Acts 20:25–20:38 This was Paul’s last farewell to the Ephesian elders. As far as
Ephesus was concerned, he had done all he could to evangelize
and warn the city (vv. 25-27). Paul then shifted to warning
these elders that they could expect danger from two sources.
False teachers (wolves) would come to them from ... Read more
Acts 20:13–20:24 Paul traveled on foot from Troas to Assos (about 18 miles)
while his friends sailed there directly (v. 13). Perhaps Paul
wanted some time alone to think, pray, and plan. From Assos
they sailed along the coast of Asia Minor to Miletus (vv. 14-15),
an important port city. Paul had decided to ... Read more
Acts 20:7–20:12 I find a very interesting story in today’s passage. After Paul arrived in Troas he met with believers
on Sunday to celebrate the
Lord’s Supper, and after that he spoke to them until midnight because he was leaving the next
morning (v.7). It was only
gradually that Sunday to … Read more
Acts 20:1–20:12 After the riot in Ephesus, Paul gathered the disciples to say
farewell and to encourage them (v. 1). He then departed for
Macedonia. It’s likely that this was when he evangelized the
province of Illyricum, on the Adriatic Sea across from Italy
(Rom. 15:19). From Macedonia, Paul traveled ... Read more
Acts 19:21–19:41 Paul made plans to return to Greece and Palestine, and then go to
Rome (v. 21). Two and a half years had passed since Paul arrived
in Ephesus, and he felt his work there was over. To prepare the
believers in Macedonia for his coming, Paul sent two of his
disciples (Timothy and Erastus) ... Read more
Acts 19:11–19:20 Ephesus was known for its magic, and apparently the Christians
had not yet put away all such evil practices (vv. 11-12). However,
we need to take note that these were special miracles (v. 11) and
not to be duplicated by others. There was no New Testament in
existence in those days, so God ... Read more
Acts 19:1–19:10 Paul arrived in Ephesus, one of the greatest commercial centers of
that time, as it was located on the main trade route between
Rome and the east. It was also the center of Satan worship, and
the place where the temple of Diana stood. This temple has been
described as one of the seven wonders ... Read more
Acts 18:18–18:28 After eighteen months of ministry Paul decided that it was time for
him to return to his sending church in Antioch. At Cenchreae (the
seaport of Corinth) Paul cut his hair (the specifics of why he did
this are unknown). His friends Aquila and Priscilla went with him
as far as Ephesus, where ... Read more
Acts 18:1–18:17 Paul traveled from Athens to Corinth (v. 1) where he quickly found
friends, Aquila and his wife Priscilla, a Jewish couple (v. 2). They
were fellow tentmakers who invited Paul to come and stay with
them (v. 3). They became steadfast ministry partners for Paul,
serving faithfully and even ... Read more
Acts 17:22–17:34 As we read through Paul’s sermon in Athens, keep in mind the
beliefs held by those to whom he was addressing and observe
how Paul interacted with those beliefs. The Epicureans in the
crowd were more materialistic and non-religious, believing that
life was for pursuing pleasure, while the ... Read more
Acts 17:10–17:21 Not wanting to cause further trouble for Jason and the other
Christians, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica by night and
traveled southwest to Berea (v. 10), about 45 miles away. One
might have expected Paul to switch up his tactics in Berea, but
as usual they went right to the synagogue ... Read more
Acts 17:1–17:9 Paul and Silas traveled 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica.
According to verse one they passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia but didn’t minister in those cities. Thessalonica was
the capital of Macedonia, with a population of about 200,000.
Paul’s master plan for missions was to ... Read more
Acts 16:25–16:40 Still hurting from the beating, and locked in wooden stocks,
you would not think the prisoners would be too joyful.
However, at midnight the jailer and the other prisoners were
startled to hear Paul and Silas singing and praising God. God
responded by shaking the prison with an earthquake ... Read more
Acts 16:16–16:24 One day as Paul and his companions were making their way
down to the riverside to the place of prayer, they were met by
slave girl with “a pythonā€¯ (a divining spirit). In Greek myth
“the pythonā€¯ was a dragon / serpent associated with the god
Apollo and his oracle. These “divining spiritsā€¯ were ... Read more
Recent commentaries
Paul’s Warning to the Ephesian Elders
Acts 20:25–20:38
This was Paul’s last farewell to the Ephesian elders. As far as Ephesus was concerned, he had done all he could to evangelize and warn the city (vv. 25-27). Paul then shifted to warning these elders that they could expect danger from two sources. False teachers (wolves) would come to them from ... Read more
Paulā€“An Example of Faithfulness
Acts 20:13–20:24
Paul traveled on foot from Troas to Assos (about 18 miles) while his friends sailed there directly (v. 13). Perhaps Paul wanted some time alone to think, pray, and plan. From Assos they sailed along the coast of Asia Minor to Miletus (vv. 14-15), an important port city. Paul had decided to ... Read more
When, Where, How & How Long to Worship
Acts 20:7–20:12
I find a very interesting story in today’s passage. After Paul arrived in Troas he met with believers on Sunday to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and after that he spoke to them until midnight because he was leaving the next morning (v.7). It was only gradually that Sunday to … Read more
Paul’s Journey to Troas
Acts 20:1–20:12
After the riot in Ephesus, Paul gathered the disciples to say farewell and to encourage them (v. 1). He then departed for Macedonia. It’s likely that this was when he evangelized the province of Illyricum, on the Adriatic Sea across from Italy (Rom. 15:19). From Macedonia, Paul traveled ... Read more
Results of Religious Greed
Acts 19:21–19:41
Paul made plans to return to Greece and Palestine, and then go to Rome (v. 21). Two and a half years had passed since Paul arrived in Ephesus, and he felt his work there was over. To prepare the believers in Macedonia for his coming, Paul sent two of his disciples (Timothy and Erastus) ... Read more
Miracles Performed by Paul for Authentication
Acts 19:11–19:20
Ephesus was known for its magic, and apparently the Christians had not yet put away all such evil practices (vv. 11-12). However, we need to take note that these were special miracles (v. 11) and not to be duplicated by others. There was no New Testament in existence in those days, so God ... Read more
The Holy Spirit is a Person
Acts 19:1–19:10
Paul arrived in Ephesus, one of the greatest commercial centers of that time, as it was located on the main trade route between Rome and the east. It was also the center of Satan worship, and the place where the temple of Diana stood. This temple has been described as one of the seven wonders ... Read more
God Works His Will in His Servants
Acts 18:18–18:28
After eighteen months of ministry Paul decided that it was time for him to return to his sending church in Antioch. At Cenchreae (the seaport of Corinth) Paul cut his hair (the specifics of why he did this are unknown). His friends Aquila and Priscilla went with him as far as Ephesus, where ... Read more
Paul’s Ministry in Corinth
Acts 18:1–18:17
Paul traveled from Athens to Corinth (v. 1) where he quickly found friends, Aquila and his wife Priscilla, a Jewish couple (v. 2). They were fellow tentmakers who invited Paul to come and stay with them (v. 3). They became steadfast ministry partners for Paul, serving faithfully and even ... Read more
Paul Preaches in Athens
Acts 17:22–17:34
As we read through Paul’s sermon in Athens, keep in mind the beliefs held by those to whom he was addressing and observe how Paul interacted with those beliefs. The Epicureans in the crowd were more materialistic and non-religious, believing that life was for pursuing pleasure, while the ... Read more
Obstacles that Hinder the Work
Acts 17:10–17:21
Not wanting to cause further trouble for Jason and the other Christians, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica by night and traveled southwest to Berea (v. 10), about 45 miles away. One might have expected Paul to switch up his tactics in Berea, but as usual they went right to the synagogue ... Read more
Paul & Silas Trust God’s Strategy
Acts 17:1–17:9
Paul and Silas traveled 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica. According to verse one they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia but didn’t minister in those cities. Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia, with a population of about 200,000. Paul’s master plan for missions was to ... Read more
Praising in Prison
Acts 16:25–16:40
Still hurting from the beating, and locked in wooden stocks, you would not think the prisoners would be too joyful. However, at midnight the jailer and the other prisoners were startled to hear Paul and Silas singing and praising God. God responded by shaking the prison with an earthquake ... Read more
Paul Frees the Slave Girl
Acts 16:16–16:24
One day as Paul and his companions were making their way down to the riverside to the place of prayer, they were met by slave girl with “a pythonā€¯ (a divining spirit). In Greek myth “the pythonā€¯ was a dragon / serpent associated with the god Apollo and his oracle. These “divining spiritsā€¯ were ... Read more