Acts 20 v 13 - 27 Goodbye to Ephesus
The Movement of Paul -
13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
An opportunity for Prayer, Praise, Protection, and Preparation.
The Meeting of Paul
The Program - 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
The Progress - 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
The Plan -
To Pass by Ephesus - 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus,
To Pass up Asia - because he would not spend the time in Asia:
To Pass on to Jerusalem - for he hasted, if it were possible for him,
to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
The Ministry of Paul
1. The Invitation -
The Place - 17 And from Miletus,
The Plea - he sent to Ephesus,
The People - and called the elders of the church.
The Purpose -
He looks Backward v 18,
He looks Inward v 19 - 21,
He looks Forward v 22 - 23,
He looks Upward v 24,
He looks Onward v 25 - 27
2. The Exhortation - He Reminds them of -
His Transparency -
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know
His Consistency - from the first day that I came into Asia,
after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
His Humility - 19 serving the Lord with all humility of mind,
His Sincerity - and with many tears, and temptations,
His Fragility - which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
His Fidelity - 20 and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
He Had Taught -
Perfectly - 20 how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
Publicly - but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly,
Privately - and from house to house,
Personally - 21 testifying
Persistently - both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
Patiently - repentance toward God,
Passionately - and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
His Necessity -
The Change - 22 And now,
The Charge - behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
The Challenge - not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
The Chain - 23 save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Bound - to Service, to Sacrifice, to Suffering, and to Surrender.
3. The Expectation - to be delivered -
From Fear - 24 But none of these things move me,
From Favour - neither count I my life dear unto myself,
From Failure - so that I might finish my course with joy,
From Faltering & the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus
From Falling - to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Jude 24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen.
