Acts 20:4 – 23:35

Luke talks about the people Paul has traveling with him: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus and, of course Luke himself. These guys were from all over the place. If you get a chance, use a concordance and look up these folks. It’s very interesting.

Didn’t you love the story of Eutychus, falling asleep and dropping three stories to his doom? Paul, who had been speaking at the time, didn’t take offense at his falling asleep, but went to him and declared him alive … and he was. In fact, he was unhurt. Have you ever gotten drowsy in a service when someone was speaking? I have and it’s embarrassing, but I never fell three stories. What a tale Eutychus had to tell!

From what Paul tells the Ephesian elsers, he knew he was going to jail and would suffer for the gospel. What a heartbreaking and heartwarming farewell Paul had with the Ephesians, knowing he wouldn’t see them again. He tells them to guard themselves and the people. He was with them for three years and they must have grown exceedingly fond of one another. It says, “They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.”

As Paul travels to Jerusalem, he encounters several people who urge him not to go because they know he will be bound and turned over to the Gentiles. Of course, Paul didn’t listen because he was ready to die for the gospel.

Paul is arrested and chained, but the commander lets him talk to the crowd. What an opportunity to present the gospel and who could do it better than Paul. He tells his story, gives his testimony of what Christ had done for him. He tells of being a witness when Stephen was killed and of persecuting the church. He speaks of his experience on the road to Damascus.

When the commander finds out Paul is a Roman citizen by birth, he tries to find out what all of the trouble with the Jewish high council was. Paul cleverly gets the Pharisees and Sadducees fighting with each other so they would leave him alone. When the commander finds out there are forty men ready to ambush Paul when they bring him before the high council the next day, he arranges for 270 soldiers to help Paul get to Governor Felix.

Paul is kept in prison at Herod’s headquarters.

Tomorrow we’ll read Acts 24 – 26.

Until next time…