Wrapping Up the Third Missionary Journey (20:1-38) November 3rd Reading!

“Falling Asleep in Church” (20:1-12)

While I am tempted to talk about how falling asleep during a sermon can be deadly, it would open the opportunity for you to talk about how sleep-inducing preaching can be. Plus, I am one who can fall asleep any time I am still, whether at a ball game, a movie, or in someone else’s preaching. I once had a Greek professor who fell asleep in his lectures. I have not accomplished that feat, but I have some years of ministry left. Fortunately and miraculously for Eutychus, he survived falling asleep in church. The event happened in Troas, which is the place where Paul had the vision that he was to go to Macedonia with the gospel. Now in his last part of the third missionary journey, Macedonia seems to be the only place that is relatively safe for him to do ministry.

From now on things start to heat up for Paul, whether it’s persecution from Jewish zealots (looks like they were laying in wait for him in Syria – the place he was headed when he had his conversion and always a place where he was considered “a marked man”) or conflict with ruling authorities. Two things to notice here: 1) the group of leaders continues to expand with some familiar names and also some new ones, and 2) the telling of Acts is now in the first person plural “we.” Either Luke has change sources and is recording notes from a diary or he is writing directly from his experience. Colossians 4:14 tells us that Luke was a doctor and dear friend of Paul. In II Timothy 4:11, he is mentioned as the only one being with Paul in Rome just before his death. Interestingly, that same verse highlights John Mark (the one he parted ways with after deserting him during the first missionary journey) and his desire to see him, saying “he is helpful to me in my ministry.” Luke is mentioned again in the tiny letter to Philemon (vs. 24), listing him with Mark as well as Demas and Astarchus. Give that information of his late participation in Paul’s ministry, I believe we are getting first-person reporting from Luke in this part of Acts. It would only be about 3-5 years after Paul’s death, that Luke would put together Luke-Acts.

“Final Goodbyes to the Ephesians leadership” (20:13-38)

Paul gives a defense of his character in ministry and gives encouragement to the leaders as well as exhortation to be faithful in their leadership. He warns that tough times are coming and that they will be surprised at who falls away, even some of the most faithful. Paul has spent more time among the Ephesians than any other church and the depth of his passion for them is palatable.