Atos 20

Paulo Viaja pela Macedônia e pela Grécia

1 Cessado o tumulto, Paulo mandou chamar os discípulos e, depois de encorajá-los, despediu-se e partiu para a Macedônia.

2 Viajou por aquela região, encorajando os irmãos com muitas palavras e, por fim, chegou à Grécia,

3 onde ficou três meses. Quando estava a ponto de embarcar para a Síria, os judeus fizeram uma conspiração contra ele; por isso decidiu voltar pela Macedônia,

4 sendo acompanhado por Sópatro, filho de Pirro, de Bereia; Aristarco e Secundo, de Tessalônica; Gaio, de Derbe; e Timóteo, além de Tíquico e Trófimo, da província da Ásia.

5 Esses homens foram adiante e nos esperaram em Trôade.

6 Navegamos de Filipos, após a festa dos pães sem fermento, e cinco dias depois nos reunimos com os outros em Trôade, onde ficamos sete dias.

A Ressurreição de Êutico em Trôade

7 No primeiro dia da semana reunimo-nos para partir o pão, e Paulo falou ao povo. Pretendendo partir no dia seguinte, continuou falando até a meia-noite.

8 Havia muitas candeias no piso superior onde estávamos reunidos.

9 Um jovem chamado Êutico, que estava sentado numa janela, adormeceu profundamente durante o longo discurso de Paulo. Vencido pelo sono, caiu do terceiro andar. Quando o levantaram, estava morto.

10 Paulo desceu, inclinou-se sobre o rapaz e o abraçou, dizendo: “Não fiquem alarmados! Ele está vivo!”

11 Então subiu novamente, partiu o pão e comeu. Depois, continuou a falar até o amanhecer e foi embora.

12 Levaram vivo o jovem, o que muito os consolou.

Paulo Despede-se dos Presbíteros de Éfeso

13 Quanto a nós, fomos até o navio e embarcamos para Assôs, onde iríamos receber Paulo a bordo. Assim ele tinha determinado, tendo preferido ir a pé.

14 Quando nos encontrou em Assôs, nós o recebemos a bordo e prosseguimos até Mitilene.

15 No dia seguinte navegamos dali e chegamos defronte de Quio; no outro dia atravessamos para Samos e, um dia depois, chegamos a Mileto.

16 Paulo tinha decidido não aportar em Éfeso, para não se demorar na província da Ásia, pois estava com pressa de chegar a Jerusalém, se possível antes do dia de Pentecoste.

17 De Mileto, Paulo mandou chamar os presbíteros da igreja de Éfeso.

18 Quando chegaram, ele lhes disse: “Vocês sabem como vivi todo o tempo em que estive com vocês, desde o primeiro dia em que cheguei à província da Ásia.

19 Servi ao Senhor com toda a humildade e com lágrimas, sendo severamente provado pelas conspirações dos judeus.

20 Vocês sabem que não deixei de pregar a vocês nada que fosse proveitoso, mas ensinei tudo publicamente e de casa em casa.

21 Testifiquei, tanto a judeus como a gregos, que eles precisam converter-se a Deus com arrependimento e fé em nosso Senhor Jesus.

22 “Agora, compelido pelo Espírito, estou indo para Jerusalém, sem saber o que me acontecerá ali.

23 Só sei que, em todas as cidades, o Espírito Santo me avisa que prisões e sofrimentos me esperam.

24 Todavia, não me importo, nem considero a minha vida de valor algum para mim mesmo, se tão somente puder terminar a corrida e completar o ministério que o Senhor Jesus me confiou, de testemunhar do evangelho da graça de Deus.

25 “Agora sei que nenhum de vocês, entre os quais passei pregando o Reino, verá novamente a minha face.

26 Portanto, eu declaro hoje que estou inocente do sangue de todos.

27 Pois não deixei de proclamar a vocês toda a vontade de Deus.

28 Cuidem de vocês mesmos e de todo o rebanho sobre o qual o Espírito Santo os designou como bispos,^[a] para pastorearem a igreja de Deus,^[b] que ele comprou com o seu próprio sangue.

29 Sei que, depois da minha partida, lobos ferozes penetrarão no meio de vocês e não pouparão o rebanho.

30 E dentre vocês mesmos se levantarão homens que torcerão a verdade, a fim de atrair os discípulos.

31 Por isso, vigiem! Lembrem-se de que durante três anos jamais cessei de advertir cada um de vocês disso, noite e dia, com lágrimas.

32 “Agora, eu os entrego a Deus e à palavra da sua graça, que pode edificá-los e dar-lhes herança entre todos os que são santificados.

33 Não cobicei a prata, nem o ouro, nem as roupas de ninguém.

34 Vocês mesmos sabem que estas minhas mãos supriram minhas necessidades e as de meus companheiros.

35 Em tudo o que fiz, mostrei a vocês que mediante trabalho árduo devemos ajudar os fracos, lembrando as palavras do próprio Senhor Jesus, que disse: ‘Há maior felicidade em dar do que em receber’.”

36 Tendo dito isso, ajoelhou-se com todos eles e orou.

37 Todos choraram muito e, abraçando-o, o beijavam.

38 O que mais os entristeceu foi a declaração de que nunca mais veriam a sua face. Então o acompanharam até o navio.

Atos 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Grego: "epíscopos. " Designa a pessoa que exerce função pastoral.
• [b] Muitos manuscritos trazem "igreja do Senhor."