Acts 20:24-27 - Testifying to the good news of God's grace

20:24

Paul was motivated by something far greater than personal fulfilment. His life was dedicated to “testifying to the good news of God’s grace”. His life was only worthwhile if he did this. So his “only aim was to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him”. We need to examine the ultimate driving force in our lives. This does not mean that we have no care at all for ourselves in terms of wanting things to go well, but what is the number one priority and hope in our life?

20:25-27

Paul believes that this will be the last time that he sees the Ephesian believers. He then claims that he is “innocent of the blood of any of you”. What does he mean and why does he say this? One is that he has declared the full gospel, he has not withheld any of the truth. As he will go on to say, he knows the dangers that are coming to the Ephesian church. They must hold on to the truth of the gospel if they are to resist these threats. They have been fully equipped, so they should accept full responsibility for themselves. We must not be people who just feed off sermon after sermon, but must take what we are taught and act upon it, we must grow into maturity as followers of Christ.

Judges 19:22-25 - Bring out the man who came to your house

19:22-24

Things now take a very nasty turn. Indeed what happens is a little reminiscent of Lot’s experience in Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). They called for the old man to send out the Levite so that they could have sex with him. So as well as just being completely wrong, it also violates the Law on homosexuality. The old man refuses to do this, not wanting to treat a guest like that. But then he offers his virgin daughter, and the Levite’s concubine. Inviting them to do whatever they wish with the two women. This is appalling. It is, of course, against the Law as well. But we are seeing the description of a lawless society.

19:25

The men were not for listening. So the man Levite threw his concubine out to the men. So far it has seemed as if the Levite does care for his concubine, but now his action is utterly appalling. He may have done this out of fear, out of not wanting to cause trouble for the old man, or just because he considered his concubine to be of no worth at all. The men then raped and abused her all night long. As an aside, note that initially the men wanted the LEvite so they could have sex with him, they ended up raping the concubine instead. Men can, at least in some cases, switch from homosexual to heterosexual behaviour. They were motivated by unrestrained lust.

Acts 20:17-23 - I served the Lord with great humility

20:17-21

Rather than going to Ephesus, he called the elders from the church to meet him at Miletus. He then gives them more teaching, not holding back. Paul had spent a considerable amount of time there, and points to the quality of his life which they had all witnessed. He served the Lord with “great humility”, and with tears. He had served in the midst of persecution. He had taught them the full gospel, and had done so both in public meetings and from house to house. The essence of his message was that both Jews and Greeks “must turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus”. Repentance is a fundamental part of the gospel, and anyone who says otherwise (as some do!) is talking nonsense.  Moreover, repentance is not an optional extra. The gospel is a command from God.

20:22,23

Paul felt compelled to go to Jerusalem by the Holy Spirit. This time there is no mention of any vision, dream or angelic visitation. It was probably an inner conviction, but it was not just an idea that Paul had, rather he was being led by the Spirit. He knew this was a dangerous mission, as events proved it to be. Nor does it seem to be one that he had great relish for, for he says that all he knows is that the paths the Spirit leads him on usually involve prison and hardship. This does not mean that Paul did not want to do it, but that he was fully aware of all that it would entail. There was none of the “your best life now” nonsense.

Judges 19:11-21 - You are welcome at my house

19:11-15

When they were near Jebus it was almost evening and the servant urged his master to spend the night at Jebus. However, the Levite thought it better to stay in an Israelite town, rather than a Canaanite one (which Jebus was at this point in time). So they headed towards the Benjaminite town of Gibeah. They went and sat in the city square, “ but no one took them in for the night”. There is perhaps a deliberate contrast between the extreme hospitality of the father-in-law, and the lack of hospitality of the Benjaminites, though far worse is to come.

19:16-21

There was an old man who was much more hospitable. He saw the Levite and his fellow travellers and inquired as to where they were going to, and where they had come from. So the Levite told them. He also told them that they had all they needed. The old man, however, offered to let them stay in his house, and was appalled at the idea of them staying in the square. So the donkeys were fed, the Levite, his servant and concubine washed their feet, and they were supplied with food and drink.

Acts 20:7-16 - Paul kept talking until midnight

20:7-12

They all arrived in Troas. Paul intended to spend only a short time there, so he gave them a very long teaching! He was speaking until midnight. One young man was seated by a window, fell asleep and fell out of the window. He was probably not the only one who nodded off, but he was in a particularly deep sleep. He fell from a third floor window, and was “picked up dead”. Paul went down and threw himself on Eutychus, somewhat Elijah or Elisha like. He then pronounced him not dead,but alive. It is not absolutely clear whether or not he had actually died. The situation could be read either way, but his being dead seems marginally the more likely. Anyway, Paul continued speaking until daylight! Notice the importance of breaking bread (20:7 and 20:11). Paul then left.

20:13-16

Why does Luke give us such detailed accounts of the journeys? Luke had an interest in the historical accuracy and validity of his accounts, as he makes clear at the beginning of his gospel (Lk 1:3,4). Paul went past Ephesus, being keen to get to Jerusalem quickly.

Judges 19:3-10 - Refresh yourself with something to eat

19:3,4

Eventually the Levite went after his “wife”, seeking to persuade her to come back.He took his servant and two donkeys, possibly one was for his “wife”.  He was gladly welcomed into her parent’s home, especially by the father-in-law. The use of the term father-in-law indicates that the concubine was for all intents and purposes a wife. The Levite spent three days with them, eating, drinking and sleeping there.

19:5-10

There now follows a rather ridiculous rigmarole of the father-in-law repeatedly persuading the Levite to stay an extra day and refresh himself. Excuse after excuse was made as to why the man should stay a while longer Eventually the Levite did leave with his concubine and they headed towards Jebus. Jebus would later be known as Jerusalem, though it was not until the time of David that they possessed the city.

Acts 20:1-6 - Speaking many words of encouragement

20:1-3

After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul left for Macedonia, and then to Greece. Along the way he encouraged the believers. Paul stayed in Greece for three months. Greece refers to Achaia which included Corinth. There was a plot from some Jews to kill Paul, so instead of going on to Syria he went back through Macedonia. Much of the early persecution of the Christians came from the Jews, and there were times when Paul would face up to danger, and times when he would seek to avoid it, in much the same way that Jesus did.

20:4-6

Paul had quite a number of companions with him. This is probably because he was taking the gift to the Jerusalem church, and several of these were representatives of various churches who had donated (2 Cor 8,9). Aristarchus is mentioned in Acts 19:29 and 27:2.  Gaius is named in Acts 19:29, Rom 16:23 and 1 Cor 1:14. Tychicus has several mentions elsewhere: Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Tim 4:12 and Tit 3:12. Trophimus is mentioned in Acts 21:29 and 2 Tim 4:20.