July 4, 2010
Morning Service

Acts 20

 

Review:

1.       In chapter 19 we are in Paul’s third missionary trip.

• He is traveling through Asia, the upper regions, this is where he meets the men from Ephesus.
• He taught here in Ephesus for about 3 months in the synagogue, but when certain of the Jews became mad he started teaching in the school of Tyrannus.  Paul taught here for two years.
• God was also working miracles through the Apostle Paul.
• Many disciples are being made.  They are getting rid of their books of witchcraft, the things that tie them to their past way of life.  “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away, and behold, all things become new.”
• Paul sends Timothy, and Erastus on to Macedonia, but he remains in Asia for awhile.
• It’s at this time that Demetrius, the silversmith, stirs up the people against Paul for teaching that their Goddess Diana is nothing more than an idol.  We mentioned that this temple of Diana was at that time one of the seven wonders of the world.
• The city clerk quieted the crowd, and this takes us to chapter 20.

 

Act 20:1-38 KJVR  And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. 

• Paul is going back into Europe where he had already sent Timothy, and Erastus.

(2)  And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,  (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.  (4)  And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.  (5)  These going before tarried for us at Troas.  (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. 

• Now Paul is back in Asia, on the coast at Troas.
• After the days of unleavened bread.  This is referring to the 7 days of Passover that the Jews were not to eat leavened bread.

NOW NOTICE:

(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. 

• Now this scripture along with I Cor. 16:2; 1Co 16:2 KJVR  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
• Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

By these scriptures we conclude that the disciples have established the first day of the week as their day of coming together to worship God, to take communion, and to hear the Word of God.

Now notice some commentaries thoughts on this matter:

 

So the Syriac version understands it, by translating it, “to break the eucharist”; that is, the eucharistic bread. It is probable that the apostles and early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper on every Lord’s day.

The Peshitta (Classical Syriac (Aramaic: ܦܹܫܝܼܛܵܐ‎) for "simple, common, straight, vulgate") is the standard version of the Syriac Bible.

 

Matthew Henry:  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.

 

JFB:  This, compared with 1Co_16:2, and other similar allusions, plainly indicates that the Christian observance of the day afterwards distinctly called "the Lord's Day," was already a fixed practice of the churches.

 

Paul encourages us:

1Co 1:10 KJVR  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

And again:

Eph 4:3 KJVR  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

And again:

2Th 2:15 KJVR  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 

When we take the time to look back at early church history, we find that the disciples met together on the first day of the week, to worship God, take communion, hear the Word, lay by in store for the poor.

• It says Paul preached until midnight.   

(8)  And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.  (9)  And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.  (10)  And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.  (11)  When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.  (12)  And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. 

• Not a little comforted, means they were a whole lot comforted.

(13)  And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.  (14)  And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.  (15)  And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.  (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. 

• Here again we see Paul hurrying to get to Jerusalem, and the feast of Pentecost.

(17)  And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  (18)  And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,  (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:  (20)  And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,  (21)  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  (22)  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  (23)  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  (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.  (25)  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  (26)  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  (27)  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

• And we are so blessed to have all of what God wants us to have in the Word of God.

(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.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  (31)  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

• Paul’s presence, and knowledge of the Word, is what protected the church.  This is what the churches overseers must do.  We must have the knowledge of God’s Word so that we can stand up against false teaching.  We must know, “thus saith the Lord in every situation.”

(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.  (33)  I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.  (34)  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  (35)  I have showed you all things, how that so laboring 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.  (36)  And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.  (37)  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,  (38)  Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

 

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, KEEP US IN THE WORD OF YOUR GRACE.  AMEN.