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THE BOOK OF ACTS

CHAPTER 20

GREECE, TROAS, MILETUS

THE CHALLENGE OF CHAPTER TWENTY

Paul warns the pastors to “take heed” of themselves and all the “flock” God has made them
overseers for. We may not be called to pastor, but the principle still applies to our daily lives. If
we do not keep ourselves built up in the Word and in the Spirit, how can we be an influence
over those God has entrusted to us, whether they are family members, friends, coworkers, or
neighbors?

Each of us has been called to be an ambassador of the Lord, and to be a successful
representative of His kingdom, we must not neglect our personal relationship with the Lord.

JOURNEYS IN GREECE (1-6)

Once the mob in Ephesus has been dispersed, Paul departs from Macedonia. After exhorting
the Macedonians, Paul travels to Greece and remains for three months until a plot against him
is revealed. He then travels through Macedonia and arrives in Troas.

This chapter begins the closing section of the book of Acts. It begins with Paul’s pastor’s
conference, and the remainder of the book recounts Paul’s great failure in Jerusalem. He will
begin to chart his own course and disregard the leading of the Holy Spirit. His desire to return
to Jerusalem will become an emotional issue rather than a principle of the Word of God.

After the revival in Ephesus, Paul possibly develops an attitude of independence. He acts as if
he has “arrived.” He will repent of this attitude while in prison in Caesarea, and he eventually
meets up with the geographical will of God in Rome.

MACEDONIA

Act 20:1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and
departed to go to Macedonia.

The “uproar” is the mob of chapter 19. Paul calls together the converts and church leaders who
have come to know the Lord and have become disciples during the previous three years. Paul
embraces them and heads for the northern part of Greece. He will be there for almost one
entire year.

On this trip, Paul travels to Troy where he will meet Titus (2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:13-14) and train
him as a troubleshooter. Paul will then send him to Corinth. He will later bring back word that
the trouble in the church has been solved (2 Corinthians 7:13-16). Paul writes 2 Corinthians and
Romans during his year in Macedonia.