ACTS

ACTS 20

• Acts 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. 
• 2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 

That guy had a non stop zeal not only to preach the gospel but to make sure the believers that had already received the gospel stayed faithful and continued in the word of truth. The The Holy Spirit drove him on and on. 

• Acts 20:3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 
• 4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 
• 5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. 
• 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 
• 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 

Before it was mentioned that Paul would preach on the Sabbath day in the synagogues. Now as they gathered on the first day of the week he preached also. This does not tell me that we should change the Sabbath day to Sunday or any such thing but it does tell me that when it comes to preaching the gospel, it doesn't matter what day. We can gather together any day to worship and hear the word. Jesus gave us such liberty by His death on the cross and His resurrection. We have a new way, a new beginning and a new life. We are not bound by any man made traditions.

We can worship now in spirit and in truth any day, any hour with or without a worship leader. We are not bound. We don't have to wait for a priest to seek God. All this is because of the freedom and worship privileges we have in Christ. We are no longer bound by tradition. We live by the law of love and by the Holy Spirit as our guide. God gave an extra bonus to those who lived after the printing of the bible in a language we all could read. This being necessary because those that witnessed the actual resurrection and presence of Jesus were no longer with us. Even with the written word though, all gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary to understand the written word properly.

• Acts 20:8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 
• 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 
• 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 

Whether this person was divinely raised from the dead or just almost dead and was revived is not known for sure but they thought he was dead. I'm sure that he was saved by a miracle whether or not the Lord kept him from being seriously harmed or provided healing after he was harmed. 

• Acts 20:11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 
• 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. 
• 13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 
• 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 
• 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 
• 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. 

These apostles were Jews but still wanted to keep the feast days that was given in the days of Moses. It could have been a great time of worship or a chance to preach the gospel to the Jews further. 

I do notice that there is never any mention of keeping Christmas or Easter. They kept the Passover and other Jewish feast days. Jesus Himself attended many feasts. They didn't seem to celebrate either the birth of Jesus or the resurrection although I'm sure they remembered the resurrection every time they met together and the remembrance of His death when they ate together as instructed by the Lord. 

Our remembrance of His death though should never be with ordinary feasting but with a solemn remembrance of what Jesus did on our behalf. We remember the blood He shed for our sins when we drink together and His broken body when we eat together and pray. It should be a solemn prayerful meal and not to satisfy natural hunger. That may be why the church changed the love feasts into a small cracker or wafer and the drink so small that it couldn't possibly satisfy the natural hunger. If we are hungry the first thing we think of is to satisfy that hunger rather than remembering the Lord's suffering. 

• Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 
• 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 the Jews: 
• 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed 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. 

The gospel in a simple form is given here. We repent of sin looking to God for forgiveness and acknowledge faith in Jesus to cleanse us from sin and grant us eternal life. We recognize that all this is not possible except by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. 

Notice that no where in the book of Act has any of the apostles instructed any person to go confess to a priest and have the church or priest do certain sacraments and rituals in order for salvation to be complete. The simple gospel of faith in Jesus and the infilling of the Holy Spirit is all through the book of Acts. They were never instructed to worship Mary or pray to any saint. They were never instructed to have any religious rituals that required a priest. 

Repent and believe the gospel. Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and be baptized. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is all they required and so should we. 
Jesus said:

• John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

This is a great wonder to think about. God made things simple and easy enough that a child can understand and be saved, granted eternal life, and be filled with the spirit of God. So many great things because of Jesus and what He did to usher in this new way for any and all who believe in Him. What power, what love, what goodness that God would visit us in this way. 

• Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 
  23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 

Paul was bound in the spirit. In other words the spirit of God within him pressed upon him the desire to preach the gospel in places where it was not safe to go but his love for souls and zeal for God made him go anyway.

• Acts 20:24 But none of these things move 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. 

He knew he would be arrested and later killed for the gospel's sake. 

• Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 

He didn't keep quiet about the gospel but was obedient to the holy calling to preach without fear. The blood of any unbeliever was not on his hands. He former life where he was a part of killing and persecuting dissenters was forgiven and under the blood by the atoning death of Jesus Christ. 

• Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 
• 28 Take heed 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. 

We can't say enough for those who are called of God to oversee the believers that Christ died to save. What an awesome responsibility. It must not be taken lightly. A pastor should never flee when trouble comes. The only time they should leave is by the leading of the Holy Spirit to do so. Never should it be for a bigger church or a larger salary. This is no ordinary occupation. Let God do the moving. 

• Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

This started to happen as soon as the apostles died. It kept growing until we had a church so apostate that the gospel was covered up and unrecognizable. Commandments of men, ordinances, rules, rituals and other things took the place of the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. The reformation started us out of those dark days but it still took years to shake off all the traditional doctrines of men that enslaved the church for centuries. All people have to do to escape deception and get out of false religion is to simply, STUDY THEIR BIBLES. False religion will always have some truth or else no one would fall for it. This is more than just disagreeing on baptisms, loud or quiet worship, songs and musical instruments. Those are minor things. The real danger is covering up or substituting the gospel that saves the soul. It is making the way of salvation different than the simple gospel given in the New Testament. Be brave enough to read the bible and see if your religion or church measures up. If your pastor, priest, bishop or leader is afraid to be measured by the word of God then they don't need to be in that position.

• Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

Sometimes we are busy expecting trouble to come from the outside when one among us could begin to teach false doctrine. We have to be careful here for there are times when the church may already be apostate and one comes along and points out its errors. He may look like the heretic but in reality be the one speaking truth. This type of person will not usually desire to draw anyone after himself but will want to point people to Jesus Christ. Again, God provided us with the bible to help us see the difference. 

• Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

Our beloved Paul must have seen with the eyes of the spirit what was coming ahead. I know they had sects and cults come to deny the deity of Jesus and teach false doctrine but they were obvious. The real apostasy came later when the church became mixed with the idolatry of pagan worship and substituted the word of God with their own traditions. This same thing happened with the Pharisees in the day of Jesus. They had long since departed from the teachings of Moses and the prophets or else they would have known who Jesus was. 

• Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend 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 them which are sanctified. 

Sanctification or holy living should accompany all true conversions. This is not a man made holiness but a holiness that is pure and comes by obedience to the Holy Spirit which is given to us. The more we walk in the spirit the less we will love the world. Sanctification means two things; being set apart for the service of the Lord and being cleansed from sin and worldliness.

• Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 

Covetousness has ruined many church leaders and congregations. 

• Acts 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 
• 35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring 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.

Although Paul took no gifts for himself but worked as a tent maker, he exhorted generous giving to the poor and to those who preach the gospel.

• Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 
• 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 
• 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. 

When a pastor or teacher has to leave, we should also sorrow but if he pressed in the spirit to go, we must not hinder him. 

Acts 21