‏ Acts 20

* 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)

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. 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! 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. 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. 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.