Acts 20 (2)

The Passing of the Baton

GOD WILL GROW HIS CHURCH. PAUL WAS ON THE WAY OUT.

Burden: Paul commends the Elders to continue the work so that the church might grow through the power of the Spirit.

If we have in mind the theme of the book of Acts “all that Jesus “continued” to do and teach” then this passage makes sense as Paul is leaving the scene and a new generation of preachers must take up the mantle and carry the burden of the church and her gospel proclamation.

Paul’s journey through Macedonia, to strengthen and encourage the churches could very well have been a full year to a year and a half. During this time, the books of 2 Corinthians and Romans were likely written.

There is very little detail as to what was going on during this period of Paul’s life in Macedonia. We do however know that Paul’s life once again was threatened. For what ever reason they decided to wait until Paul was on the boat and on his way to Syria, to make an attempt on his life. Perhaps because there would have been little protection for Paul on board the ship, and Paul had many connections and companions throughout the Macedonian region.

Paul got wind of the plot on his life and instead traveled on foot through Macedonia rather than by boat. He sometime later met up with those who sailed on without him in Troas.

The second part of the chapter takes place in Troas and tells the story of the young lad Eutychus who fell asleep during one of Paul lengthy talks that went well into the night. Don’t get any ideas, and I won’t either, I won’t preach through the night, and you don’t fall asleep.

The story ends on a positive note as the boy who was declared dead, was brought to life by through Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit. All of the verses so far point to the fact that Paul was anticipating his journey to Jerusalem and then on to Rome. Though he did not know the exact outcome of the fate that awaited him, it is clear that he intended to go to Rome and that the he knew through the Holy Spirit which testified in every city he traveled to that trials and imprisonment awaited him.

All of this to say that though Paul was anticipating that his own death at this time, but only that he would likely not see those in Macedonia and Asia again. There is nothing in Acts that speaks of or anticipates the death of Paul. In fact nowhere in scripture does it speak of Paul’s death. When we last see Paul in the book of Acts he is moving about in Rome with relative freedom.

The historian Eusebius who lived in Rome during the 4th century tells us that Paul was beheaded in Rome after his 2nd imprisonment there. We do not know that this is true but it certainly does not contradict the biblical narrative. Paul being a Roman citizen would not have been crucified but perhaps beheaded, and

2 Timothy 4:6–7 ESV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul would have stood before the Emperor Nero, though new in his reign as emperor and had not yet committed the haneous acts which he is famous for, including killing of his own mother, the mutilating and killing of particularly Christians who were ill though of.

At this point however in the book of Acts we are not aware of such things and we could only speculate on them. The verses that follow are as Witherington puts it a “farewell address and not a funeral oration”

There are so many side roads and rabbit trails that we could venture down in this text, but for our purpose today I would like to focus on the main burden rather than the multiple secondary points.

The Full Discharge of Duty. (18b-27)

Paul in these verses gives a defense of his conduct among the Asians from the moment that he set foot in their region. We would do well to compare the words used here

whole time (18), did not shrink from what is profitable( 20), whole counsel of God (27), public and private (20), Jews and Greeks (21)

This pretty much sums it up. There is no part of Paul duty that was not discharged. This is why Paul declares that he is innocent of their blood in vs 26. He has fulfilled and preached at this point in Asia and Macedonia everything that the Lord required of him. This is an ironic statement given the fact that Saul had earlier indeed been the one who shed the blood of Christians and persecuted them, but what he is saying is that he had given them everything that they need for the Christian life.

2 Timothy 3:15–17 ESV

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Holy Scriptures 1-1  The Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired,1 infallible Word of God,2 a divine revelation, the original writings of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit.3 They are the supreme and final authority of faith and conduct.4

If all that we do in our efforts to be Christian and to share the gospel is to preach faith then we have only gotten it partially right, but have actually destroyed the whole. The whole counsel of God is summed up in the gospel of repentance and faith. What was it that we have spoken about in the previous chapter about the Ephesians they turned from thier magic arts, John preached a baptism of repentance.

verse 21 lays it out clearly testifying of faith and repentance.

Paul is concerned not just with the spread of the Gospel in Macedonia and Asia but the health of the church as well.

James tells us that a faith that is devoid of works is a faith that cannot save us. He says in the text “that faith” the faith devoid of works” which is not faith at all. It is dead, it is what Boenhoeffer calls “cheap Grace”

The Faithful Exhortation. (28-31)

The purchase of the flock of God with the blood of Christ is enough to motivate faithful men who are given charge over the flock of God.

Positive and negative warning - sheperding feeding and protecting

safeguard or safe keeping- Frodo with the Ring

Protect it against the Nasgul- the the ringwraiths, the nine

Matthew 7:15 ESV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

The Final Commendation. (32-35)

positive commendation

Paul’s final commendation is not that he himself is passing the baton to them, but it is the Holy Spirit that is doing so. Paul has already indicated that he did not make them overseers, but the Spirit did.

Our main duty as believers is to obtain the inheritance which we have been called to. To be faithful and committed to the faithful ministry of the word of God.

The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (A Closer Look—Paul’s “Departure”—Intimations of Immortality or Recognition of a Problematic Absence?)

The Greco-Roman world was honeycombed by social networks grounded in the principle of reciprocity, of “giving and receiving.” Paul’s exhortation here is to break that cycle and serve and help those who can give nothing in return.

What is the whole gospel? The obtaining of the church which the Lord Jesus purchase and obtained with His own blood and the guarantee that they ( one and the same) who are sanctified will receive their inheritance.

Hunting for morel mushrooms, you have to know where to look, they will be under the dead sycamore trees.

Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 ESV

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.