“Answers For A Study in the Book of Acts” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” posts on the weekend. The original questions can be found at the bottom of the “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” study the weekend before, and the answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers here. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.
Note: The answers will focus on what the text of the Bible says, and commentaries and speculative answers will be noted as such. There are many scholarly commentaries out there but it will be important, as students of the Bible, to keep the text of the Bible as our first source. Commentaries can be used, keeping in mind that they are human thoughts about God’s Word.
The Goal for the notes, questions and answers: Share and reuse to lead your own Bible study!
Bible Study
Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.
Read Acts Chapter 20: Then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions.
NOTE: The New American Standard Version (NASB) is the Bible being used here, unless otherwise noted. Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite sources to share with your group.
Paul at Macedonia and Greece; Farewell to Ephesus
1. Read Chapter 20:1-16 with your table group
In the first part of this chapter, Paul and his companions begin the final leg of this third missionary trip:
a. What happened that caused Paul to have to change his travel plans?
“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. When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. 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.” Acts 20:1-6
- The first uproar had come in Ephesus (ch.19), the second problem came while he was in Greece.
- The plot was formed against him in Greece by the Jews, and this caused him to change his course.
b. What places did Paul have to travel through, and where did he end up?
- When the first uproar in Ephesis had ceased, Paul left for Macedonia and traveled through the districts there. He stayed three months in Greece, but upon discovering a plot against him, he did not go to Syria, but instead returned through Macedonia. Paul then sailed from Philippi and ended up in Troas.
- Note: The book of Acts in considered a blueprint for many of Paul’s Epistles, and we see this when we read about his travels through places like Philippi.
c. As Paul was teaching, a horrible accident happened. Describe what happened and the miracle that ensued.
“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. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 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. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 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. They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.” Acts 20:7-12
- A young man/boy named Eutychus, fell from the window on the third floor after falling asleep during Paul’s teaching, and was picked up dead.
- Paul immediately went down to the lad and fell upon, having power from the Holy Spirit, he brought him back to life – and they went back up, ate the bread, and Paul continued teaching!
- Note: As always with miracles, it points people to God and the truths of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection. As an opinion – I think if the young man had died, the message of the Gospel Paul was teaching could have been lost in the grief that ensued. Instead, this became one of the most prominent churches early on, and the evidence of miracles like this would have helped that cause!
d. Going Deeper: What New Testament Churches have we seen so far, either represented by the men who were now traveling with Paul or in the places they had traveled? How do we know about these Churches?
- Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth and Colosse (located in Asia)
- These Churches will eventually be the recipients of letters (epistles) with their name on them, from the Apostle Paul, and we find then in the New Testament. He will write to follow up on their progress as new churches, and the book of Acts gives us this evidence in a sort of template or blueprint of his time with them.
2. Read Chapter 20:17-38 with your table group
In the second part of this chapter, Paul is heading to Jerusalem, but first he calls for the elders of the Church in Ephesus:
a. What has been the main focus of Paul’s ministry, and will continue to be? (You can copy verse 21.) How does Paul see his life compared to his ministry, and why?
“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” Acts 20:17-27
- Paul testifies to the fact that his goal was to “serve the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials” and verse 21 tells us Paul’s main mission: “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Paul does not consider his life dear to himself, but it is the course and ministry that the LORD gave him, specifically to share the Gospel, no matter the cost.
b. What did Paul say the Elders should prepare for happening in the Church once he departs?
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:28-32
- Paul warned the leaders of the Church to be alert for those who will try to come in and change what they had been taught.
- Note: Paul said this would happen, and it did and does continue today. This why Church leaders must be especially aware of spiritual warfare and attacks of the enemies of Christ that will come against both individuals and the Church as a whole.
c. Paul finishes with a defense of his own ministry. What behavior did Paul point out (as a role model) that was worthy of others to follow?
“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.” Acts 20:33-38
- Paul modeled the following: 1) Taking care of himself and his own (not relying on handouts from others); 2) He was a hard worker (he did not rely on others to work for him); 3) He helped the weak by working (not allowing weaker people to serve him or his needs); 4) He always followed Jesus (here he quotes Jesus as saying “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Paul wanted nothing from those he was teaching or ministering to); 5) Paul modeled group prayer and discipleship.
d. Discuss: Do we have to watch out for “wolves” (v. 29) in the church today? What are some things we can do to discern this, and therefore be wise when it happens?
- Yes, we still have to watch out for “wolves” in the church today – they come in the form of false teachers/preachers and lay people infiltrating congregations as well – we are to always be prepared for spiritual warfare, even in the Church, and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6).
- If we call ourselves Christians (Christ followers) then we should do everything in our power to follow Jesus’ teachings – this includes knowing His Word (Bible) so well that we can discern false teaching, or false beliefs, anytime we hear it, and make corrections with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
- Our measuring stick should always be Jesus’ complete teaching and modeling that we find in Scripture, and all other teachings or philosophies should be corrected or thrown out.
- For the so-called gray areas of life where Scripture does not speak specifically to an issue, then prayer and prompting of the Holy Spirit can contribute to our decision making. This includes seeking out Mature Christians, who love the LORD and His Word, to give us advice.
Please continue to join us in making our “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” along with a study in the book of Acts, and share it with others!
Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study question are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted mid-week.
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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