Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 20

Act 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Macedonia

1Co 16:5; 1Ti 1:3.

Act 20:2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

came into Greece

Act 17:15; 18:1.

Act 20:3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

the Jews laid wait for him

Or, a plot was formed against him by the Jews.

Act 9:23; 23:12; 25:3; 2Co 11:26.

Act 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Sopater

Rom 16:21.

Aristarchus

Act 19:29.

Gaius

Rom 16:23; 3Jo 1:1-15.

Timotheus

Act 19:22.

Tychicus

Eph 6:21; Col 4:7-8; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12.

Trophimus

Act 21:29; 2Ti 4:20.

Act 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

we sailed away

From the use of the pronoun, Luke here rejoins the apostle.

the days of unleavened bread

Act 12:3; 18:18.

Act 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

the first day of the week

It was the breaking of bread for which the disciples were assembled. The passage indicates the use by the apostolic churches of the first day, not the seventh. Cf. 1Co 16:2.

disciples came together to break bread

Mat 26:26-28; Act 2:42; 1Co 11:23-33.

Act 20:8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

the upper chamber

Act 1:13.

Act 20:10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

fell on him, and embracing him

1Ki 17:21-22; 2Ki 4:34-35; Act 9:40-41.

Trouble not yourselves

Make ye no ado.

Act 20:12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

alive

Resurrection. Act 20:9-12; 24:14-15, 21. (Job 19:25; 1 Cor 15:52.)

Act 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

because he would not

that he might not have to.

the day of Pentecost

Act 2:1; 19:21; Gal 4:10-11.

Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

elders

Elders. Act 21:18. (Act 11:30; Tit 1:5-9.)

Act 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

temptations

Temptation. 1Co 7:5. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

kept back nothing

shrank not from declaring.

Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

repentance

Repentance. Act 26:20. (Mat 3:2; Act 17:30.)

Act 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

bound in the spirit

Cf. Act 21:4. In Act 20:22 Paul's own spirit (Scofield 1 Thessalonians 5:23, note) is meant; in Act 21:4 the Holy Spirit. Paul's motive in going to Jerusalem seems to have been his great affection for the Jews (Rom 9:1-5), and his hope that gifts of the Gentile churches, sent by him to the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-28), would open the hearts of the law-bound Jewish believers to the "gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course

Or, I hold not my life of any account, as unto myself, in comparison with accomplishing my course. See 1Co 9:26; Phl 3:13-14; 2Ti 4:7-8.

gospel

Gospel. Rom 1:1, 9, 15-16. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Act 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

I am pure from the blood of all men

Eze 3:17.

Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

I have not shunned to declare

2Co 4:2; Gal 1:10.

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock

1Co 9:27; Col 4:17; 1Ti 4:16.

flock

Isa 40:11; Luk 12:32.

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 20:23, 28; 21:4, 11. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

purchased with his own blood

Sacrifice (of Christ). Rom 3:25. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

wolves enter in among you

The two sources of the apostasy:

• false teachers from without (2Co 11:13-15; 2Pe 2:1-2);
• ambitious leaders from within (3Jo 1:9-10; Rev 2:6, 15). Also, 1Ti 1:20; 1Jo 2:19.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

of your own selves shall men arise

1Ti 1:19-20; 2Ti 1:15; 1Jo 2:19.

Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

I commend you to God

Churches (local). Act 20:7, 17-32; Rom 16:1-5, 16, 23. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

sanctified

Sanctify, holy (persons) (N.T.). Act 26:18. (Mat 4:5; Rev 22:11.)

Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

I have shewed you all things

In all things I have given you an example.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Luke 14:12.