Wednesday, July 2 – Acts 20, Romans 1 – Additional reading: The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 37

1. Who did Paul summon to meet him in Miletus? (Acts 20:17)

2. What specific words of Jesus did Paul quote to the elders of Ephesus? (Acts 20:35)5)

3. Why isn’t Paul ashamed of the gospel? (Romans 1:16)

Acts 20 recounts Paul’s journey from Ephesus to Macedonia, his labor there and in Achaia, then in Asia, stopping in Troas and Miletus on his way back to Jerusalem. He traveled with representatives of the new Gentile churches, bringing the offering for the church in Jerusalem.

While he was in Corinth during this journey, Paul wrote a powerful letter to the church in Rome. This church was likely established by believers who accepted Jesus in Jerusalem and brought the message to the empire’s capital. The church spread not only throughout Greece but also westward into Italy. Paul had long desired to visit Rome to strengthen them in their faith. At the beginning of the letter, he apologizes for not coming earlier. His plans included expanding the church even further beyond Italy, to Spain.

“The theme of the epistle is the universal sinfulness of mankind and the universal grace of God, which provides a way whereby sinners may be forgiven and restored to perfection and holiness.

When Paul wrote this epistle, his mind was filled with the problems that had arisen in his conflicts with the Judaizers.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, Introduction to Romans, Theme

In his opening words, after the greeting, Paul summarizes the message of the letter:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17, NKJV

The remainder of chapter 1 discusses the condition of humanity apart from God. Paul asserts that creation itself provides sufficient evidence of God’s existence, leaving those who reject Him without excuse (v. 20). Idolatry, Paul contends, is humanity’s attempt to create God in its own image (vv. 21–23). When people turn away from God, they sink deeper into the corruption that sin generates in the heart (v. 24).

In the coming days, we will continue reading this important letter Paul wrote from Corinth.

Returning to the story in Acts 20, Paul arrives in Troas, a city on the coast of Asia, where he spends seven days with the believers. On the final Sabbath, the meeting extended into the night. During this farewell gathering, they celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and Paul spoke at length. A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in a third-story window, fell asleep and plunged to his death. To everyone’s relief, Paul, through prayer, miraculously restored him to life. I vividly remember this story from my childhood in Sabbath School.

Later, Paul arrived in Miletus, about 30 miles south of Ephesus, and summoned the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him. There was a profoundly emotional farewell, and he gave meaningful counsel. Paul, their beloved evangelist and pastor, tells them they will see him no more. He offers his parting words and entrusts the church to their care:
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28, NKJV

What beautiful and timely words for today’s elders and church leaders!

Paul knew and warned them that “savage wolves” would come in among the flock, and that even from within their own number, “men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-30). The church is always a target of the enemy’s attacks. It is our duty to watch over it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every disciple belongs to Christ, even the elders and leaders themselves. It should be a forewarning when anyone seeks to gain followers by dividing the church.

In this farewell, Paul shares a memorable quote from Jesus that appears only here in Scripture: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35, NKJV

“And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:36-38, NKJV

Let the Holy Spirit’s message to the Church through His messenger Paul remain in our hearts. May we treasure his words to the elders in Ephesus and to the church in Rome. Let us hold firmly to our faith in Jesus, guard the purity of the gospel, and protect the church from the Judaizers of our time, those who distort the gospel, and from savage wolves.

May God grant you a very blessed day.