Acts 20:7

Part 1

"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight" ( Acts 20:7, NKJV).
The riot at Ephesus had calmed down enough for Paul to go on to other mission points. His departure was very tender and touching: "After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia" ( Acts 20:1). Sir William Ramsay supposes that Paul took a coasting ship from Ephesus to Troas (St. Paul the Traveller, London, 1920, p. 283). At Troas, Paul would meet Titus who would give him a disturbing report of the goings on in Cori nth ( 2 Corinthians 2:12).
Because of the disquieting news, Paul could not take the ample opportunity he perhaps wanted at Troas. When Titus did not arrive, Paul continued to Macedonia (much like Acts 16:11). There he met Titus and was reassured by the news he brought from Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 2:12; 7:5ff.). And so, Luke continues:
"Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia" ( Acts 20:2-3).
We do not know how long Paul stayed in Macedonia, though it must have been a considerable lengtr of time. It must be here when he went as far as Illyricum (Rom. 15:19), because his earlier Macedonian journey through Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea ( Acts 16:12-17:10) did not take him near the Illyrian frontier.
So, he must have travelled west on the Egnatian Way, and went to its end at Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic Sea. This would bring him to the Illyrian frontier. His stay after leaving Ephesus to his arrival in Greece (Achaia), inclusive of his stay at Troas and his activity in Macedonia took something over a year. The best guess would be from the summer of A.D. 55 through the latter part of A.D. 56.
His three months in Greece (Achaia) were probably the winter months of A.D. 56-57. Most of this time was in Corinth, where Paul tells us he enjoyed the hospitality of his good friend Gaius ( Romans 16:23; Acts 18:7). As he was about to sail to Syria through the port of Cenchraea ( Acts 18:18), he found out a plot the Jews had to kill him. So, he returned through Macedonia, and set sail from there ( Acts 20:3).
More next week...

The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger on December 14, 1997.

Part 2

by Steve Hale

"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight" ( Acts 20:7, NKJV).
"And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia-also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas" ( Acts 20:4-5).
Paul was not going to Jerusalem alone, as these Gentile Christians went with him. They were representatives of the various churches which were sending relief to the poverty stricken churchiq Jerusalem. The churches of Macedonia were represented by Sopater, Aristarchus, and Secundus. The churches of Galatia were represented by Gaius of Derbeand Timothy. The churches of Asia were represented by Tychicus and Trophimus. While no representatives are"mentioned from Corinth, it is inferred that Titus and two other brethren were entrusted with it ( 2 Corinthians 8:6).
Titus, so often mentioned in Paul's epistles, is not found in the book of Acts. Ramsay believes it was because Titus was the brother of Luke (Sf. Paul the Traveller, pp. xxxviii, 390). Perhaps the "we" not only includes Luke, but at times, Titus too. Anyway, these men cross the Aegean and wait for Paul's arrival at Troas.
"But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days" ( Acts 20:6). Paul waited at Philippi until the week of Unleavened Bread was completed (in A.D. 57, this would fall from April 7-14). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the day after the Passover, and continued for seven days ( Leviticus 23:5-8). The "we" narrative picks up here at Philippi. Luke could well have brought the gift from Philippi. They joined the others in Troas in five days. The prevailing winds made the voyage from Neapol is to T roas considerably longer than the one from Troas to Neapol is ( Acts 16:11).
The city of Troas actually Alexandria Troas, some ten miles from the ruins of ancient Troy at Hissarlik, and was founded by Lysimachus in 300 B.C. on the site of the ! even earlier city of Antigoneia. Troas was a Roman cqlony I in Augustus' day, and was one of the most important cities of NW Asia. It was a port of call on the trade-route between Macedonia and Asia. Considerable ruins remain there until this day!
More next week...

December 21, 1997

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Acts 20:7 Part 1 by Steve Hale "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight" ( Acts 20:7, NKJV). The riot at Ephesus had calmed down enough for Paul to go on to other mission points. His departure was very tender and touching: "After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia" ( Acts 20:1). Sir William Ramsay supposes that Paul took a coasting ship from Ephesus to Troas (St. Paul the Traveller, London, 1920, p. 283). At Troas, Paul would meet Titus who would give him a disturbing report of the goings on in Cori nth ( 2 Corinthians 2:12). Because of the disquieting news, Paul could not take the ample opportunity he perhaps wanted at Troas. When Titus did not arrive, Paul continued to Macedonia (much like Acts 16:11). There he met Titus and was reassured by the news he brought from Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 2:12; 7:5ff.). And so, Luke continues: "Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia" ( Acts 20:2-3). We do not know how long Paul stayed in Macedonia, though it must have been a considerable lengtr of time. It must be here when he went as far as Illyricum (Rom. 15:19), because his earlier Macedonian journey through Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea ( Acts 16:12-17:10) did not take him near the Illyrian frontier. So, he must have travelled west on the Egnatian Way, and went to its end at Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic Sea. This would bring him to the Illyrian frontier. His stay after leaving Ephesus to his arrival in Greece (Achaia), inclusive of his stay at Troas and his activity in Macedonia took something over a year. The best guess would be from the summer of A.D. 55 through the latter part of A.D. 56. His three months in Greece (Achaia) were probably the winter months of A.D. 56-57. Most of this time was in Corinth, where Paul tells us he enjoyed the hospitality of his good friend Gaius ( Romans 16:23; Acts 18:7). As he was about to sail to Syria through the port of Cenchraea ( Acts 18:18), he found out a plot the Jews had to kill him. So, he returned through Macedonia, and set sail from there ( Acts 20:3). More next week... The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger on December 14, 1997. Part 2 by Steve Hale "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight" ( Acts 20:7, NKJV). "And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia-also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas" ( Acts 20:4-5). Paul was not going to Jerusalem alone, as these Gentile Christians went with him. They were representatives of the various churches which were sending relief to the poverty stricken churchiq Jerusalem. The churches of Macedonia were represented by Sopater, Aristarchus, and Secundus. The churches of Galatia were represented by Gaius of Derbeand Timothy. The churches of Asia were represented by Tychicus and Trophimus. While no representatives are"mentioned from Corinth, it is inferred that Titus and two other brethren were entrusted with it ( 2 Corinthians 8:6). Titus, so often mentioned in Paul's epistles, is not found in the book of Acts. Ramsay believes it was because Titus was the brother of Luke (Sf. Paul the Traveller, pp. xxxviii, 390). Perhaps the "we" not only includes Luke, but at times, Titus too. Anyway, these men cross the Aegean and wait for Paul's arrival at Troas. "But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days" ( Acts 20:6). Paul waited at Philippi until the week of Unleavened Bread was completed (in A.D. 57, this would fall from April 7-14). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the day after the Passover, and continued for seven days ( Leviticus 23:5-8). The "we" narrative picks up here at Philippi. Luke could well have brought the gift from Philippi. They joined the others in Troas in five days. The prevailing winds made the voyage from Neapol is to T roas considerably longer than the one from Troas to Neapol is ( Acts 16:11). The city of Troas actually Alexandria Troas, some ten miles from the ruins of ancient Troy at Hissarlik, and was founded by Lysimachus in 300 B.C. on the site of the ! even earlier city of Antigoneia. Troas was a Roman cqlony I in Augustus' day, and was one of the most important cities of NW Asia. It was a port of call on the trade-route between Macedonia and Asia. Considerable ruins remain there until this day! More next week... December 21, 1997 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM