Acts 20:16
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
Paul had decided
The phrase "Paul had decided" indicates a deliberate and intentional choice made by the Apostle Paul. The Greek word used here is "κρίνας" (krinas), which implies a judgment or determination. This decision reflects Paul's leadership and his ability to prioritize his mission. In the broader context of his ministry, Paul often had to make strategic decisions to further the spread of the Gospel, demonstrating his commitment to God's calling.

to sail past Ephesus
"Sail past Ephesus" suggests a conscious decision to bypass a significant city where Paul had previously spent considerable time. Ephesus was a major center of early Christianity and a place where Paul had established a strong church. The choice to sail past it indicates Paul's urgency and focus on his immediate goal. Historically, Ephesus was a bustling port city, and bypassing it would have been a notable decision, emphasizing Paul's dedication to his mission.

to avoid spending time
The phrase "to avoid spending time" highlights Paul's awareness of the potential for delays. The Greek word "χρονίζω" (chronizo) means to linger or delay. Paul understood that visiting Ephesus could lead to extended stays due to the relationships and responsibilities he had there. This reflects a disciplined approach to his ministry, where he balanced personal connections with the overarching mission.

in the province of Asia
"In the province of Asia" refers to the Roman province located in what is now western Turkey. This area was a significant region for early Christian evangelism. Paul's previous experiences in Asia, including challenges and successes, informed his decision-making. The historical context of Asia as a hub of commerce and culture made it a strategic location for spreading the Gospel, yet Paul chose to prioritize his journey to Jerusalem.

because he was in a hurry
"Because he was in a hurry" underscores the urgency of Paul's mission. The Greek word "σπεύδων" (speudon) conveys a sense of haste and eagerness. This urgency was not merely personal but was driven by a spiritual purpose. Paul felt a compelling need to be in Jerusalem, reflecting his deep commitment to God's timing and plans.

to reach Jerusalem
"To reach Jerusalem" indicates Paul's destination and the focal point of his journey. Jerusalem held significant spiritual and cultural importance as the center of Jewish worship and the early Christian church. Paul's desire to be there highlights his connection to the Jewish roots of Christianity and his role in bridging Jewish and Gentile believers.

if possible
"If possible" reveals Paul's reliance on God's providence. The Greek phrase "εἰ δυνατὸν" (ei dynaton) suggests a recognition of human limitations and the need for divine intervention. Paul understood that despite his plans, the ultimate outcome was in God's hands, demonstrating his faith and humility.

by the day of Pentecost
"By the day of Pentecost" refers to the Jewish feast celebrated fifty days after Passover, marking the giving of the Law at Sinai and, for Christians, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Paul's aim to be in Jerusalem by this time underscores the significance of Pentecost as a moment of unity and empowerment for the early church. It reflects his desire to participate in this pivotal event, aligning his mission with God's redemptive timeline.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
The apostle and missionary who is central to the Book of Acts. He is on his third missionary journey and is determined to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.

2. Ephesus
A major city in the Roman province of Asia, where Paul had previously spent significant time establishing the church and teaching.

3. Province of Asia
A Roman province in what is now western Turkey. Paul had a strong connection to this region, having spent considerable time there during his missionary journeys.

4. Jerusalem
The spiritual center for Jews and early Christians. Paul is eager to return here for the feast of Pentecost.

5. Pentecost
A Jewish feast occurring 50 days after Passover, significant for Christians as the day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles (Acts 2).
Teaching Points
Strategic Planning in Ministry
Paul’s decision to bypass Ephesus shows the importance of prioritizing and planning in ministry work. We should seek God’s guidance in making strategic decisions that align with His purposes.

Significance of Pentecost
Understanding the historical and spiritual significance of Pentecost can deepen our appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church today.

Commitment to the Church
Paul’s urgency to reach Jerusalem reflects his commitment to the broader body of Christ. We should cultivate a similar dedication to supporting and connecting with the global Church.

Balancing Relationships and Mission
Paul’s choice to avoid Ephesus, despite his love for the Ephesian church, teaches us about balancing personal relationships with the mission God has given us.

Urgency in God’s Work
Paul’s haste to reach Jerusalem reminds us of the urgency in fulfilling God’s calling. We should be diligent and proactive in our spiritual responsibilities.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Paul’s decision to bypass Ephesus about making strategic choices in our own lives and ministries?

2. How does the significance of Pentecost in Acts 2 enhance our understanding of Paul’s urgency to reach Jerusalem by this feast?

3. In what ways can we demonstrate a commitment to the global Church, similar to Paul’s dedication to the Jerusalem church?

4. How can we balance maintaining personal relationships with fulfilling the mission God has given us, as seen in Paul’s journey?

5. What areas of our lives require a greater sense of urgency in fulfilling God’s calling, and how can we address this?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 2
The significance of Pentecost is highlighted as the day when the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles, marking the birth of the Church.

1 Corinthians 16:8
Paul mentions his intention to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, showing his strategic planning around significant Jewish feasts.

Romans 15:25-26
Paul expresses his desire to bring aid to the Jerusalem church, which may be part of his urgency to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.
Scenes by the WayE. Johnson Acts 20:1-16
Analysis of ServiceJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 20:13-16
Christian ServiceS. S. TimesActs 20:13-16
Resolution and SubmissionH. C. Trumbull, D. D.Acts 20:13-16
Troas to MiletusR.A. Redford Acts 20:13-16
People
Aristarchus, Asians, Eutychus, Gaius, Paul, Secundus, Sopater, Thessalonians, Timotheus, Timothy, Trophimus, Tychicus
Places
Asia, Assos, Chios, Derbe, Ephesus, Greece, Jerusalem, Macedonia, Miletus, Mitylene, Philippi, Samos, Syria, Troas
Topics
Asia, Avoid, Decided, Desirable, Desirous, Determined, Ephesus, Festival, Harvest, Hasted, Hastened, Hastening, Hurry, Hurrying, Jerusalem, Kept, Loss, Order, Past, Paul, Paul's, Pentecost, Plan, Possible, Province, Purpose, Quickly, Reach, Sail, Spend, Spending
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 20:16

     5840   eagerness
     5883   impatience
     7408   Pentecost
     8409   decision-making, and providence

Acts 20:13-16

     5108   Paul, life of

Library
This Person Differs in Nothing
This Person differs in nothing, from the Father, but only in this that He is begotten of Him. He is Eternal with the Father, as glorious and as intelligent. He is of the same mind in everything in all worlds, loveth the same objects in as infinite a measure. Is the means by which the Father loveth, acteth, createth, redeemeth, governeth, and perfecteth all things. And the means also by which we see and love the Father: our strength and our eternity. He is the Mediator between God and His creatures.
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

January 19 Morning
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.--ACTS 20:19. Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.--I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man, . . . not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 26 Evening
Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?--SONG 6:10. The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. There appeared a great wonder
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 9. "None of These Things Move Me" (Acts xx. 24).
"None of these things move me" (Acts xx. 24). The best evidence of God's presence is the devil's growl. So wrote good Mr. Spurgeon once in "The Sword and the Trowel," and that little sentence has helped many a tried and tired child Of God to stand fast and even rejoice under the fiercest attacks of the foe. We read in the book of Samuel that the moment that David was crowned at Hebron, "All the Philistines came up to seek David." And the moment we get anything from the Lord worth contending for,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

December 29. "I have not Shunned to Declare unto You all the Counsel of God" (Acts xx. 27).
"I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts xx. 27). It is probable that God lets every human being, that crosses our path, meet us, in order that we may have the opportunity of leaving some blessing in his path, and dropping into his heart and life some influence that will draw him nearer to God. It would be blessed, indeed, if we could meet every immortal soul, at last, that we have ever touched in the path of life, and truly say, "I am pure from the blood of all men."
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

March 7. "It is More Blessed to Give than to Receive" (Acts xx. 35).
"It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts xx. 35). How shall we know the difference between the earthly and the heavenly love? The one terminates on ourselves and is partly ourself seeking its own gratification. The other reaches out to God and others, and finds its joy in glorifying Him and blessing them. Love is unselfishness, and the love that is not unselfish is not divine. How much do we pray for others, and how much for ourselves? What is the center of our being? Ourselves, or our
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Fulfilled Aspiration
'So that I might finish my course....'--ACTS xx. 24. 'I have finished my course....'--2 TIM. iv. 7. I do not suppose that Paul in prison, and within sight of martyrdom, remembered his words at Ephesus. But the fact that what was aspiration whilst he was in the very thick of his difficulties came to be calm retrospect at the close is to me very beautiful and significant. 'So that I may finish my course,' said he wistfully; whilst before him there lay dangers clearly discerned and others that had all
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Parting Words [Footnote: Preached Prior to a Long Absence in Australia. ]
'And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace....'--ACTS xx. 32. I may be pardoned if my remarks now should assume somewhat of a more personal character than is my wont. I desire to speak mainly to my own friends, the members of my own congregation; and other friends who have come to give me a parting 'Godspeed' will forgive me if my observations have a more special bearing on those with whom I am more immediately connected. The Apostle whose words I have taken for my text
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Blessedness of Giving
'...It is more blessed to give than to receive.'--ACTS xx. 35. How 'many other things Jesus did' and said 'which are not written in this book'! Here is one precious unrecorded word, which was floating down to the ocean of oblivion when Paul drew it to shore and so enriched the world. There is, however, a saying recorded, which is essentially parallel in content though differing in garb, 'The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.' It is tempting to think that the text gives a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Parting Counsels
'And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Christian Perfection
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect." Phil. 3:12. 1. There is scarce any expression in Holy Writ which has given more offence than this. The word perfect is what many cannot bear. The very sound of it is an abomination to them. And whosoever preaches perfection (as the phrase is,) that is, asserts that it is attainable in this life, runs great hazard of being accounted by them worse than a heathen man or a publican. 2. And hence some have advised, wholly to lay aside
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Two Essential Things
Paul testified concerning "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ"; by which I understand that, as an ambassador for Christ, he assured the people that through repentance and faith they would receive salvation. He taught in God's name mercy through the atoning sacrifice to all who would quit their sin and follow the Lord Jesus. With many tears he added his own personal testimony to his official statement. He could truly say, "I have repented, and I do repent"; and he could
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

The Minister's Farewell
WHEN Paul was parting from his Ephesian friends, who had come to bid him farewell at Miletus, he did not request of them a commendation of his ability; he did not request of them a recommendation for his fervid eloquence, his profound learning, his comprehensive thought, or his penetrating judgment. He knew right well that he might have credit for all these, and yet be found a castaway at last. He required a witness which would be valid in the court of heaven, and of value in a dying hour. His one
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

On Sleeping in Church
"And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep; and while Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead."--Acts xx. 9. I have chosen these words with design, if possible, to disturb some part in this audience of half an hour's sleep, for the convenience and exercise whereof this place, at this season of the day, is very much celebrated. There is indeed one mortal disadvantage to which all
Jonathan Swift—Three Sermons, Three Prayers

It is Also Plain that the Public Prayers are not to be Couched in Greek...
It is also plain that the public prayers are not to be couched in Greek among the Latins, nor in Latin among the French or English (as hitherto has been every where practised), but in the vulgar tongue, so that all present may understand them, since they ought to be used for the edification of the whole Church, which cannot be in the least degree benefited by a sound not understood. Those who are not moved by any reason of humanity or charity, ought at least to be somewhat moved by the authority
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

Our Inheritance
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."--Acts 20:32. "And inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."--Acts 26:18. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification."--1 Thess. 4:3. "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The New Crusade --Serampore and the Brotherhood
1800 Effects of the news in England on the Baptists--On the home churches--In the foundation of the London and other Missionary Societies--In Scotland--In Holland and America--The missionary home--Joshua Marshman, William Ward, and two others sent out--Landing at the Iona of Southern Asia--Meeting of Ward and Carey--First attempt to evangelise the non-Aryan hill tribes--Carey driven by providences to Serampore--Dense population of Hoogli district--Adapts his communistic plan to the new conditions--Purchase
George Smith—The Life of William Carey

Fac-Similes
OF ANCIENT NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS, TO ILLUSTRATE CHAPTER XXVI., PAGE 380. Most of the following specimens of ancient manuscripts are taken from Scrivener's Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament. No. (1) is from Tischendorf s Novum Testamentum Graece ex Sinaitico Codice; Nos. (2) and (11) from Smith's Dictionary of the Bible; and No. (5) from Horne's Introduction, Vol. IV. No. (1). PLATE I. SINAI CODEX, Century IV. Heb. 12:27-29. Notice the occasional use of very small letters. In
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Epistles of Paul
Paulos genomeno; megistos; hupogrammos. (Clement of Rome.) Comp. §§ 29-36 and 71. General Character. Paul was the greatest worker among the apostles, not only as a missionary, but also as a writer. He "labored more than all." And we may well include in this "all" the whole body of theologians who came after him; for where shall we find an equal wealth of the profoundest thoughts on the highest themes as in Paul? We have from him thirteen Epistles; how many more were lost, we cannot even
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are all in the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Whether Men are Bound to Pay Tithes under a Necessity of Precept?
Objection 1: It would seem that men are not bound by precept to pay tithes. The commandment to pay tithes is contained in the Old Law (Lev. 27:30), "All tithes of the land, whether of corn or of the fruits of trees, are the Lord's," and further on (Lev. 27:32): "Of all the tithes of oxen and sheep and goats, that pass under the shepherd's rod, every tenth that cometh shall be sanctified to the Lord." This cannot be reckoned among the moral precepts, because natural reason does not dictate that one
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Live on Alms?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful for religious to live on alms. For the Apostle (1 Tim. 5:16) forbids those widows who have other means of livelihood to live on the alms of the Church, so that the Church may have "sufficient for them that are widows indeed." And Jerome says to Pope Damasus [*Cf. Cf. Can. Clericos, cause. i, qu. 2; Can. Quoniam, cause xvi, qu. 1; Regul. Monach. iv among the supposititious works of St. Jerome] that "those who have sufficient income from their parents and their own
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one and the subsequent chapters. Repentance follows faith, and is produced by it. Reason. Error of those who take a contrary view. 2. Their First Objection. Answer. In what sense the origin of Repentance ascribed to Faith. Cause of the erroneous idea that faith is produced by repentance. Refutation of it. The hypocrisy of Monks and Anabaptists in assigning limits to repentance exposed. 3. A second opinion concerning repentance considered. 4. A third
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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