The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 20
Paul Ephesians - The Letters of Paul for God
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians Truth
Nice to have you here at Daily Bread. Well, as you've seen so far,
Luke seems to be focusing his writing of the Acts of the Apostles ...
On Paul. In reading about his endeavors to spread the Word of the
Lord, you've gotten to know that there were many highs and lows,
elation and disappointments, anticipation, dread, joy and sorrow on
the path Paul was called for and chose to follow.
When we ended our study last time, some of the Ephesians were upset
with Paul because he converted many people there, and in doing so, he
affected the income of the craftsmen who fabricated idols. A crowd
gathered at the theatre to speak against Paul, and naturally, Paul
wanted to go there to spread the Gospel. What better audience could
he get, right? Many people who held Paul dear to their hearts,
however, knew that this could endanger his life, so they dissuaded
him from going there.
When the crowd dispersed, Paul called the disciples and bid them
farewell, then he was off to Macedonia. When he had revisited the
churches he created there, and encouraged them in their faith, he
went to Greece. Here's a little Daily Bread Crumb. Now wait a minute,
you're thinking. I thought you said that Macedonia is Greece.
Actually, I did say that. Macedonia is what is now modern day Greece.
But in those times, the northern part of what is now Greece, was
called Macedonia, the central region was called Achaia, and the
southern peninsula was then the only area that was called Greece.
Paul Ephesians - The Letters of Paul Facts
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians to Teach
Paul stayed there
for three months and then as he was about to sail into Syria, the Jewish
people planned to attack him, so he changed plans to return through
Macedonia. Going with him into Asia were:
- From Berea - Sopater
- From Thessalonica - Aristarchus and Secundus
- From Derbe - Gaius and Timotheus
- From Asia - Tychicus and Trophimus
And they went ahead of Paul and Luke and waited for them in Troas.
They sailed from Philippi after the feast of unleavened bread, and
met the others in Troas in five days, then they stayed there for
seven days.
On the first day of the week, when the disciples gathered together to
break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to leave the next day, and
he talked until midnight. There were many lights in the upper room
where they were meeting. Now, Paul was long winded, and there was a
certain young man named Eutychus, sitting in a window on the third
floor, who fell into a deep sleep while Paul spoke. He fell out of
the window, and was taken up dead.
Paul Ephesians - The Letters of Paul Discussion
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians People
Paul went down, and fell upon the lad and embracing the man said to
those around him ... Don't worry, he's still alive. The man
was dead ... But was restored life by the Lord working through Paul!
After celebrating such a blessing, the group sailed to Assos,
intending to take Paul on board there, because he had arranged for
himself to go that far on foot. From Assos, they sailed along the
coast, stopping in several places until they came to Miletus. Paul
wanted to pass by Ephesus, because he didn't want to spend the time
in Asia. He was in a hurry to try and be back in Jerusalem for the
day of Pentecost (the day the Holy
Spirit introduced Himself to the 120 souls in the upper room).
From Miletus, he sent message to Ephesus, calling for the elders of
the church and when they came to him, he said:
Paul Ephesians - The Letters of Paul Research
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians Journey
Acts 20:18-35
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye
know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I
have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with
many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of
[by the persecution of] the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto
you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from
house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound [determined] in the spirit
unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save [Except] that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide [await] me.
24 But none of these things move [affect] me, neither
count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus,
to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have
gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure
from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned [neglected] to declare unto you
all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed [care] therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise [such is the
division of the Church], speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God [put you in
God's hands], and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build
you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have
ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me [I, and
my companions have cost nobody anything].
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye
ought to support the weak, and to remember the Words of the Lord
Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Paul Ephesians - The Letters of Paul Summary
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians Conclusion
And when he had finished, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
And they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all because he said that they would see his face no
more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
I don't know about you, but I'm all choked up myself, imagining those
people and how they longed for Paul's visits and to sit and listen to
that spiritual giant talk with such fervor about the Lord and His
Grace, and about all the heart touching things that motivated the
early Christians to walk the walk. What was that he said about bonds
and afflictions awaiting him? We think that in our time, it's far
more difficult of a world to be a Christian in, but friends, those
people back then had their share of tough times too. So many in fact,
that God chose that time to send Jesus to save them, because things
were so bleak. He's coming again soon, can you just feel it? Oh, one
more thing. The Pauls of our time deserve the same kind of gratitude
that the saints of Biblical times did. Don't forget to keep them in
your prayers. Catch you again soon as we complete Paul's third
journey and find out what the future holds for him next, right here
at Daily Bread.
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