SUNDAY SCHOOL
BIBLE STUDY ON ACTS 19:21-20:38 (LESSONS 12 & 13)
~ Pastor Biakson
Memory Verses: Acts 19:27(a) and Acts 20:24
PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEY TO MACEDONIA AND GREECE AND HIS FINAL DAYS AT TROAS AND MILETUS (THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY)
After the humiliation of the sons of Sceva who tried to drive out evil spirits as Paul did, the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and many who had believed, confessed their deeds. The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
In Chapter 19:21, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome after passing through Macedonia and Achaia. It appears that he wanted to bring the witnessing work of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem to Rome which is important and strategic for spreading the gospel. Paul was a mission strategist but he was guided by the Holy Spirit. Within this mission was Paul’s plan to strengthen and encourage the churches in Macedonia and Achaia and to collect and deliver a fund (money) to help out the church in Jerusalem.
Verse 22 tells us how Paul sent Timothy and Erastus who ministered to him, to Macedonia while he stayed in Asia for a time. The importance of helpers/someone to assists while doing God’s work is seen in this verse.
Paul’s work at Ephesus was going on well and he was thinking of leaving the city when another commotion arose.
THE RIOT AT EPHESUS (Chapter 19:23-41)
There was a great commotion regarding the Way, which is the name given to the Christian movement. Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Diana called together the workers of similar occupation and accused Paul of turning away many people by saying that such idols are not gods as they are made with hands. He appealed to the gathering that not only is their trade in danger of falling into disrepute but also the temple of the great goddess Diana (Artemis) may be despised and her magnificence destroyed (Chapter 19:27a). Demetrius’ appeal on the basis of financial self interest, religion and national pride filled them with anger and they shouted, ``Great is Diana of the Ephesians’’.
Paul’s travel companions, Gaius and Aristarchus were seized and the crowd rushed into the theatre with one accord. The assembly was confused and most of them did not know why they had come. When Alexander was pushed forward to speak, the crowd found out he was a Jew and again shouted for about two hours until the city clerk quieted them.
From these passages, we learnt the danger of mixing religion, nationalism and love of money. In today’s world, the trend is to call on the name of the Lord in one’s self interest. Also, the Way has affected the life of the Ephesians including their means of livelihood. A change of heart led to change of life. Christianity should not affect us only at a personal level but our economy and community as well.
Chapter 20:1-6 is about Paul’s journey to Macedonia and Greece. When he was about to return back to Syria, the Jews plotted against him. So, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe and Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia accompanied him. Going ahead, they waited at Troas. It was probable that the presence of these representatives from different churches and places planted the seed for churches to work together and vouch for Paul’s stewardship in regard to the collection destined for the church in Jerusalem.
At Troas, the disciples gathered to break bread on the first day of the week. This is the first certain example of the Christians gathering together on a Sunday. Paul spoke and continued his message until midnight. A young man named Eutychus was overcome by sleep. He fell down from the third storey and was taken up dead. But Paul fell on him and embraced him. Then he said, ``Do not trouble yourself, for his life is in him’’. God’s wonderful work in raising Eutychus to life was a source of great comfort to the people.
In this passage, we find the danger of sleep for the church, physically and spiritually. In Ephesians 5:4, Paul wrote, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light”. It’s time for believers to wake up from our spiritual slumber and let our lights shine.
The next day Paul went alone by foot to Assos while his companions sailed by ship. They met at Assos and from there sailed to Mitylene, opposite Chios, Samos, Trogyllium and Miletus by-passing Ephesus as Paul was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentekost. But he called for the elders of the church at Ephesus for a special meeting.
In Chapter 20:17-38, Paul exhorted the church elders at Ephesus citing his own life and commends them to God and to the word of His grace. Then they bid tearful farewell to one another.
Paul’s life was an exemplary one. He was an exemplary witness of Christ as well as an exemplary leader and shepherd of God’s people. Revealing his heart and mind to the Ephesian elders, he lovingly and passionately exhorted them to watch themselves, in words and deeds and to watch and shepherd the church of God which He purchased with his own blood. He was effectively telling them that they should lead from their own lives just as he (Paul) led from his own life. People belong to God and the work of testifying the word of His grace is given by the Holy Spirit and not by any church committee. Paul also knew that spiritual attacks may come from outside and within the church and urged the elders to protect the church.
Paul was exemplary in giving his all for the Christians. His life is marked by serving people (giving) and never taking from others. He loved people deeply and won great love from them in return. The tearful farewell he had with the elders is a testimony of the love and affection between them. As Christians, we need to ask ourselves whether such love and affection is felt among the members of the Departments we are working and among the church members as well.
He was exemplary in his commitment to the ministry which he received from the Lord Jesus. He spoke of how he was bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem. Though the Holy Spirit testifies that chains and tribulations await him, he said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)”
Paul’s commitment had a similarity to the commitment of James Calvert, a missionary to the cannibals in Fiji. When Calvert and his companions set out on a ship for Fiji, , the captain warned him that the place is inhabited by cannibals and he would lose his life. Calvert replied, “We die before we came’’. Paul had also died to Christ and there was no reason to fear for his life.
