Paul had been through a harrowing ordeal. His ministry in Ephesus had stirred up quite a commotion. Indeed, the silversmiths whose livelihood depended on the worship of Artemis had taken part in a riot! “After the uproar had subsided,” Acts 20:1 relates, “Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had encouraged them and bidden them farewell, he went forth to journey into Macedonia. After going through those parts and encouraging the ones there with many a word, he came into Greece.” On the way to Macedonia, Paul stopped in the seaport of Troas and spent time there. Then he went on to Macedonia, perhaps spending a year or so “encouraging the ones there with many a word.” Titus joined Paul in Macedonia, bringing good news regarding the Corinthians’ response to Paul’s first letter. (2 Corinthians 7:5-7) This moved Paul to write another letter to them, which we now know as 2 Corinthians. From Macedonia, Paul went to Corinth. After spending three months there, he planned to board a boat to Syria. From there, he would be able to go to Jerusalem and deliver the contributions to the needy brothers there. (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25, 26) However, an unexpected turn of events changed Paul’s plans. Acts 20:3 reports: “A plot was hatched against him by the Jews”! In the interests of personal safety—and to protect the funds with which he had been entrusted—Paul opted to retrace his steps through Macedonia. Thankfully, he was not traveling alone. Paul’s companions for this part of his missionary tour included Aristarchus, Gaius, Secundus, Sopater, Timothy, Trophimus, and Tychicus. Luke rejoins him. They cross over to Troas, and here, as Paul is discoursing into the night, a young man falls asleep and tumbles out of a third-story window. He is picked up dead, but Paul restores him to life. As the account reports, the brothers were “comforted beyond measure.” Paul and his group traveled from Troas to Assos, then to Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus. Paul’s goal was to reach Jerusalem in time for the Festival of Pentecost. His haste to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost explains why he selected a vessel that bypassed Ephesus on this return trip. Since Paul wanted to talk to the Ephesian elders, however, he requested that they meet him at Miletus. Paul stops over in MIletus en route to Jerusalem, to have a meeting with the older men from Ephesus. He informs them they will see his face no more. How urgent, then, it is for them to take the lead and shepherd the flock of God, ‘among which the holy spirit has appointed them overseers’! Paul recalls the example he has set among them, and he admonishes them to keep awake, not sparing themselves in giving in behalf of the brothers. He urged the Ephesian elders to display a self-sacrificing spirit. “You must assist those who are weak,” he told them, “and must bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’” Paul’s genuine love for his brothers endeared him to them. Indeed, when it was time for him to depart, “quite a bit of weeping broke out among them all, and they fell upon Paul’s neck and tenderly kissed him.”
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 08:14:25 +0000
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