Acts Chapter 20

Acts Chapter 20

Read all of Acts Chapter 20.

Paul's journey continues, as he goes back to Macedonia. This is the farthest reach of his third missionary journey. He spends his time going from city to city, visiting the places that he has planted churches, encouraging the leaders there. While we could look at this as a victory lap or a reminiscent visit, it really was more of a farewell tour. Paul is feeling a growing sense of urgency.

After 3 months in Greece, the plots against his life are getting to be too much. Don't forget that a few chapters ago, the Jews had been dragging him before the Proconsul. Now it is clear to Paul that it is time for him to head back to Jerusalem, and to make this one last "lap" to encourage the others.

We see an interesting story of Eutychus thrown into Luke's testimony, starting with verse 7. Eutychus, we see, is a young boy who falls asleep during Paul's teaching and falls from the third story window to his death. From this we learn a few things. #1 - It is a good thing that our class sits on couches and does not sit on window ledges. If it did, we may have a few less students... #2 - Paul can go a long time when he gets excited and has a lot to say (I am sure he was standing and pacing...). #3 Paul is still very much filled with the Holy Spirit. In this moment, God uses Paul to heal Eutychus and bring him back to life. Thus, we have seen Peter and Paul raise people from the dead, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If anyone doubted Paul's claim to apostleship (and they should not have), it is over now.

Paul is in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, preferably by Pentecost. Pentecost...where this great story began... The Spirit has been guiding him back to Jerusalem and warning him that suffering is coming.

He calls for the leaders of the Church in Ephesus to come meet him in a nearby port. There he begins his final council... 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Wow. He is ready now to do anything, ready to die for his mission. Instead of his prayers being "God save me," they have become "God let me finish" or "let me see the end of the race." Do you see the change in him? Can you see a time where you have prayed to God, "Just let me tell one more person of You?"

Paul now knows that his race is ending soon and he has a level of desperation to reach all those he can. No matter what is to come, he is still running. Paul talks in Gal 2 about this race he has been running. Later, in 2 Timothy 4, we can hear him say, " 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." For Paul, he has known that he has been in a marathon and now is entering the final miles. Although there is pain and suffering, he is still running and running gladly towards the finish line.

He charges the Ephesian leaders to be strong and to be good shepherds of the flock that the Lord has given them. He warns that they must be on guard because people will come to lead away their sheep. Even from within their ranks, wolves will rise to lead them astray. The Holy Spirit is speaking directly to them, through Paul. Will they hear him in time? For that answer, I suggest you read Revelation 2...

Acts 20:32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. " This is an amazing verse, don't fly over it! We discussed in class what the word "sanctified" means. What is your definition? Think about it for a moment... It means to be made holy. Another way to look at it is to be made clean, spotless, as if you had never been stained. Why is this important to Paul? And to us?

You must gain an understanding of grace and sanctification. Louie Giglio defines grace as God at work. Pretty good short description. We discussed "Amazing Grace" in class, written by a true wretch of a man, a slave trader captain known for his brutality in an already brutal profession. If there was a man beyond God's saving, John Newton was that man. But God gave his unwarranted, undeserved gift of grace: forgiveness & love to him...and to us. You see, John did not deserve it. He could not do anything to remove his stains, his sin, his unholiness. But God said "Come home, child" and He wrapped his arms around him. And on the way to that hug, the blood of the Lamb of God cleansed him and made him holy, able to be in the presence of God. Revelation 7:14, talks of the robes of the saints being "washed white in the blood." What an amazing picture...beyond human description. Jesus was that ultimate sacrifice for the sanctification of the saints...so they can one day walk with God...just like God always intended. Not just now but forever with Him. Not as gods, that is a blasphemous teaching, but as ones chosen by and whom chose God.

From the beginning, God asked for a sacrifice, to bring the hearts of his people to him. It was never about the animal. He knew that someday, it would be His Son on that alter, on that cross. He knew that people would make it all about how they could sanctify themselves...and lose sight of the source of their holiness. Dear Reader, all God has ever wanted was a relationship. When God created all other beings and things (see Genesis 1), He said "it was good"...because He made them that way. He created man and he did not say "they are good." He said instead, "let us make man in our likeness." God is not saying "Boy, did I create a lousy man" or "I made a mistake here." What He is saying is "This is the one I will give a choice to...this one will be the one I have a relationship with..." This is the one I will sanctify...and MAKE GOOD!

Can we truly ever understand all the reasons and whys of God? No. But it will continually lead us closer and deeper to Him. We should not just throw up our hands and write it off as unexplainable...because when we seek Him, He is there waiting with His arms open wide, ready to reveal more. You see, the neat thing about an infinite God is that we can never stop learning about Him...and isn't that what a really good friendship is all about???

May God bless you as you seek Him!

D