The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Twenty
(20:1-36)

Vs. 1-12

Paul says good-bye to those at Ephesus and heads for Macedonia and Greece. These times are mentioned in (2 Cor. 1:15,16; 2:12,13). By this time 1 and 2 Thess., 1 and 2 Cor., and Galatians were probably written.

The Jews are again laying in wait (vs. 3) as they have been for a long time.

The first evangelistic team is formed and they begin traveling together preaching the gospel.

Aristarchus and Gaius, see (Acts 19:29; 27:2)

Timotheus, see (Acts 16:1; 17:14; 18:5; 19:22; Rom. 16:21; Col. 1:1; Philem. 1)

Tychicus, see (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12)

Trophimus, see (Acts 21:9; 2 Tim. 4 : 20)

Vs. 7

"Upon the first day of the week." (1 Cor. 16:2) There was a first day Sabbath before (Ex. 20). In (Ex. 12:16) there is a first day Sabbath and a seventh day Sabbath (Eze. 20:12).

In (Rom. 13:9) when the moral commandments are repeated the Sabbath is not mentioned. In (Rom. 14:5) the word says, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

Breaking of bread is not "Holy Communion", it's eating. (Vs. 11)!

Eutychus falls asleep during the late evening service and falls out of the third loft, and is D.O.A.

Paul does not depend upon the faith of the dead man to be healed, but at will resurrects Eutychus as Peter did in (Acts 10:40) using a method similar to Elijah in (1 Kings 17:21).

Vs. 13-16

Luke is accompanying Paul: "we" and "us", (vs. 13,14,15).

(Vs. 15), Miletus - (2 Tim. 4:20)

Paul shares his intention to go to Jerusalem for Pentecost.

Vs. 17-35

Elders - ordained elders, (Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1,2; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Tim. 3).

What follows is a preaching message from a minister on how to be a minister. Some of the important characteristics of a good minister are:

Vs. 19 - [1]. Humility of mind
Vs. 19 - [2]. Many tears
Vs. 20 - [3]. Kept back nothing profitable
Vs. 20 - [4]. Showed and taught publicly and house to house
Vs. 21 - [5]. Preached repentance and faith
Vs. 24 - [6]. Don't count your life dear to yourself
Vs. 24 - [7]. He finished with joy
Vs. 24 - [8]. It was the Lord's ministry
Vs. 27 - [9]. Paul did not shun to declare all the counsel of God... he taught the whole Bible
Vs. 28 - [10]. Take heed unto yourself
Vs. 28 - [11]. Take heed unto your flock
Vs. 29 - [12]. Paul warned his people of wolves with tears (vs. 31)
Vs. 32 - [13]. He prayed for his people
Vs. 33 - [14]. Coveted no man's possessions
Vs. 34 - [15]. Be not afraid of physical labor
Vs. 35 - [16]. Support the weak - it is more blessed to give than receive.

Vs. 19

(Phil. 2:3; Acts 20:3)

Vs. 21

(Acts 24:25; 26:20)

Vs. 22

Paul is "bound in the spirit" but the Spirit warns Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4,11; 22:18,21)

Vs. 23

Notice: the Holy Ghost witnesses (vs. 28) "the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers."

Vs. 24

(Acts 15:26; 24:27 Course - 2 Tim. 4:7)

Vs. 25

(1 Tim. 1:3; 3:14; 4:13)

Vs. 26

(Eze. 3:18; 33:8; Neh. 5:12,13)

Vs. 27

(Pro. 14:25)

Vs. 28

(1 Cor. 11:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; 1 Jn. 3:16; Heb. 9:12)

Vs. 29

(Rev. 1:16; Matt. 7:15; Lk. 10:3)

Vs. 31

(Eze. 33:7,8)

Vs. 32

God would not build a beautiful temple, (1 Kings 5-7), until he found a place where a man was willing to give all freely (2 Sam. 24:20-23).

Vs. 34

(Acts 18:3)

Vs. 35

"It is more blessed to give than receive" is an extra-canonical statement. Luke records that Jesus made this statement, yet it is not, recorded in any of the four gospels, e.g., (Heb. 12:21).

Vs. 36

Paul has an altar call and the preacher gets down and prays with the congregation. (Ex. 32:26) - "You can give and not love, but you cannot love and not give."

Paul sums up his ministry in (2 Cor. 6:3-10). Paul's ministry and personal life were well known: they were public property. 'He did what he did in the open (2 Cor. 4:2) having "renounced the hidden things of darkness" and whether people interpreted his actions in the right or wrong manner (2 Cor. 6:8), it didn't make any difference to him (1 Cor. 4:3).

The last paragraph mark in the KJV is found at (Acts 20:36). Could this be an indication that there are no more right divisions (1 Tim. 2:15) in this age? Present truth is fixed at (Acts 20:36).

 

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