Hechos 20

1 Y después que cesó el alboroto, llamando Pablo a los discípulos, habiéndoles exhortado y abrazado, se despidió, y salió para ir a Macedonia

2 Y después que hubo andado aquellas partes, y de exhortarles con abundancia de palabra, vino a Grecia

3 Y después de haber estado allí tres meses, y habiendo de navegar a Siria, le fueron puestas asechanzas por los judíos; y así tomó consejo de volverse por Macedonia

4 Y le acompañaron hasta Asia, Sópater de Pirro, bereense, y los tesalonicenses, Aristarco y Segundo; y Gayo de Derbe, y Timoteo; y de Asia, Tíquico y Trófimo

5 Estos yendo delante, nos esperaron en Troas

6 Y nosotros, pasados los días de los panes sin levadura, navegamos de Filipos y vinimos a ellos a Troas en cinco días, donde estuvimos siete días

7 Y el primero de los sábados, juntos los discípulos a partir el pan, Pablo les enseñaba, habiendo de partir al día siguiente; y continuó la palabra hasta la medianoche

8 Y había muchas lámparas en el aposento alto donde estaban juntos

9 Y un joven llamado Eutico que estaba sentado en una ventana, tomado de un sueño profundo, como Pablo predicaba largamente, postrado del sueño cayó del tercer piso abajo, y fue alzado muerto

10 Entonces descendió Pablo, y se derribó sobre él, y abrazándole, dijo: No os alborotéis, que aún su alma está en él

11 Después subiendo, y partiendo el pan, y gustando, habló largamente hasta el alba, y así salió

12 Y llevaron al joven vivo, y fueron consolados no poco

13 Y nosotros subiendo en el navío, navegamos a Asón, para recibir de allí a Pablo; pues así había determinado que debía él ir por tierra

14 Cuando se juntó con nosotros en Asón, tomándole vinimos a Mitilene

15 Y navegamos de allí, al día siguiente llegamos delante de Quío, y al otro día tomamos puerto en Samos; y habiendo reposado en Trogilio, al día siguiente llegamos a Mileto

16 Porque Pablo se había propuesto pasar adelante de Efeso, por no detenerse en Asia, porque se apresuraba por hacer el día de Pentecostés, si le fuera posible, en Jerusalén

17 Y enviando desde Mileto a Efeso, hizo llamar a los ancianos de la Iglesia

18 Y cuando vinieron a él, les dijo: Vosotros sabéis cómo, desde el primer día que entré en Asia, he estado con vosotros por todo el tiempo

19 sirviendo al Señor con toda humildad, y con muchas lágrimas, y tentaciones que me han venido por las asechanzas de los judíos

20 como nada que fuera útil he rehuido de anunciaros y enseñaros, públicamente y por las casas

21 testificando a los judíos y a los gentiles el arrepentimiento hacia Dios, y la fe en nuestro Señor Jesús, el Cristo

22 Y ahora, he aquí, que yo atado del Espíritu, voy a Jerusalén, sin saber lo que allá me ha de acontecer

23 mas que el Espíritu Santo por todas las ciudades me da testimonio, diciendo que prisiones y tribulaciones me esperan

24 Mas de ninguna cosa hago caso, ni estimo mi vida preciosa para mí mismo; solamente que acabe mi carrera con gozo, y el ministerio que recibí del Señor Jesús, para dar testimonio del Evangelio de la gracia de Dios

25 Y ahora, he aquí, yo sé que ninguno de todos vosotros, por quienes he pasado predicando el Reino de Dios, verá más mi rostro

26 Por tanto, yo os protesto el día de hoy, que yo soy limpio de la sangre de todos

27 porque no he rehuido de anunciaros todo el consejo de Dios

28 Por tanto mirad por vosotros y por todo el rebaño en que el Espíritu Santo os ha puesto por obispos, para apacentar la Iglesia de Dios, la cual ganó por su sangre

29 Porque yo sé que después de mi partida entrarán en medio de vosotros lobos rapaces, que no perdonarán al rebaño

30 y de vosotros mismos se levantarán hombres que hablen cosas perversas, para llevar discípulos tras sí

31 Por tanto, velad, acordándoos que por tres años de noche y de día, no he cesado de amonestar con lágrimas a cada uno de vosotros

32 Y ahora también, hermanos, os encomiendo a Dios, y a la Palabra de su gracia, el cual es poderoso para sobreedificar, y daros heredad con todos los santificados

33 La plata, o el oro, o el vestido de nadie he codiciado

34 Antes vosotros sabéis que para lo que me ha sido necesario, y a los que están conmigo, estas manos me han servido

35 En todo os he enseñado que, trabajando así, es necesario sobrellevar a los enfermos, y tener presente las palabras del Señor Jesús, el cual dijo: Más bienaventurada cosa es dar que recibir

36 Cuando hubo dicho estas cosas, se puso de rodillas, y oró con todos ellos

37 Entonces hubo gran lloro de todos; y echándose en el cuello de Pablo, le besaban

38 doliéndose en gran manera por la palabra que dijo, que no habían de ver más su rostro. Y le acompañaron al navío

Hechos 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

Paul's journeys. (1-6) Eutychus restored to life. (7-12) Paul travels towards Jerusalem. (13-16) Paul's discourse to the elders of Ephesus. (17-27) Their farewell. (28-38)

Verses 1-6 Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.

Verses 7-12 Though the disciples read, and meditated, and prayed, and sung apart, and thereby kept up communion with God, yet they came together to worship God, and so kept up their communion with one another. They came together on the first day of the week, the Lord's day. It is to be religiously observed by all disciples of Christ. In the breaking of the bread, not only the breaking of Christ's body for us, to be a sacrifice for our sins, is remembered, but the breaking of Christ's body to us, to be food and a feast for our souls, is signified. In the early times it was the custom to receive the Lord's supper every Lord's day, thus celebrating the memorial of Christ's death. In this assembly Paul preached. The preaching of the gospel ought to go with the sacraments. They were willing to hear, he saw they were so, and continued his speech till midnight. Sleeping when hearing the word, is an evil thing, a sign of low esteem of the word of God. We must do what we can to prevent being sleepy; not put ourselves to sleep, but get our hearts affected with the word we hear, so as to drive sleep far away. Infirmity requires tenderness; but contempt requires severity. It interrupted the apostle's preaching; but was made to confirm his preaching. Eutychus was brought to life again. And as they knew not when they should have Paul's company again, they made the best use of it they could, and reckoned a night's sleep well lost for that purpose. How seldom are hours of repose broken for the purposes of devotion! but how often for mere amusement or sinful revelry! So hard is it for spiritual life to thrive in the heart of man! so naturally do carnal practices flourish there!

Verses 13-16 Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty calls us another way.

Verses 17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to inform their judgments, and reform their hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back reproofs when necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the cross. He was a truly Christian, evangelical preacher; he did not preach notions or doubtful matters; nor affairs of state or the civil government; but he preached faith and repentance. A better summary of these things, without which there is no salvation, cannot be given: even repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, with their fruits and effects. Without these no sinner can escape, and with these none will come short of eternal life. Let them not think that Paul left Asia for fear of persecution; he was in full expectation of trouble, yet resolved to go on, well assured that it was by Divine direction. Thanks be to God that we know not the things which shall befall us during the year, the week, the day which has begun. It is enough for the child of God to know that his strength shall be equal to his day. He knows not, he would not know, what the day before him shall bring forth. The powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his duty. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Christ constrains him to proceed. None of these things moved Paul from his work; they did not deprive him of his comfort. It is the business of our life to provide for a joyful death. Believing that this was the last time they should see him, he appeals concerning his integrity. He had preached to them the whole counsel of God. As he had preached to them the gospel purely, so he had preached it to them entire; he faithfully did his work, whether men would bear or forbear.

Verses 28-38 If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to ransom believers from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends them to the word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hope and the fountain of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are capable of growing, and will find the word of grace help their growth. As those cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would be no heaven to them; but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of God is renewed, it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the present world; this they would find help forward their comfortable passage through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of their Master's, which he would have them always remember; "It is more blessed to give than to receive:" it seems they were words often used to his disciples. The opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; they are afraid of giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with them the most blessed thing that can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. It makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none; and to the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be in us also. It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer. Those who exhort and pray for one another, may have many weeping seasons and painful separations, but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them.