Commentary - Acts 20:1-6

Bird's-eye view

In this brief section, Luke the historian gives us a travelogue, but it is a travelogue pregnant with meaning. Paul is on the move, but he is not a tourist. He is a man with a divine commission, and every step is taken under the shadow of the cross and in the power of the Spirit. The uproar in Ephesus is behind him, but the animosity of the Jews is a constant threat, shadowing his every move. This passage shows us the apostolic life in miniature: faithful exhortation of the saints, constant opposition from the world, strategic adjustments in the face of danger, and the beautiful reality of the international brotherhood of the church. Paul is not a lone ranger; he is surrounded by a band of brothers, a living testament to the gospel's power to create a new humanity from every tribe and tongue.

The movement here is deliberate. Paul is strengthening the churches, preparing them for the trials to come, and gathering representatives for the great offering for the saints in Jerusalem. This is not aimless wandering. It is the careful, strategic, and pastoral work of a master church planter. And woven into the geography and the list of names is the ever present reality of spiritual warfare. A plot is formed, plans are changed, but the mission of God does not miss a beat. God's purposes are not thwarted by the machinations of wicked men; rather, He uses their very opposition to accomplish His will, rerouting His apostle but never derailing His plan.

Outline

Commentary

1 Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul having summoned and exhorted the disciples, said farewell and left to go to Macedonia.

The dust has settled from the riot in Ephesus, a tumult stirred up by idolatrous capitalists who saw their bottom line threatened by the gospel. Notice Paul's first move. He doesn't flee in a panic. He acts as a shepherd. He summons the disciples. The word is parakaleo, the same root from which we get the name for the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. It means to call to one's side, to comfort, to exhort, to encourage. Paul is a pastor to the core. Before he departs, he ensures the flock is steady. He gives them the encouragement they need to stand firm after the storm. And only then, after embracing them, does he depart. Ministry is filled with these bittersweet farewells. The Great Commission cannot be fulfilled without them. To go to all nations means you must leave some saints behind. Paul's heart is always tied to these churches, but his feet must keep moving. He is headed for Macedonia, retracing his steps, watering where he had previously planted.

2 And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece.

Luke summarizes what must have been weeks or months of hard, apostolic labor. "Gone through those districts" is not a casual stroll. This is Paul in his element, visiting the churches he had planted in places like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. And what was he doing? Giving them "much exhortation." Again, that word parakaleo. He is constantly building them up, strengthening their resolve, teaching them the Word, and reminding them of the gospel. The Christian life is a fight, and the saints need to be exhorted to keep fighting. This is the steady, unglamorous work of ministry. It's not all riots and dramatic conversions. Much of it is this patient, persistent work of encouraging the brethren. After this tour of duty, he arrives in Greece, likely in Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia.

3 And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Three months in Greece. It was during this time that he almost certainly wrote his epistle to the Romans. But notice the constant backdrop to his ministry: opposition. As he is preparing to sail for Syria, likely to take the collection for the poor in Jerusalem, the Jews are plotting against him. This was a regular feature of his life. The enemies of the gospel are relentless. They were likely planning to ambush him on the ship, or perhaps upon his arrival. But God is sovereign over the schemes of men. Paul gets wind of the plot, and what does he do? He changes his travel plans. He doesn't test the Lord by sailing into a known ambush. He uses sanctified common sense. The goal is to get the gospel and the offering to their destination, not to be needlessly reckless. So he reverses course, deciding to take the long way around, overland through Macedonia. God's will is accomplished, but the route is altered by the malice of men, which God in His wisdom incorporates into His perfect plan.

4 And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

Here Luke gives us the roster of the traveling party. This is not just a list of names; it is a picture of the catholicity of the church. Look at where these men are from: Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, Asia. This is an international delegation. These men are most likely representatives from their home churches, entrusted with carrying the collection for the Jerusalem saints. Paul is meticulous about financial integrity. He travels with a team so that no one can accuse him of impropriety with the funds (2 Cor. 8:20-21). But more than that, this shows the unity of the body of Christ. Gentile churches are eagerly sending aid to their Jewish brethren in Jerusalem. This offering was a tangible expression of the gospel truth that in Christ, the dividing wall of hostility has been torn down. These men, traveling with Paul at great personal risk, are living proof of the power of God to create one new man out of two.

5 But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.

The travel arrangements are detailed. The main party goes on ahead to Troas, a key port city in Asia Minor. But notice the pronoun that slips in here: "waiting for us." Luke, the author, has rejoined the apostolic team. The "we sections" of Acts begin and end as Luke joins and leaves the group. He is an eyewitness to these events, carefully recording what he sees and hears. His presence here adds a layer of unimpeachable credibility to the narrative. He is not writing down hearsay; he is part of the story.

6 And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

The "we" continues. Paul and Luke remain in Philippi to celebrate the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Paul is a Jew who has found his Messiah. He does not see the new covenant as a complete rupture from the old, but rather its fulfillment. He still operates within the rhythm of the Jewish calendar, but now these feasts are filled with their true meaning in Christ. The Passover lamb has been slain, and we are to live as an unleavened people, free from the malice and wickedness of the old life. After the festival, they take a ship to Troas. The journey takes five days, which seems to indicate contrary winds, but they arrive safely. And there they settle in for a week. A lot can happen in seven days, and as we will see in the next section, this particular week in Troas would be one to remember.

Application

There are several points of sharp application for us in this passage. First, we see the heart of a true pastor in Paul. He exhorts and encourages the flock, especially after they have been rattled by the world. A faithful minister is a source of stability and courage for his people. He doesn't just preach sermons; he shepherds souls.

Second, we must recognize that determined opposition is part of the normal Christian life. Paul was constantly hounded by those who hated the gospel. We should not be surprised when we face plots and opposition. The world, the flesh, and the devil are not our friends. But we should also see that God is sovereign over all of it. A change in plans is not a defeat for God. He will get His servants where they need to go, by the route He has ordained.

Third, we see the beauty of Christian fellowship. Paul was not alone. He was surrounded by a band of brothers from diverse backgrounds, all united in the cause of the gospel. The church is not a collection of isolated individuals, but a body, a family. We need each other. We need to bear one another's burdens, travel together, and work together for the advance of the kingdom. This kind of tangible, visible unity across ethnic and geographic lines is a powerful witness to a watching world.