ACTS 20 – a farewell meeting
We have recently been reading some of Paul’s early letters to churches. Now the Apostle sends a brief Epistle to Ephesus to set up a parting embrace with the leaders of the Ephesian Church before the apostles sail toward home.
Previously we learned that an epistle is not simply a letter from Apostles but from any authority to others. In Acts 15 we examined one sent from the Council in Jerusalem to several churches.
Ephesus to Assos – by land and by sea
But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land [on foot].
Acts 20:13 LSB – the apostles depart Ephesus
Picture the Apostle Paul after having been personally involved in the resurrection of a young man in Troas. He journeys on foot no doubt considering this miracle and the Lord’s will for his next destination.
Their route on a Roman ship would have been ~42 nautical miles along the coastline while Paul's overland hike was about 28 miles.
Once arriving in Assos Paul probably sends a message to the leaders in Ephesus where the Apostle had been so instrumental in leading the Church. His messenger may have set sail separately to Ephesus with an Epistle.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.
15 And sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios;
and the next day we crossed over to Samos;
and the day following we came to Miletus.
and the day following we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Acts of the Apostles 20:15b-16 LSB – Luke records that the return of the apostles sent out on Paul’s third missionary journey will bypass Ephesus on their way home.
What’s the hurry to worship in Jerusalem?
Paul’s earlier hike to Assos following the time of the miraculous events at Troas would have given the Apostle time to consider his witness of the risen Christ twenty years ago.
In Jerusalem Paul would have met MANY witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.
AND Paul would have met those present seven years before Christ appeared to him who along with the Apostles had received the Holy Spirit in an upper room on Pentecost.
ALL had been sent out into all the world by the Spirit. What would be next for each of these witnesses of the risen CHRIST JESUS?
Hurrying home for Pentecost
~A.D. 57 Paul and the apostles to the gentiles have already traveled almost 2000 miles to this point in their 2700 mile THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.
They still have over 700 miles (as the crow flies) to reach Jerusalem AND with several stops in ports along the way of their voyage back to Jerusalem.
A meeting in Miletus
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
Acts of the Apostles 20:17 LSB – Paul commands the Ephesian elders to come to him in Miletus
NEXT in Acts 20:
The Apostle recalls their shared witness of Christ in Ephesus and commands the Ephesian Church to be watchful.
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