CHAPTER 20
The period of Paul, in which matters concerning the death and restoration of Eutychus by prayer in Troas. And his pastoral exhortation to the elders in Ephesus; in which Paul’s voyage from Ephesus as far as Caesarea of Palestine.
Acts 20:1-16 After the noise had ceased, Paul called the disciples and encouraged them; having embraced them, he set out to go into Macedonia. After passing through those regions and exhorting them with many words, he came into Greece, and having stayed three months, when a plot was formed against him by the Jews intending to sail him away to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater son of Pyrrhus of Berea accompanied him, and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy, and the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus. These, having gone on ahead, waited for us at Troas; we sailed away after the days of Unleavened Bread from Philippi, and came to them at Troas and stayed with them for five days, where we remained seven days. On the first day of the week, when we had assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart the next day, and prolonged his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled. A certain young man named Eutychus, who was sitting on the windowsill, being overcome by sleep while Paul prolonged his discourse, fell into a deep sleep and fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and fell on him and embracing him said, Do not be troubled, for his life is in him. Then he went up and broke bread and ate; and having conversed a long while until dawn, he departed. They brought the boy alive, and they were not a little comforted. But we went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. When he met us at Assos we took him on board and came to Mitylene; from there sailing on the next day we came opposite Chios; on the next day we touched at Samos; on the following day we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he might not spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying if possible to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
“ Gaius of Derbe and Timothy .” Of the others he also mentions their hometowns, making them more recognizable in that way. But concerning Timothy he was content with the name alone, because he himself, through his character and virtue, provided the identification, and because previously he had invoked his memory of his homeland in passages where he said: “He came down to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, there was a certain disciple there named Timothy.” If of Derbe is now an ethnic name rather than a proper name, perhaps he has just recalled his homeland.
Acts 20:17-21 Having sent for the elders of the church from Miletus to come to Ephesus, when they came to him he said to them, You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I lived among you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and tears and with trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, seriously testifying both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
Since custom commonly escapes notice, especially in the New Testament calling bishops [ἐπισκόπους] elders [πρεσβυτέρους] and elders bishops, note this here, also from the Epistle to Titus, and moreover to the Philippians, and from the First to Timothy. From Acts therefore there is grounds to be convinced about this. For it is written therefore: From Miletus having sent to Ephesus, he called the elders of the church together, and did not say the bishops.
Then he adds: "In which the Holy Spirit appointed you bishops [ἐπισκόπους] to shepherd the church." (Acts 20:28) And from the Epistle to Titus: "You shall appoint elders [πρεσβυτέρους] in every city, as I directed you." (Titus 1:5) To those who are in Philippi, “with the bishops and deacons.” (Philip. 1:1) I think that this should also be assumed from the earlier passage addressed to Timothy. For he says, “If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be blameless.” (1 Tim. 3:1-2) And after a short time: "Let a widow be counted who is not less than sixty years old." (1 Tim. 5:9) For indeed there is a rule of the church, setting forth what such a one ought to be.
" with all humility and tears ." Here he shows a character of teaching: the generous, the tireless, and the sympathetic; for he suffered for those who were perishing, for those who were being destroyed; and humility; and not simply, but, he says, with all humility ; (for there are many kinds of humility, in word, in deed, toward rulers, toward those ruled;) and speaking what was beneficial; for there were things that ought not to be learned. For just as to hide something is from envy, so to tell them everything is from folly. And for this reason he added, " anything that was profitable ," signifying that he did not only speak, but also taught.
Acts 20:22-27 And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. Yet I make no account of my life as precious to myself, in order to complete my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that you will no longer see my face, you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom; for I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Here, in the passage “bound,” it is necessary to insert, so that either the mind be such: I am going to Jerusalem , having foreknowledge through the Spirit of the things that will be; and yet I go as a prisoner. Then, for fear that anyone suppose it is bondage or compulsion, and to show that he departs willingly, he says that “ in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me .” “ I am innocent ,” he says, “ of the blood of all men ,” if you, being drowsy, perish because of the murderer of souls; for of the teacher, he says, For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God . Therefore he who does not speak is responsible for their blood, that is, for their slaughter. He therefore shows that even those who do not act would be responsible for that same blood; and on that account he exhorts them.
Acts 20:28-32 Be careful for yourselves and for all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops, to shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night and day to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all the sanctified.
He commands two things of the teachers. For it is not only profitable to correct others, nor to attend only to one’s own affairs; for such a person is self-loving. It should be noted that those whom he calls elders here, he likewise calls bishops , that is, because the elders need to supervise the spiritual flocks of the Church, so that no one be weak in faith, no one go hungry or thirsty if he needs rebuke and restoration. He therefore calls bishops the ones who are truly bishops. [AMMONIUS]
Acts 20:33-38 I desired neither silver nor gold nor clothing; you yourselves know that these hands served my needs and those who were with me. I have shown you in everything that therefore one must labor to aid the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Having said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. A great weeping arose from everyone, and, falling upon Paul's neck, they kissed him, grieving especially at the word he had spoken that they would see his face no more. They escorted him to the ship.
“ silver or gold ,” and the following. The root of evils, greed, is destroyed. For he does not simply say, I did not receive, but, Nor did I desire . Then he shows that true almsgiving ought to come from one's own labors to the needy, since it is not good to give from another's. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Then he says that this matter also has use and arrangement through the words of the Lord , which is not now found in Scripture; and perhaps the apostles handed it down orally. From which one could reason: to be said in other words, signaling this. He does not say that it is evil to receive and give away, but that it is better not to receive . For this is compassion toward the weak. For to give what belongs to others is not even honorable. Therefore, the first step is to abandon one's own; the second, to provide the necessities for oneself; the third, even for others; the fourth, him who preaches, and therefore has the power to receive, to admonish to receive. He therefore is by far better situated in poverty. [CHRYSOSTOM]