lead this church in Ephesus into the next phase of growth.
You can see the strong emotional ties that Paul had developed with his friends. In this moment he was pouring out his heart and the tears began to flow like a river. This church was truly a spiritual family knit-together in God and his love. I think it’s beautiful how they all knelt down at the beach and prayed together. Paul entrusted these believers and leaders into the hands of God. Remember, also that he had a team of young leaders with him. They were observing everything that he just shared with these elders and church. This was the apostolic example that he was giving them of how to preach the gospel, make disciples, develop spiritual leaders and how to release them to God and his word to grow to the next level without his oversight.
You see, at some point new churches and pastors need to learn how to hear from God and take their calling and responsibility seriously. If a spiritual father, the founding apostle sticks around too long this can hinder the growth and development of the leaders that God has called to pastor the church the apostle planted. I think a healthy position for apostles today is to plant with the idea of releasing and move on to the next place the Lord would lead them to preach, gather, disciple, raise up leaders and then release these new churches like the apostle did. This is true apostolic ministry. When I was a missionary with World Indigenous Missions they taught us that we should establish three things within every new church that we planted so that they would become truly indigenous and not dependent on the church planter and foreign support to keep it alive. They were:
1) Self Governing – Teaching the new church how to make it’s own decisions and appoint a pastor, elders and deacons.
2) Self Propagating – How to evangelize and win souls to grow the church.
3) Self Supporting – Training the church in the areas of financial giving and tithing to be able to financially support a Pastor, hire staff and pay for all of its bills.
Many times Paul wrote letters to help straighten out problems in local churches and he acted like a spiritual father to bring encouragement to young leaders. Some apostles end up turning the churches they plant into self-serving organizations. I believe that it is very important apostles or missionaries understand that they do not own the churches that they start. We do not see you the apostle Paul acting as the president of the churches that he started. No, they belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Saints being the members of local congregations. If apostles do not release the churches that they plant to local leadership that the Holy Spirit is wanting to raise up as pastors and elders then those apostles become like kings ruling instead of acting like fathers. The most important thing in my opinion is to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying about the right time to release to local pastors what the Lord has led us to plant in his name.
What’s the bottom line?
1) Paul raised up a team of young leaders that he was mentoring much like Jesus did with the disciples whom later he named apostles.
2) Paul’s example is one that we should strive for if we are called to apostolic ministry.
3) Apostles are sent to preach the gospel, make disciples, develop leaders, plant new churches and release them so they will fully developed into their own pastoral ministries under the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
4) What a great picture of true fellowship and relationships that Paul had developed with so many that he won to Christ and helped to mentor into leaders of the continue the ministry of evangelism and church growth that he started at Ephesus.
5) If you’re called to be an apostle, be careful not to turn the work that you start into a self-seeking organization that you bring into bondage to yourself but be willing to completely release the church you plant and move on to the next assignment God has for you.
6) If you treat the church right that you plant they may even support you financially and help send you to plant the next church and invite you back to preach and look to you for counsel resolving doctrinal and spiritual concerns! Se be a father and not a king.
After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
From Troas to Miletus
13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
This is one of the clearest pictures of true apostolic ministry that we find in the New Testament! First we see the apostle Paul with a team of men that he had personally discipled and raised up from his missionary journeys. These men were now following Paul much like the Lord Jesus raised up the 12 apostles. Paul had called them to follow him and were being mentored from him on a journey together. They were getting hands on experience preaching the gospel and ministering to people and planting new churches! This was the apostle Paul’s dream team! This is one of the things that is a trademark of true apostolic ministry. They have this ability to bring out the best of others and develop them into spiritual leaders to plant and grow new churches. Apostles multiply themselves by developing others into their callings and ministries.
The Lord had opened to Paul this great door of effective ministry in Ephesus. He labored there for over two years. Paul planted this church out of a dozen men that had believed in the baptism of John whom he led into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Apparently this group of men, now empowered with the Holy Spirit, were on fire and began to spread the news of the gospel all over that region. It was here that the apostle Paul organized a training center to teach the disciples and like Jesus, he sent them out to preach the gospel and that whole region heard about Jesus Christ and the result a strong church was raised up with capable spiritual leaders and elders. It was this group of people that were the fruit of Paul’s ministry that he called to meet with and share his final message.
The Lord had shown him that this would be the last time that he would see them. You know, true apostles do not try to control and manipulate the churches that they plant. This is a great example of the apostle Paul releasing these leaders and this church to develop under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Paul was fully aware that the evil one would seek to destroy this church that’s why he gave strong words of warning to beware of those that would try to attack from without and divide from within. What did Paul do? He committed them to God and to the word of his grace pointing the church and the leaders to the word of God and reminding them that it was the Holy Spirit that had called these pastors to feed and now lead this church in Ephesus into the next phase of growth.
You can see the strong emotional ties that Paul had developed with his friends. In this moment he was pouring out his heart and the tears began to flow like a river. This church was truly a spiritual family knit-together in God and his love. I think it’s beautiful how they all knelt down at the beach and prayed together. Paul entrusted these believers and leaders into the hands of God. Remember, also that he had a team of young leaders with him. They were observing everything that he just shared with these elders and church. This was the apostolic example that he was giving them of how to preach the gospel, make disciples, develop spiritual leaders and how to release them to God and his word to grow to the next level without his oversight.
You see, at some point new churches and pastors need to learn how to hear from God and take their calling and responsibility seriously. If a spiritual father, the founding apostle sticks around too long this can hinder the growth and development of the leaders that God has called to pastor the church the apostle planted. I think a healthy position for apostles today is to plant with the idea of releasing and move on to the next place the Lord would lead them to preach, gather, disciple, raise up leaders and then release these new churches like the apostle did. This is true apostolic ministry. When I was a missionary with World Indigenous Missions they taught us that we should establish three things within every new church that we planted so that they would become truly indigenous and not dependent on the church planter and foreign support to keep it alive. They were:
1) Self Governing – Teaching the new church how to make it’s own decisions and appoint a pastor, elders and deacons.
2) Self Propagating – How to evangelize and win souls to grow the church.
3) Self Supporting – Training the church in the areas of financial giving and tithing to be able to financially support a Pastor, hire staff and pay for all of its bills.
Many times Paul wrote letters to help straighten out problems in local churches and he acted like a spiritual father to bring encouragement to young leaders. Some apostles end up turning the churches they plant into self-serving organizations. I believe that it is very important apostles or missionaries understand that they do not own the churches that they start. We do not see you the apostle Paul acting as the president of the churches that he started. No, they belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Saints being the members of local congregations. If apostles do not release the churches that they plant to local leadership that the Holy Spirit is wanting to raise up as pastors and elders then those apostles become like kings ruling instead of acting like fathers. The most important thing in my opinion is to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying about the right time to release to local pastors what the Lord has led us to plant in his name.
What’s the bottom line?
1) Paul raised up a team of young leaders that he was mentoring much like Jesus did with the disciples whom later he named apostles.
2) Paul’s example is one that we should strive for if we are called to apostolic ministry.
3) Apostles are sent to preach the gospel, make disciples, develop leaders, plant new churches and release them so they will fully developed into their own pastoral ministries under the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
4) What a great picture of true fellowship and relationships that Paul had developed with so many that he won to Christ and helped to mentor into leaders of the continue the ministry of evangelism and church growth that he started at Ephesus.
5) If you’re called to be an apostle, be careful not to turn the work that you start into a self-seeking organization that you bring into bondage to yourself but be willing to completely release the church you plant and move on to the next assignment God has for you.
6) If you treat the church right that you plant they may even support you financially and help send you to plant the next church and invite you back to preach and look to you for counsel resolving doctrinal and spiritual concerns! Se be a father and not a king.
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll