Acts 20
Today's Passage: Acts 20
*Holman Bible Atlas, 249
In Acts 19:10, we read that Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years. Looking at the map, Ephesus is in southwest Asia. It’s about a third of the way of Paul’s whole journey. Acts 20 picks up, “After the uproar ceased…” that we read about yesterday. Paul departed Ephesus and began working his way around to southern Greece where verse 3 states, “he spent three months.”
Paul began his return journey and verse 7 picks up in Troas in northwest Asia. Here we read the strangely humorous (though probably not at the time) story of Eutychus. This passage has provided much ammunition for longwinded preachers. However, we see in verse 16 that Paul intended to return to Jerusalem, where it seems everyone assumed he would find martyrdom.
Not wanting the evening to end, Paul went on and on. Poor Eutychus couldn’t keep his eyes open. He fell asleep sitting on a third floor windowsill and fell to his death. God in his mercy allowed Paul to revive Eutychus to full health. Paul then kept on teaching until daybreak as I’m sure everyone found it hard to sleep after that.
Paul wanted to hurry and couldn’t return to Ephesus. Instead, he asked the leaders of the church to meet him in Miletus.
In Bible study, one of the things we look for is proportion. In 17 verses (minus the five verses about Eutychus), Luke recorded Paul’s travels from and returning to Southwest Asia. It was many miles, many cities, and many months. Probably at least the second third of the journey was covered in a relative blink of an eye. The next 17 verses slows way down and records one speech. In terms of proportion, it seems that this speech is pretty important.
The ones to whom Paul spoke represented some of his greatest investment. He assumed he would never see them again (25). They are his legacy. Now, they must lead without him—at least that was the assumption.
Although we do not all hold the office of “overseer,” Paul’s command can apply to us all—“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock.” This verse reminds me of the safety briefing on an airline, “Before you help someone with their oxygen mask, securely fasten your own first.” This doesn’t mean we don’t worry about others, we simply must prioritize our own well-being—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, & physically. It’s only from a place of relative health that we are able to then attend to others.
While you may not serve on Leadership Team or staff, does that mean you cannot “Pay careful attention…to all the flock”? Of course not, the well-being of the church is everyone’s responsibility. Obviously, this will look different for LT and staff, but CPC’s Membership Covenant spells out what this looks like for the average member:
So, how are you doing with that? Is there anything you need to consider or change as you pay attention to yourself and to the flock? Inattention may pose a higher cost than falling asleep on a windowsill. It may be time that we wake up and get after it.
Written by: Tyler Short
In Acts 19:10, we read that Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years. Looking at the map, Ephesus is in southwest Asia. It’s about a third of the way of Paul’s whole journey. Acts 20 picks up, “After the uproar ceased…” that we read about yesterday. Paul departed Ephesus and began working his way around to southern Greece where verse 3 states, “he spent three months.”
Paul began his return journey and verse 7 picks up in Troas in northwest Asia. Here we read the strangely humorous (though probably not at the time) story of Eutychus. This passage has provided much ammunition for longwinded preachers. However, we see in verse 16 that Paul intended to return to Jerusalem, where it seems everyone assumed he would find martyrdom.
Not wanting the evening to end, Paul went on and on. Poor Eutychus couldn’t keep his eyes open. He fell asleep sitting on a third floor windowsill and fell to his death. God in his mercy allowed Paul to revive Eutychus to full health. Paul then kept on teaching until daybreak as I’m sure everyone found it hard to sleep after that.
Paul wanted to hurry and couldn’t return to Ephesus. Instead, he asked the leaders of the church to meet him in Miletus.
In Bible study, one of the things we look for is proportion. In 17 verses (minus the five verses about Eutychus), Luke recorded Paul’s travels from and returning to Southwest Asia. It was many miles, many cities, and many months. Probably at least the second third of the journey was covered in a relative blink of an eye. The next 17 verses slows way down and records one speech. In terms of proportion, it seems that this speech is pretty important.
The ones to whom Paul spoke represented some of his greatest investment. He assumed he would never see them again (25). They are his legacy. Now, they must lead without him—at least that was the assumption.
Although we do not all hold the office of “overseer,” Paul’s command can apply to us all—“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock.” This verse reminds me of the safety briefing on an airline, “Before you help someone with their oxygen mask, securely fasten your own first.” This doesn’t mean we don’t worry about others, we simply must prioritize our own well-being—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, & physically. It’s only from a place of relative health that we are able to then attend to others.
While you may not serve on Leadership Team or staff, does that mean you cannot “Pay careful attention…to all the flock”? Of course not, the well-being of the church is everyone’s responsibility. Obviously, this will look different for LT and staff, but CPC’s Membership Covenant spells out what this looks like for the average member:
- “Support my church through attendance, financial giving, and ministry service.”
- “Safeguard my church against harmful gossip by showing my love to others or division of any kind by following the leadership.”
- “Strengthen my church through regularly inviting others, welcoming guests who come, living the vision, practicing lifestyle evangelism and discipleship, praying for the church and its leadership, and through living a godly life as an example of God’s changing power.”
So, how are you doing with that? Is there anything you need to consider or change as you pay attention to yourself and to the flock? Inattention may pose a higher cost than falling asleep on a windowsill. It may be time that we wake up and get after it.
Written by: Tyler Short
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