Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 20
Concise Complete
Paul's journeys. (1-6) Eutychus restored to life. (7-12)
Paul travels towards Jerusalem. (13-16) Paul's discourse to the elders of
Ephesus. (17-27) Their farewell. (28-38)
Verses 1-6 Tumults
or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his
purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul
thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but
for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even
journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.
Verses 7-12 Though
the disciples read, and meditated, and prayed, and sung apart, and thereby kept
up communion with God, yet they came together to worship God, and so kept up
their communion with one another. They came together on the first day of the
week, the Lord's day. It is to be religiously observed by all disciples of
Christ. In the breaking of the bread, not only the breaking of Christ's body for
us, to be a sacrifice for our sins, is remembered, but the breaking of Christ's
body to us, to be food and a feast for our souls, is signified. In the early
times it was the custom to receive the Lord's supper every Lord's day, thus
celebrating the memorial of Christ's death. In this assembly Paul preached. The
preaching of the gospel ought to go with the sacraments. They were willing to
hear, he saw they were so, and continued his speech till midnight. Sleeping when
hearing the word, is an evil thing, a sign of low esteem of the word of God. We
must do what we can to prevent being sleepy; not put ourselves to sleep, but get
our hearts affected with the word we hear, so as to drive sleep far away.
Infirmity requires tenderness; but contempt requires severity. It interrupted
the apostle's preaching; but was made to confirm his preaching. Eutychus was
brought to life again. And as they knew not when they should have Paul's company
again, they made the best use of it they could, and reckoned a night's sleep
well lost for that purpose. How seldom are hours of repose broken for the
purposes of devotion! but how often for mere amusement or sinful revelry! So
hard is it for spiritual life to thrive in the heart of man! so naturally do
carnal practices flourish there!
Verses 13-16 Paul
hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to
place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those
of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty
calls us another way.
Verses 17-27 The
elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any
office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with
humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be
understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to
them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it.
He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to inform their judgments, and
reform their hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in
his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back reproofs when
necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the cross. He was a truly Christian,
evangelical preacher; he did not preach notions or doubtful matters; nor affairs
of state or the civil government; but he preached faith and repentance. A better
summary of these things, without which there is no salvation, cannot be given:
even repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, with their
fruits and effects. Without these no sinner can escape, and with these none will
come short of eternal life. Let them not think that Paul left Asia for fear of
persecution; he was in full expectation of trouble, yet resolved to go on, well
assured that it was by Divine direction. Thanks be to God that we know not the
things which shall befall us during the year, the week, the day which has begun.
It is enough for the child of God to know that his strength shall be equal to
his day. He knows not, he would not know, what the day before him shall bring
forth. The powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his
duty. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Christ
constrains him to proceed. None of these things moved Paul from his work; they
did not deprive him of his comfort. It is the business of our life to provide
for a joyful death. Believing that this was the last time they should see him,
he appeals concerning his integrity. He had preached to them the whole counsel
of God. As he had preached to them the gospel purely, so he had preached it to
them entire; he faithfully did his work, whether men would bear or forbear.
Verses 28-38 If
the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds,
they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for
the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his
own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the
Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was
the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to
ransom believers from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their
souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of
them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends them to the
word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hope and the fountain
of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are
capable of growing, and will find the word of grace help their growth. As those
cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would
be no heaven to them; but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of
God is renewed, it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He
recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the
present world; this they would find help forward their comfortable passage
through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of
their Master's, which he would have them always remember; "It is more blessed to
give than to receive:" it seems they were words often used to his disciples. The
opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; they are afraid of
giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with them the most blessed
thing that can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. It
makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none; and to the
Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be
in us also. It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer. Those
who exhort and pray for one another, may have many weeping seasons and painful
separations, but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It
was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed
with them.
Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
