Acts 20_01-20

Paul & The Local Church

Acts 20:1-12

1.       After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul called the disciples and embraced them. (1)

2.       Traveling over the parts of Macedonia, Paul gave them much exhortation. (2)

3.       The Jews were out to get Paul. (3)

4.       (3-5) At Troas, he expected to meet Titus and get a firsthand report of the situation in Corinth. He had sent Titus there to help correct some problems

a.       2 Corinthians 7:13-15 "Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him."

b.      2 Corinthians 12:17-18 "Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?"

5.       When Titus did not arrive, Paul continued to Macedonia, visiting the churches; there he met his fellow worker

a.       2 Corinthians 2:12-13 "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia."

6.       The report from Corinth encouraged him. He then spent three months in Greece, most of that time probably in Corinth.

a.       It was during these 3 months that Paul wrote Romans.

7.       The same Jewish opposition that had revealed itself in Corinth (Acts 18:12) before now appeared again (v. 3), so Paul left for Macedonia instead of heading for Syria.

8.       A number of Christians accompanied Paul, representatives of the churches that were contributing to the relief offering he was taking to Jerusalem.

9.       Luke joined the company at Philippi (note the “we” in v. 6), and they stayed at Troas seven days.

10.   Paul may have tarried those seven days just to be with the church of Troas.

a.       He was burdened to get to Jerusalem, yet he put the Lord and the Lord’s Day first.

b.      His is a good example for all to follow.

c.       It is an evening service of believers, since it is not likely that Paul would preach all day.

Paul & The Local Church

1.      The Lord’s Day (7)

a.       They met on the first day of the week and not on the seventh day which was the Sabbath

b.      1 Corinthians 16:1-2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

c.       The first day came to be called “the Lord’s Day” because on it the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead

d.      Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

e.      Resurrection, Commissioned the saints on the first day of the week

f.        The Spirit came at Pentecost.

g.       The church met on the first day of the week

2.      The Lord’s People (7, 11)

a.       The church met in the evening because Sunday was not a holiday during which people were free from daily employment.

b.      The assembly would have been a cosmopolitan group, but their social and national distinctions made no difference: they were “all one in Christ Jesus”

c.       Church family is special

d.      Notice that Paul stayed up all night fellowshipping all night (11)

e.      Acts 20:11 it describes a regular meal

f.        Slaves would actually eat at the same table with their masters, something unheard of in that day.

g.       By sharing and eating with one another, the church enjoyed fellowship and also gave witness of their oneness in Christ.

h.      Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

3.      The Lord’s Supper (7)

a.       The “breaking of bread” in Acts 20:7 refers to the Lord’s Supper

b.      Constantly reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made.

c.       His broken body (Bread)

d.      Blood (wine)

4.      The Lord’s Message (7-9)

a.       The Word of God was always declared in the Christian assemblies, and this included the public reading of the Old Testament Scriptures

b.      1 Timothy 4:13 "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

c.       Colossians 4:16 "And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea."

d.      2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

e.      Knowing that this would probably be his last meeting with the saints at Troas, Paul preached a long sermon, after which he ate and conversed with the people until morning.

f.        It’s doubtful that anybody complained. How we today wish we could have been there to hear the Apostle Paul preach!

g.       The Word of God is important to the people of God, and the preaching and teaching of the Word must be emphasized.

h.      Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “the decadent periods and eras in the history of the church have always been those periods when preaching has declined”

5.      The Lord’s Power (9-12)

a.       (9) Young…How old was Eutychus?

b.      The “many lights” of the torches (v. 8) would fill the air with smoke and make the temperature warm, ideal conditions for falling asleep.

c.       DR. LUKE records: Eutychus fell asleep and then fell out the window, and was killed by the fall.

d.      Paul, with faith in God’s power, announced that life was in him and raised him from the dead.

e.      “Embracing”

f.        Paul did interrupt his sermon to rush downstairs to bring the young man back to life.

g.       Eutychus (which means “fortunate”) had done nothing deserving of God’s help; yet because of God’s grace, he was restored to life. He had fallen (all have fallen in Adam), and he was dead (all are dead in sin); he was given life by grace alone.

h.      Spurgeon said, “Remember, if we go to sleep during the sermon and die, there are no apostles to restore us!”

i.         Paul raised him from the dead and left him and the church comforted. God’s power was present to work for His people.