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December 12th

The bible reading today is in Acts chapters 20-23.

“After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:1‬

Paul had spent two fruitful years in Ephesus during his second missionary journey. Then riots broke out over the changes that the gospel had brought to the people in that city.

Many were converted to Christ and turned away from the local goddess, Artemis, the Goddess of wild animals...whose Temple dictated religion, politics, and commerce in Ephesus.

The businessmen of Ephesus, in partnership with the Temple of Artemis...men who made their living making and selling religious idols, these people stirred up the riots against Paul and the gospel he preached. They wanted the preacher out of their town.

Encouraged by some fellow believers, Paul decided that it was time leave. But before he left, Paul gathered the disciples around him...one more time...to love on them and thank them and encourage them to stay the course in Jesus' Name.

Then Luke put in the record that Paul and his increasing missionary band crossed over to Macedonia...to Philippi...

“And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:6‬ ‭

I want to stop and take note of who belonged to Paul’s ministry at this time....men who faced the Ephesian riots with Paul...the men who went ahead of Paul and Silas and Dr. Luke to prepare things in Troas for the voyage home to Syria. “”

“Sopater the Berean”, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied Paul;

Led to Christ by Paul and Silas at the beginning of their Second missionary journey)...and of the Thessalonians,

Aristarchus and Secundus; (these disciples, Aristarchus of the ruling class and Secundus, a slave, made a hedge to protect Paul from the murderous Jews and Gentiles in Thessalonica who opposed Paul’s message greatly.

And Gaius of Derbe, This was the town where Paul laid up for awhile, recovering from his stoning in Lystra...perhaps Gaius was one who showed Paul hospitality for his healing...could be why Gaius became such a fan of the apostle.

And young Timothy of Lystra...whose mother and grandmother were led to Christ by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey...and then they led Timothy to Christ and he became known for his gallant faith by the brothers in Lystra...and God led Paul to invite the young man to join him on his second missionary journey. Later, Timothy would pastor the church at Ephesus.

And the Asians...Gentiles...Tychicus and Trophimus. (Who would later be with Paul in Rome where the apostle was on trial for his faith).

Acts‬ ‭20:4‬

Now Paul is in Troas for 7 days and...“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them.

First day of the week...Sunday...not Saturday the sabbath...but Sunday. Resurrection Day...the church met for worship and fellowship....and Paul instructed them in more ways than one.

And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

Had to be a tragedy....But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:7, 9-10‬

People went away from doing church with Paul...grateful for the timely demonstration of the power of God through Paul...an illustration of the spiritual gift of healing manifested to the church through Paul.

Amazing....amazing grace to be sure...

Have a great day