BOOK 44 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Acts 20

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Acts 20 Overview

Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, strengthening believers, then meets with the church at Troas where Eutychus falls from a third-story window during a long evening gathering and is restored alive. At Miletus Paul summons the Ephesian elders and reviews his humble, costly ministry, declares that he taught publicly and house to house, warns of coming wolves and internal corruption, commends them to God and the word of His grace, and reminds them to support the weak.

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Before you read Acts 20

Coming from

In Ephesus Paul meets about twelve disciples who know only John’s baptism; after hearing about Jesus they are baptized in His name, and apostolic laying on of hands visibly marks this transitional group. Paul teaches extensively, extraordinary miracles occur, and failed Jewish exorcists expose the danger of using Jesus’ name as a formula. Many believers confess former occult practices and burn valuable books. As the word grows, silversmiths stir a riot because the gospel threatens the Artemis trade.

In this chapter

Acts 19 ended with Ephesus in uproar because the gospel threatened idolatrous commerce. Acts 20 shows Paul leaving that region while investing deeply in church leadership.

Leads into

Acts 21 brings Paul to Jerusalem despite repeated warnings of suffering, records his meeting with James, his participation in a purification arrangement, and the riot that leads to his arrest.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul’s statement that he testified ‘repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ’ summarizes the direction of gospel response without redefining faith as meritorious moral reform.

The warning to elders is both external and internal: grievous wolves will enter, and men from among the elders themselves may arise speaking perverse things.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Faithful ministry includes both public teaching and personal investment

Paul teaches in public settings and from house to house.

Church leaders must watch themselves as well as the flock

Self-examination precedes oversight.

Grace and Scripture are sufficient foundations for the church

Paul commends the elders to God and the word of His grace rather than to his physical presence.

Ministry is not a path to greedy gain

Paul points to his own labor and generosity as an example.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

Turning to God from idols helps illuminate repentance toward God within apostolic preaching.

1 Timothy 3:1–7

Paul later gives qualifications for overseers in Ephesus-related pastoral instruction.

1 Peter 5:1–4

Peter similarly commands elders to feed and oversee the flock without greed or domination.

Ephesians 4:11–16

Paul’s letter to Ephesus later emphasizes gifted leadership protecting the church from doctrinal instability.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make Paul’s “pure from the blood of all men” claim about sinless perfection

He refers to faithful proclamation of the whole counsel of God.

Do not use the wolf warning as permission for leaders to become suspicious tyrants

The same speech models humility, tears, service, and care for the weak.

Do not treat repentance toward God as a separate work added to faith in Christ

The paired phrase describes a reorientation toward God centered on faith in the Lord Jesus.

Do not imitate Paul’s long sermon by ignoring ordinary safety

The Eutychus event is a miracle narrative, not a scheduling command.

Read Acts 20 watching for…

The many travel transitions and encouragement of churches.

The Eutychus incident and restoration.

Paul’s review of his ministry manner.

The phrase ‘all the counsel of God.’

The double source of future danger to the flock.

The closing emphasis on grace, labor, and helping the weak.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-12Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, and Eutychus is raised after falling from a window 13-24Paul journeys toward Jerusalem and testifies that he has faithfully preached repentance and faith 25-38Paul warns the Ephesian elders about wolves, commends them to God, and departs in tears

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

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

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

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

These going before tarried for us at Troas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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

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

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

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

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

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

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

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

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Acts 20:29

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