Thursday, June 2, 2016

Daily Reading: Acts 20

Luke summarizes the travelogue in the first several verses of the chapter: • The riot is over, Paul gives his good-byes, and sets out for Macedonia, north of Greece • He stays in Greece for three months, having encouraged believers on the way • The Jews plot against him, so he changes plans to sail for Syria, and instead takes the land north again to Macedonia, then across the Dardanelles and into Asia Minor • Paul adds six men to his party, makes it to Philippi in Macedonia, sends the six ahead of him, and stays in Philippi for the Feast of Tabernacles, sets sail and arrives in Troas (Troy) and joins the rest of the party. • Many believers are gathered at Troas, and Paul addresses them well into the night. Eutychus falls asleep and tumbles three stories to his death, but Paul raises him.

Just south of Troas Paul joins his team in Assos, sailed to Mitylene (on the island of Lesbos), then to the island of Kios, then the island of Samos, and the fourth day arrived on the mainland in Miletus. He sends for the elders of Ephesus to join him for good-byes - he predicts his death and hardships ahead in Jerusalem. He urges them to keep watch like good shepherds over the flock of God. Paul emphasizes his sole desire to have always been to give of himself for the church, as Jesus says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (These words of Jesus are not recorded in our versions of the Gospels.)

The Ephesian elders are overwhelmed with grief at the prospects of not seeing Paul again. This church is relatively strong. Paul probably spent more time here than at any other church (Corinth is up there). This church fares well in John's book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the church at Ephesus lists John as one of its bishops.

Luke specifically mentions that Paul avoided going to Ephesus out of haste to get to Jerusalem. He conceded to call the elders of Ephesus to Miletus to see him off, but because none of the elders would be in their homes Paul was not obligated to spend time visiting those who would want to entertain him.

Have you developed relationships so strong that people clamor to have you in their homes? This level of relationship takes time to develop - something to shoot for, perhaps?