Ministering in Troas and Miletus
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 53:55
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The Journey continues
The Journey continues
Paul a man on a mission, a man on the move, continues his journey heading back to Jerusalem, Antioch, then onto Rome and Spain was his intentions.
From Ephesus to Macedonia (Act19:1-20:1)
From the conversions to conviction, to conflict to calm
To embracing and embarking onto Macedonia
From Macedonia to Greece (Act20:2)
From Greece passed back through Macedonia on the say to Troas due to threats made against him he had planned to go to Syria but plans changed
From Greece to Troas (Act20:7)
This is where we are going to start and spend the majority of our time tonight in Troas but the journey there starts in (v.7)
From Troas to journey, stops to Miletus (Act20:13-16)
Then as the farewell tour continues he makes several stops along the way to Miletus, more on Miletus to follow next week (Lord willing).
Ministering in Troas
Ministering in Troas
Paul knew what was coming, more trouble, so he assumed that this may be the last time he would be stopping in Troas and it was an emotional visit.
Some background
Founded before 300bc
by Antigonus (successor of Alexander the Great); located about 10mi from Troy
Made Roman colony under Augustus in about 31BC
Paul had previous visits there
Second journey (Act16:8, 11)
Passed by Mysia and came to Troas and set out from there to Samothrace .
Third journey from Ephesus (Act20:1, 2Cor2:12-13)
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia.
I mentioned this earlier, but thought best give you the scripture.
In Troas there was an open door for the gospel is what Paul said to the Corinthians (2Cor2:12-13)
Third journey from Philippi (Act20:6)
6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.
Here is where we have a dead on story that many may know, and in the story can learn much.
Much about the assembly of the disciples
Much about the preaching
And yes the raising of Eutychus
So let me give you the passage and lets glean at the scripture then the elements listed above.
The Text
The Text
Paul had wanted to make it to Jerusalem for Passover but that did not happen, so his goal now was to make it to there by Pentecost (ACt20:16) taking the gift they collected with friend’s emissaries in tow (see Act20:4-5) to carry the gift.
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”
11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
Gleaning from the scripture:
Question look at (v.7) there some very distinct things you can learn from it, what are they?
They were together on the first day of the week
They were together to break bread
Paul intended to leave the next day
He prolonged his message until midnight.
Question: What happen to Eutychus (v.9)?
He was sinking into a deep sleep, fell down from third floor and was picked up dead.
Question: What did Paul do when Eutychus fell out the window (v.10)?
Paul fell upon him, spoke to the crowd not to be troubled.
Question: What did Paul do then (v.11)?
He broke bread, ate and talked until daybreak.
Much about the assembly
Much about the assembly
I think you know there is much to systematic (pattern) theology, but sometimes it is good to look where it comes from, where do we see the patterns. Tonight we see that regarding the assembly.
(warning) there are some that do not like the term systematic or pattern theology for they believe it does not leave room for the Holy Spirit. (expand briefly)
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
They met on the first day of the week (Act20:7; Mt28:1; Act2:1-47; 1Cor16:1-2; Rev1:10)
Ever wonder why on the first day of the week? Consider these things
Previously the Jews would meet on Saturday (which started twilight Friday night until twilight on Saturday night) - Sabbath - meaning a period of seven days (a week)
Why first day of the week? It was no longer a holiday or a day of rest, it was a regular night and day (their days started at twilight in the evening). so that is why it is called the first day of the week.
Jesus was raised on the first day of the week, after the Sabbath was over (Mt28:1)
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
Church was born on the first day of the week (Act2:1-47)
Born on Pentecost after they had all been together
It was the day each week the disciples were to lay by in store (1Cor16:1-2); this was instructions for the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, but the pattern we see for our offerings today.
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
First day of the week became known as Lord’s Day (Rev1:10)
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
They gathered to break bread (Act10:7; 1Cor11:17-34; Lk22:19-20; Act2:42)
Now I want to pause here for a moment for in the passage here in (v.7) and then it mentions having broken bread (v.11) there is a difference. It would seem that as we know in Corinth part of the problem was they were sharing a common meal and having the Lord Supper (1Cor11:7-34) and the common meal was known as a love feast (we call them fellowship meals today).
Some commentators think (v.7) is the Lord’s supper and the other is love feast, others have it reversed, either way we see the Lord’s supper is being celebrated as well as a common meal which seemed pretty common then.
Jesus commanded the Lord’s Supper
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
They (we) are the Lords people who gathered together. (Act20:7; Act20:4-5)
you can look back at some of the we in (vv.4-5); don’t forget to add Luke since he is the writer and uses the Word “we” so he has rejoined the mission team
(Insert something to consider picture here)
Something to consider that they met in the evening, not the morning like is our custom. Why? For a couple of reasons, the Jewish days ran from twilight (about 6pm) to 6pm. so Friday night to Saturday night would be the Sabbath and Sunday, The Lord’s day, would be Saturday night to Sunday night.
Sunday during the day would be a regular work day so people would not be available to come to the assembly until the evening. So talk about dedication, they were, work all day then come to worship.
They gathered together to hear a message from the Lord
(Insert Word of God picture here)
God’s Word was always proclaimed as exampled in reading of Old Testament Scripture (1Tim4:13)
in the public reading of the Scripture as Timothy was instructed to do, to not neglect
Sharing of the apostolic letters (Col4:16)
Hey share the letters with the other communities (i.e. with church of the Laodiceans)
It brought faith (Rom10:17)
We know faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God!
It saves (Jm1:21)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
It is what is to be preached (2Tim4:2; ref: 1IKn17:21-22; 2Kng4:34-35)
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
The word of God is important to the people of God to be equipped to share the gospel of God which is the power of God unto salvation.
Still the word with some, after a long days work can put them to sleep, ok, maybe not even after a hard days work. What we can say about Eutychus as mentioned before he was there, in service rather than saying he is tired and staying home.
As to the length of Paul’s sermon, this was a farewell sermon to people he did not think he would see again. He had so much he wanted to convey to them. But the service was interrupted by a sudden thump out the window. Paul stopped the service in in following the say of Elijah and Elisha did the same. Let me show you.
21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived.
and then Elisha
34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.
now we have the words of Paul that the Lord hears
10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.
12 They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.
God’s power at work. May God’s power be at work in us and through us, may we rely on the Word of God to keep us awake and alert to the message from the Lord, from the Word to help us be equipped.
Spurgeon once said:
“If we go o sleep during the sermon and die, there are no apostles to restore us.”
Can we commit and do what is necessary to stay awake and receive the message of the Lord that convicts us, converts us, conforms us?
(Transition) speaking of preaching the word of God now may we move onto the preaching of Paul here what we now and what we may assume.
The Preaching of Paul
The Preaching of Paul
For the third time the Apostle Paul who planted the church there is there, can you feel an excitement in the air? They were ready to hear what he had to say.
Remember our speaker, Paul had previously been there (Act16:8-11, 20:1; 2Cor2:12-13; Act20:5)
Paul had other guests who met him there (Act20:4-6)
Paul had been through the area and sent others to go and strengthen the churches.
Paul was on the way with the other guests to Jerusalem to carry the gifts.
Wonder why did Paul send them ahead on boat and he walked the 10 mi? Could it be he wanted some alone time with the Lord? Could it be he wanted to encourage others along the way? We don’t know for sure but we do know they met up in Troas as prearranged.
The sermon (Act20:7, 9, 11)
We have covered much about the when, where and why of the sermon, but the content we know little of, except:
The sermon was long (v.7), it was continuous (v.9) and even after the interruption it continued a long while (v.11)
So, what did Paul preach that was long, continuous and went on a long while before he departed?
Did Paul preach the gospel (Rom1:14-17)?
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Did he preach exhortations to live a sanctified, holy life (1The4:1-3)?
1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Could it been encouragement to endure what was coming to them (Act14:21-22)
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
What ever the message was we know it continued until midnight (v.7); then after the interruption he talked until daybreak (v.11); why because he was departing the next day (v.7,11)
This long night with the Apostle Paul and guests there, the church at Troas meeting in an upper room got to do a few things I want to note, remind you of before we call it a night.
They gathered on the First day of the week to take the Lords supper, it was important then and it is important today.
They gathered to hear a message from special guest speaker, Apostle, church planter, encourager Paul
They saw the power of God raise the dead youngman name Eutychus (name means lucky one) and they were greatly comforted by it.
(Be encouraged -1 picture inserted here)
Are you encouraged by God’s Word? You want eternal life, you need God’s word. You wan assurance of eternal life, then you need God’s Word. Want to know God’s will for you, want to grow and be transformed, you need God’s Word that is empowered by God’s Spirit that both works and wills in you. Be encouraged and be willing to tune in for God’s word on a regular basis.
(prayer) (Exit)