1.
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2.
And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3.
And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
Verse 3
And there abode three months; probably in the city of Corinth. It was during this residence at Corinth, that Paul is supposed to have written his Epistle to the Romans. See the introductory remarks prefixed to that Epistle.--Through Macedonia; so as to avoid their ambuscade, by taking this circuitous route. The direct route to Antioch would have been across the Egean Sea to Ephesus, instead of around it through Macedonia and Troas.
4.
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5.
These going before tarried for us at Troas.
Verse 5
Troas; near the head of the Egean Sea, on the eastern side.
6.
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
Verse 6
The days of unleavened bread. It seems that the passover occurred while they were there, and during its continuance their journey was suspended.
7.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Verse 7
The first day of the week; the Christian Sabbath; the Jewish Sabbath being on the seventh day.
8.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9.
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10.
And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11.
When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12.
And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13.
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
14.
And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15.
And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Verse 16
By Ephesus; leaving it on the left. To have touched at Ephesus, would have taken them somewhat out of their course.
17.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19.
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Verse 19
Temptations; trials, in the sense of dangers and sufferings.
20.
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21.
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Verse 22
Bound in the spirit; urged or impelled by the spirit.
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 the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26.
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Verse 28
Overseers. In Acts 20:17, they are called elders; here, overseers, which is, in the original, the same as the word rendered sometimes bishops. There have been endless disputes among different churchmen whether the terms elder and bishop, as used in the New Testament, denote the same office, or whether the one was of higher rank than the other. But on an impartial examination of the subject, it will appear that these terms, and the many other similar ones, such as pastor, teacher, angel of the church, were often used interchangeably, and without any idea of technical precision and strictness in their applications; and this shows that they were employed, like ordinary words of discourse, as general terms of designation,--not as the technical titles of office. To attempt to make out from these primitive institutions any nice system, which shall be adapted to modern wants, and conformed to modern ideas, is to mistake altogether the nature of all primitive institutions, which are essentially provisional, extemporaneous, informal, and changeable.--Of God. In all the most ancient copies of the New Testament, and those most to be relied upon for correctness, it reads, "The church of the Lord, which," &c.
29.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Verse 29
Grievous wolves; cruel enemies, persecutors.
30.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Verse 30
Of your own selves; that is, false teachers from within the church.
31.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33.
I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Verse 35
These words are not recorded by any of the evangelists among the sayings of the Savior.
36.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Verse 36
And when he had thus spoken. The reader who possesses a heart of true Christian sensibility, will not fail to be affected by the manner in which the most sublime, and also the most delicate and tender, traits of the Christian character are blended in the expression of this solemn farewell. We see in it a strong assertion of conscious rectitude, made in a spirit of humility and lowliness of mind; a determined and undaunted courage, tinged with the depression and sadness awakened by dark forebodings of future danger; and feelings of peaceful and quiet happiness, beaming through and overcoming mournful recollections of the past, and the sadness of a final separation. Thus the tender sensibilities, and the calm but indomitable courage and energy of the great apostle's character, are here seen in a combination which Christianity alone is able to produce.
37.
And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
38.
Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.