RSV ~ Acts 20 Notes

Acts 20:1-6 | ISB Notes

Leaving Ephesus, Paul makes a final sweep through northern and southern Greece before setting out for Jerusalem. Information about his activities during this time can also be gleaned from his NT letters: (1) Paul was collecting donations to help the poor Christians of Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-27; 2 Cor 8-9); (2) he had written two more epistles along the way, 2 Corinthians and Romans; and (3) he may have ventured into new missionary territory as far west as Illyricum, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea (Rom 15:19).

Acts 20:5 | ISB Notes

waiting for us: The shift in perspective (“us”) indicates that Luke, who had stayed behind in Philippi (16:12), met up with Paul and sailed with him to Troas (20:6). See note on Acts 16:10.

Acts 20:6 | ISB Notes

Unleavened Bread: A religious festival that began with Passover and was celebrated in Jerusalem every spring. Although the adult men of Israel were required to make an annual pilgrimage to the city at this time (Deut 16:16), Paul no longer felt bound by this requirement of the Old Covenant and so did not attend the feast. For another example of this, see 1 Cor 16:8.

Acts 20:7 | ISB Notes

first day of the week: The day following the Saturday Sabbath (Gen 2:3). This passage provides the earliest evidence that believers assembled on Sundays for catechetical instruction and sacramental worship. It was soon called the “Lord’s day” (Rev 1:10) to commemorate the day Jesus rose from the dead (Lk 24:1; CCC 1343).

• The sequence of apostolic preaching (20:7) followed by a eucharistic celebration (20:11) reflects the essential structure of Christian liturgy, where Christ comes to us in word and sacrament. See note on Lk 24:30.

Acts 20:10 | ISB Notes

bent over him: Or, “laid upon him”. Paul revives the boy Eutychus just as Peter revived the young girl Tabitha (9:40).

• The prophets Elijah and Elisha both resuscitated youths to new life by lying down upon them (1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34).

Acts 20:13-15 | ISB Notes

Paul and his missionary team move down the chain of islands off the Aegean coast of Asia Minor. The final stop, at Miletus, is 30 miles from Ephesus.

Acts 20:16 | ISB Notes

Pentecost: A religious festival held in Jerusalem 50 days after Passover. Pilgrims came to dedicate the first loaves of bread made from the spring wheat harvest. Paul’s desire to arrive in time for the feast may be linked with the collection of money he had taken up among the Gentiles for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-28). Delivering this gift at the feast would have symbolized the initial harvest reaped among the nations by his gospel. See note on Acts 2:1.

Acts 20:17-38 | ISB Notes

A farewell speech to the leaders of the Ephesian Church. Paul challenges them with memories of his own conduct and cautions them of dangers that lie ahead. He urges them to be humble, persevering, and bold (20:18-21), giving their hands to hard work and their hearts to the less fortunate (20:34-35). He also warns them to protect their flocks from heretical wolves who are sure to bring confusion and error (20:28-30). After hints that Paul is uttering his final good-bye (20:22, 25), the speech ends with the elders in tears (20:37).

Acts 20:28 | ISB Notes

guardians: The Greek term refers to “overseers”, suggesting the Ephesian leaders are either “bishops” appointed to succeed the apostles or “elders” who shepherd the local Church only (20:17). Because ecclesiastical titles were not yet standardized, some degree of fluidity is evidenced in their NT usage.

See note on 1 Tim 3:1 and word study: Elders at Jas 5:14. the Church of the Lord: The better

reading is: “the Church of God” (see textual note v). with his own blood: This translation asserts both the divinity (his = God) and humanity (blood) of Jesus. Others translate it: “with the blood of his Own” (see textual note w). This changes the sense of the passage, saying that the Father (his = God) obtained the Church through the redeeming death (blood) of the Son (his Own).

Acts 20:29 | ISB Notes

fierce wolves: False teachers, who invariably attacked the Ephesian flock in later years (1 Tim 1:3-7; Rev 2:2).

Acts 20:31 | ISB Notes

three years: The approximate duration of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. See note on Acts 19:10.

Acts 20:34 | ISB Notes

these hands ministered: Paul often refused stipends from local Churches, preferring instead to support himself with income earned as a tentmaker (18:3). He wanted at all costs to make his gospel free of charge (2 Cor 2:17; 1 Thess 2:9).

Acts 20:35 | ISB Notes

It is more blessed: This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the four Gospels but was passed down by the apostles in the form of oral tradition. The Gospels themselves give us only selections from this tradition, which was far too broad and detailed for anyone to make an exhaustive record of it in writing (Jn 21:25).

Acts 20:36 | ISB Notes

knelt down: A traditional prayer posture noted also in 21:5. Kneeling illustrates the proper relation between God and his servants, who express the submission of their hearts through the lowering of their bodies (Ps 95:6; Eph 3:14). Other prayer postures stemming from Jewish practice include raising the hands (Ps 141:2; 1 Tim 2:8) and standing (Mk 11:25; Lk 18:11; CCC 2702).