1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE

Acts 20

1Paul goeth to Macedonia, and having passed over various countries cometh to Troas; 7where, as he preached long, Eutychus falleth out of a window, and is taken up dead: Paul restoreth him to life. 13He continueth his travels; 17at Miletus he calleth to him the elders of the church of Ephesus, and taketh a solemn and affectionate leave of them, exhorting them to look well to their charge, and commending them to God's grace: 36he prayeth with them, and departeth.


1AND after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and 1embraced them, and departeda for to go into Macedonia.

1 Namely, by embracing and kissing them according to the custom of those countries, Gen. 31:55; 1 Thes. 5:26.

a 1 Tim. 1:3.

2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into 2Greece,

2 Namely, into that part of Greece which was called Attica.

3And there 3abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about 4to sail into Syria, he 5purposed to return through Macedonia.

3 Gr. made. See Acts 15:33 and 18:23.

4 Gr. would be driven into the height or depth, namely of the sea.

5 Or, had in mind, judged.

4And there accompanied him 6into Asia 7Sopater 8of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchusb and Secundus; and Gaiusc of Derbe, and Timotheus;d and 9of Asia, Tychicuse and Trophimus.f

6 It seems that Paul was not willing that these would accompany him further, except Trophimus, Acts 21:29.

7 Other, Sosipater, to whom some add the son of Pyrrhus. See of him, Rom. 16:21.

8 Gr. a Berean.

b Acts 19:29; 27:2; Col. 4:10.

c Acts 19:29; 1 Cor. 1:14.

d Acts 16:1.

9 From which it appears that which the apostle says, 2 Tim. 1:15, must not be understood of all, but of the greatest part.

e Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12.

f Acts 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20.

5These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days 10of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas 11in five days; where 12we 13abode seven days.

10 That is, of the Passover, Mat. 26:17.

11 Or, at the end of five days.

12 Namely, Paul and his company, amongst whom Luke here also includes himself.

13 Gr. wore out; namely, the time.

7And upon the 14first day 15of the week, when the disciples came together 16to break bread, Paul 17preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

14 Gr. one. See Gen. 1:5; Mat 28:1 and compare therewith 1 Cor. 16:2, which day is called the day of the Lord, Rev. 1:10.

15 Gr. of the sabbaths. See Mat. 28:1; Luke 18:12.

16 That is, to eat with one another, and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. See Acts 2:42, 46; 1 Cor. 11:20, 21, 22.

17 Namely, of the doctrine of the Gospel.

8And there were 18many lights in the upper chamber, where 19they were gathered together.

18 Gr. many lamps. The faithful, to escape the danger of the persecution, then assembled many times by night and had lights in their assemblies that they might not be slandered (as yet they nevertheless were by the ungodly) that they committed anything improper in the same.

19 Other, we.

9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being 20fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was 21long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and 22fell down from the third loft,g and was taken up dead.

20 Gr. being overcome, carried away.

21 Gr. discoursed very much.

22 Or, dropped asleep.

g upper story.

10And Paul went down, and fellh on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life 23is in him.

h 1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34.

23 The soul was indeed departed from him, verse 9, but this Paul speaks, because he was fully assured that the same would come into him again, as Mat. 9:24, or, because at that instant the same came into him again.

11When he therefore was come up again, and had 24broken bread, and 25eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, 26so he departed.

24 See verse 7.

25 Gr. had tasted, namely, common food, which used to be done together with the use of the Lord’s Supper.

26 See the same in John 4:6.

12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little 27comforted.

27 That is, gladdened and refreshed.

13¶And we went before to ship, and sailed unto 28Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he 29appointed, minding himself to go 30afoot.

28 A city in Mysia, about Troas, otherwise called also Apollonia.

29 Gr. ordained.

30 That is, travel by land, to preach the Gospel here and there along the way.

14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to 31Mitylene.

31 An island with a city of the same name, not far from Assus, situated in the Ægean Sea.

15And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against 32Chios; and the next day we arrived at 33Samos, and tarried at 34Trogyllium; and the next day we came to 35Miletus.

32 An island between Samos and Lesbos in the same sea.

33 An island thereabouts having a city of the same name.

34 A corner of the mountain Mycale, stretching out into the sea, situated from Samos forty furlongs.

35 A city by the sea, on the main land of Ionia, not far from Ephesus.

16For Paul had 36determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: fori he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of 37Pentecost.j

36 Gr. judged, that is, thought good.

i Acts 21:4, 12.

37 Of this feast day see Acts 2:1. This the apostle did not because he thought that the Jewish feast must yet be observed, Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16, but because by the multitude of people that came to the feast he would have opportunity to spread abroad more advantageously the Gospel.

j fiftieth day after Passover.

17¶And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, fromk the first day that I came into 38Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

k Acts 19:10.

38 Namely, properly so called, being a part of Asia Minor, of which Ephesus was the capital city.

19Serving the Lord with all 39humility of mind, and with many 40tears, and 41temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

39 Or, lowliness, of mind, or of situation, as Luke 1:48.

40 Namely, out of compassion towards poor, ignorant or deceived persons.

41 That is, afflictions. See James 1:2 and 1 Peter 1:6.

20And how I 42kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and 43from house to house,

42 Gr. withdrawn, that is, concealed, either for fear of men, or for lucre’s sake, 1 Thes. 2:3, 4.

43 That is, in particular.

2144Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentancel toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

44 Namely, everywhere and very strongly, with firm grounds and testimonies from the Holy Scripture.

l Mat. 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47.

22And now, behold, I go 45bound 46in the spirit unto Jerusalem, 47not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

45 That is, being drawn as with bands.

46 That is, by strong impulse and command of the Holy Ghost; or, by my mind through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. See Acts 19:21.

47 Namely, particularly.

23Save that the Holy Ghost 48witnesseth in 49every city, saying that bonds and afflictions 50abide me.

48 Namely, by the prophets, to whom the Holy Ghost has revealed this, Acts 21:4, 11.

49 That is, everywhere, in all cities, through which I travel; Luke 8:4.

50 Gr. to await me.

24Butm none of these things move me, neither 51count I my 52life dear unto myself, so that I might finish 53my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received ofn the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel 54of the grace of God.

m Acts 21:13.

51 Gr. I make no reckoning of anything.

52 Gr. my soul.

53 Namely, of the Christian life, and especially of my ministry; 1 Cor. 9:24; 2 Tim. 4:7.

n Gal. 1:1; Titus 1:3.

54 That is, wherein the grace of God is proclaimed unto us.

25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am 55pure from the blood of all men.

55 That is, guiltless to your destruction, seeing I have faithfully shown you the way of salvation. See Ezek. 3:18, 19; Acts 18:6.

27For I have not 56shunned to declare unto you 57all the counsel of God.

56 See verse 20.

57 That is, all that God has decreed and revealed concerning the salvation of people, by whom and how the same is obtained, Luke 7:30; Eph. 1:11.

28¶Takeo heed therefore 58unto yourselves, and to all the flock, 59over the which 60the Holy Ghost hath made you 61overseers, 62to feed the church of God, which 63he 64hathp purchased 65with his own blood.

o 1 Peter 5:2.

58 That is, to your doctrine, life and office.

59 Gr. in which.

60 Who is the principal Cause of the lawful calling of the ministers of the Word, although He does it by the ministry of men. See Acts 13:2, 3.

61 Gr. episcopous; from which has come the word bishop. These, in verse 17, are called elders of the church, from which it appears that in the Holy Scripture there is no difference made between elders and bishops. See Philip. 1:1.

62 Namely, with the sound doctrine of the Word of God; taken by a similitude from shepherds, to whom the office of the ministers of the Word is very suitably compared, Jer. 23:4; John 21:15; Eph. 4:11; 1 Peter 5:2.

63 Namely, God, that is, the Son of God, Who has assumed our human nature in the unity of His Person.

64 Or, obtained, bought, made his own.

p Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Peter 1:19; Rev. 5:9.

65 Namely, by which He has redeemed us, and not by the blood of any beasts, Heb. 9:12. This blood is called God’s own blood, because the Son of God, being and remaining true God, has assumed human flesh and blood in unity of Person. This is a manner of speech, whereby the Person of Christ, being denominated from the one nature, is ascribed to that which is proper to Him according to the other nature. See John 3:13.

29For I know this, that after my 66departing shall 67grievousq68wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

66 Namely, from here out of these countries, or else out of this life.

67 That is, abominable, troublesome.

q 2 Peter 2:1.

68 That is, false teachers, which seek to destroy the sheep by their false doctrine; Mat. 7:15.

30Alsor69of your own selves shall men arise, speaking 70perverse things, to draw away disciples 71after them.

r Psalm 41:9; Mat. 26:21; Acts 1:17; 1 John 2:19.

69 That is, from the teachers and overseers themselves.

70 Or, distorted; as Satan distorts all things to obscure the truth.

71 Namely, to follow them and their doctrine.

31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of 72three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

72 Compare Acts 19:10.

32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and 73to the word of his grace, 74which is able to 75build you up, and to give you 76an inheritance among all them 77which are sanctified.

73 That is, to the Gospel, to confirm therewith the faith, and to seek therein your comfort. See Acts 14:26.

74 Namely, God.

75 Namely, increasing the church with gifts and in number.

76 Namely, of the heavenly country.

77 Namely, by the Spirit of regeneration; or, separated from the world by faith.

33 Is have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

s 1 Cor. 9:12; 2 Cor. 11:9; 12:13.

34Yea, ye yourselves know, that theset hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

t Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:8.

35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to 78support 79the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, 80how he said, It is more 81blessed to 82give than to receive.

78 That is, either support them that they may not fall, or, being fallen, offer the hand to help them up, Luke 1:54.

79 Namely, in the faith and knowledge of Christian doctrine.

80 These words are not written in the evangelical history, as all the words and deeds of Christ are not written, John 20:30 and 21:25, but may notwithstanding be gathered from some proverbs of Christ; Luke 6:38 and 16:9.

81 For he who gives to the poor, he gives it upon usury to the Lord, Prov. 19:17.

82 Namely, temporal goods for the maintenance of the ministry of the church, or of the poor.

36¶And when he had thus spoken, he kneeledu down, and prayed with them all.

u Acts 21:5.

37And they all 83wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,

83 A sign of hearty love to their teacher.

38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.