Acts 20:17

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. AND FROM MILETUS HE SENT TO EPHESUS, AND CALLED THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH. Since he was now some 40 miles south of Ephesus, we might think that more time would be lost by sending thus far for the elders to come to him, than by going at once to Ephesus itself, when so near it. But if unfavourable winds and stormy weather had overtaken them, his object could not have been attained, and perhaps he was unwilling to run the risk of detention at Ephesus by the state of the church and other causes. It will be observed that those here called "elders" or 'presbyters' [ presbuteroi (G4245)] are in Acts 20:28 called "overseers" or 'bishops;' but see the note there. Remark:...

17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to inform their judgments, and reform their hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back reproofs when necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the cross. He was a truly Christian, evangelical preacher; he did not preach notions or doubtful matters; nor affairs of state or the civil government; but he preached faith and repentance. A better summary of these things, witho...

Verse Acts 20:17. _HE SENT TO EPHESUS, AND CALLED THE ELDERS OF THE_ _CHURCH._] These are called επισκοποι, _bishops_, Acts 20:28. By the πρεσβυτεροι, _presbyters_ or _elders_, here, we are to understand all that were in _authority_ in the Church, whether they were επισκοποι, _bishops_ or _overseers_, or _seniors_ in _years,_ _knowledge_, and _experience_. The πρεσβυτεροι, or _elders_, were probably the first order in the Church; an order which was not so properly constituted, but which rose out of the state of things. From these _presbuteroi_ the _episcopoi_, overseers or superintendents, were selected. Those who were _eldest_ in years, Christian knowledge, and experience, would naturally be preferred to all others, as o...

HE SENT TO EPHESUS - Perhaps a distance of twenty or thirty miles. THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH - Who had been appointed while he was there to take charge of the church. See the notes on Acts 15:2....

EXPOSITION ACTS 20:1 _Having sent for_ …_ and exhorted _for _called unto him, _A.V. and T.R.; _took leave of them, and departed _for _and embraced them, and departed, _A.V. DEPARTED FOR TO GO INTO MACEDONIA. This was St. Paul's purpose, as he had written to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:5) from Ephesus. He judged it wise, not only with a view to his own safety and that of his companions, but also for the rest and quiet of the Ephesian Church, to take advantage of the lull in the popular storm, and withdraw into quiet waters before any fresh outbreak occurred. Aquila and Priscilla seem to have left Ephesus about the same time, or soon after, since the Epistle to the Romans found them again at Rome ...

AND FROM MILETUS HE SENT TO EPHESUS,.... Which is said, by some, to be about four hundred furlongs from Miletus, and, by others, ten German miles. AND CALLED THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; that is, at Ephesus; not the ancient members of the church, but the officers of it; the pastors, bishops, and overseers, as they are called, Acts 20:28 and are so styled from their office, and not their age. The twelve disciples the apostle found in this place, and the numerous converts made by him here, first composed this church, which doubtless was formed into Gospel order by himself; to which he afterwards wrote an epistle, when at a distance from them, called the Epistle to the Ephesians; and in the latter end of the first century, another epistle was sent from Jesus Christ himself, by the Apostle John, to this church,...

CHAPTER 20 __ 1. Paul in Macedonia (Acts 20:1). 2. His abode in Greece, the visit to Troas and what transpired there (Acts 20:3). 3. The journey from Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13). 4. The farewell to the Ephesian Elders (Acts 20:17). The record before us is very brief. Some have thought the reason is the fact that the Apostle had turned aside from His given ministry, and therefore the Holy Spirit had nothing to report. We believe that this is correct. The object of the Spirit of God is now to lead us rapidly forward to the last visit of the Apostle to Jerusalem, therefore much is passed over in the untiring s

PAUL'S SPEECH TO THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS AT MILETUS. See Ramsay, art. Miletus in HDB, as to the difficulties of the journey at that period from Miletus to Ephesus; one had to sail to Priene and make from there a journey of 25 miles across the mountains to Ephesus. The elders or presbyters (_mg.),_ afterwards called bishops or overseers (Acts 20:28), make the toilsome journey, and Paul addresses them. We have had Paul addressing Jews (ch. 13) and Gentiles (ch. 17); here he addresses Christian office-bearers at a solemn point of his life. This speech hardly stood as we have it in the source; still there are things in it which do belong to this situation and to no other; some heads of it might be in the source, which have been worked up later with hints from Paul's epistles and other writings, and with reference, as we shall see, to later circumstances in the Church. The whole is in a fine st...

SETTING OUT FOR JERUSALEM (Acts 20:1-6)...

MILETUS. A city of great importance, as its remains show. SENT. having sent. Greek. _pempo._ App-174. EPHESUS. The time taken in summoning the elders was much less than he would have had to spend there, besides which there was the danger of. renewal of the rioting. CALLED. Greek. _metakaleo._ See note on Acts 7:14. ELDERS. Greek. _presbuteros._ See App-189. CHURCH. See App-186....