Acts 20 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Acts 20 Devotional: Follow Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem, his miraculous raising of Eutychus, and his emotional farewell to the Ephesian elders. A study on faithful leadership and the power of the Word of God to build up the Church.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Acts Chapter 20. Today we travel with the Apostle Paul during a time of transition and deep emotion. As he prepares to depart for Jerusalem, knowing that trials await him, he leaves us with a blueprint for what a healthy, Christ-centered church looks like. Let us listen closely to his parting words, for they are filled with the urgency of a man who knows the value of every soul.

Acts Chapter 20 Introduction:

The Shepherd’s Charge and the Word of Grace

Acts 20 is a chapter of movement and ministry. It begins with Paul traveling through Macedonia and Greece, encouraging the believers. In Troas, we witness a long night of teaching that includes the miraculous restoration of a young man named Eutychus. However, the heart of the chapter is Paul’s meeting with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. He reminds them of his own integrity, his tireless preaching of "the whole counsel of God," and his warning against "savage wolves" that would try to distort the truth.

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Final Authority of the Scriptures. As your Statement of Faith affirms, the Bible is the final authority for all Christian faith and life. Paul does not point the elders to new traditions or human wisdom; he commends them to "God and to the word of his grace," which is able to build them up. We also see the mission of the Church in action: to nurture believers through teaching and fellowship. Paul’s life is a testament to the fact that salvation is a gift of grace worth more than life itself. He shows us that a leader’s greatest tool is not charisma, but a life lived in accordance with the inspired Word of God.

Bible Verse - Acts 20

20 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

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 Timotheus; 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 shewed 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.

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.

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 shewed you all things, how that so labouring 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.

Prayer

Paul knelt down with the elders and prayed with them all. As we enter into our own time of prayer, let us approach the throne of grace with that same spirit of fellowship and dependence on the Lord.

Prayer Theme: "The Whole Counsel of God"

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for the record of the early Church and for the faithful example of the Apostle Paul. We believe that the Scriptures are Your inspired Word, given to reveal Your perfect will for our salvation and our growth. Thank You for the "word of Your grace," which has the power to build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Lord, I ask that You would give me a heart like Paul’s—one that is fully committed to Your mission and Your Truth. Help me to be "compelled by the Spirit" in my daily life, following Your lead even when the path ahead is uncertain. I pray for the elders and leaders of my local church; protect them from the "wolves" of false teaching and give them the wisdom to shepherd Your flock with humility and tears. May our church be a place where the whole counsel of God is taught without compromise, and where Your love is demonstrated in every action.

We pray for the global Church, especially in places where believers are facing "prisons and hardships" for the sake of the Gospel. Strengthen them to finish the race and the task of testifying to the Good News of Your grace. We lift up the lost in our world, asking that the light of Your Word would break through the darkness. May we be a people who find it "more blessed to give than to receive," reflecting Your generous heart to a watching world. Amen.

Daily Application Question

Paul told the elders that he did not hesitate to preach "the whole counsel of God." Is there a part of God's Word that you have been avoiding or finding difficult to accept lately? How can you submit to the Bible's authority in that area today?

Frequently Asked Questions about Acts 20

What happened to Eutychus? Eutychus fell asleep and tumbled from a third-story window during Paul’s late-night sermon. Paul went down, threw his arms around him, and by the power of God, the young man was raised back to life—a sign that God’s life-giving Word was indeed with Paul.
Why was Paul so emotional in his farewell? Paul had spent three years in Ephesus, laboring with tears and deep affection. He knew by the Holy Spirit that he would not see them again, and he was burdened for the spiritual safety of the "flock" he was leaving behind.
What are "savage wolves" in a biblical context? Paul uses this metaphor to describe false teachers who come from both outside and inside the church to lead disciples astray with "distorted truths." His remedy for this was a deep rooting in the Scriptures.

Thank you for joining us for Acts 20. May you carry the "word of His grace" in your heart today, knowing that it is sufficient for every trial you face. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow as Paul continues his journey toward Jerusalem in Acts Chapter 21.

Navigate the Journey

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