A Study of Acts: Paul Travels and Meets Up with Disciples
Acts 20:1-6 - How can you encourage someone today? Can you call or help someone who is in need or suffering or unsure of their faith?
“After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.”
Acts 20:1-6 NASB1995
The chaos has ended in Ephesus. Paul sends for the disciples and exhorts them and then leaves to go to Macedonia. This part of the third missionary journey is thought to have occurred in about A.D. 56 or 57. By exhorting the disciples, he was encouraging them in their ministry, which has spread far and wide in Roman Asia (western end of present-day Turkey). So how do you exhort or encourage someone? I like this list of ways to encourage others from Precept Austin, which was linked from this passage in Acts to their collection of commentaries for Ephesians:
Below are six ways to encourage someone - When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or sister in Christ, it does cost to encourage another (eg, it always costs our time, our "agenda", etc), but it might just be the most wisely invested moment of your day!
1) Provide materially – meet their material needs.
2) Drop a line – send notes of encouragement.
3) Reach out and touch – give an appropriate touch such as a pat, hug, etc.
4) Listen up – listen actively. (Oh my, I [and all of us] need to heed this one!)
5) Empathize – comfort others in their pain.
6) Give of your time – give your undivided attention.
Paul leaves to go to Macedonia. Here is a map from Bibleatlas.org showing that region again and its location within the eastern Mediterranean region:
Paul travels through the Macedonian churches, once again encouraging them. He then travels to Achaia (Greece), also shown on the map above highlighted in pink, probably to the church at Corinth. It is thought by some scholars that 1 Corinthians (the actual second letter to the church at Corinth) was written before he left Ephesus and was delivered by Timothy. He spends three months there, but is plotted against by some of the Jewish leaders before he planned to set sail to Syria. He decides to return to Macedonia. Some of the puzzle pieces (filling in the gaps from Acts to the Epistles) from his missionary journeys are explained in this commentary from Enduring Word:
When he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words: Paul spent his time working with the churches he had already established, as recorded in Acts 16-17.
“One activity that especially concerned Paul at this time was collecting money for the relief of impoverished believers at Jerusalem…Paul viewed it as a symbol of unity that would help his Gentile converts realize their debt to the mother church in Jerusalem.” (Richard Longenecker)
Paul’s extended time in this region may help to explain a bit of a puzzle. In Romans 15:19, Paul made this claim: So that from Jerusalem and round to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. The puzzle is that the Book of Acts never specifically mentions a visit by Paul to Illyricum, but it may fit in here at Acts 20:2-3, where Paul had gone over that region… and stayed three months. Illyricum is due west from Thessalonica, and there was a famous Roman Road (the Via Egnatia) that went between Thessalonica and the Roman province of Illyricum. Today, the area of Illyricum is modern day Albania, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, with the mainland of Italy westward across the water.
The mention of Illyricum in Romans 15:19 reminds us that the Book of Acts, as wonderful as it is, is by no means a complete accounting of all that God did through His people in the first century. There is much, even in the life of the Apostle Paul, that is not described – not to mention the life and work of many, many others.
When the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. From Greece, Paul had planned to take the long journey by sea directly back to Syria (where his sending church at Antioch was), but the plotting of some anti-Christian Jews made him take a more overland route back through Macedonia, accompanied by many companions.
“It may have been planned to attack him on board ship, especially if the vessel was crowded with Jewish pilgrims for Passover or Pentecost.” (David Williams)
Paul is accompanied by several of the disciples on this land trip back to Macedonia. We know of Timothy, of course, but how about the others? Precept Austin has a nice summary of each of the individuals, other than Timothy, with scriptural references where appropriate; the Holman Bible Dictionary is mentioned as the source of some of this information:
Sopater of Berea - only mention
Aristarchus (708) whose name means "best ruler" was a Jewish believer (cp Col 4:10 and Col 4:11) had a Greek name and was a Macedonian of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who traveled with the Paul on his third missionary journey through Asia Minor (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2). Aristarchus first appeared during Paul’s three year ministry at Ephesus. He was seized by the rioting mob, who recognized him as one of Paul’s companions (Acts 19:29) and later preceded Paul to Troas (Acts 20:4-6). A faithful companion and friend, Aristarchus accompanied Paul on his return trip to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4), and on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:4) where he attended the apostle and shared his imprisonment. As Paul writes Colossians, Aristarchus is still beside him.
Secundus (second or fortunate) - only mention. Secundus was a common name for a slave because they were often not called by their true names, and the first-ranking slave in a household would often be called Primus. The second-ranking slave was often called Secundus.
Notice the two representatives from Thessalonica - An Aristocrat and a Slave (presumably). In Col 3:11-note Paul describes "a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all."
Gaius, a Macedonian (Acts 19:29) who was Paul's host at Corinth when the Epistle to the Romans was written (Rom. 16:23) and was baptized with his household by Paul (1 Cor. 1:14). He accompanied Paul to Ephesus and was seized by the mob (Acts 19:29). The association of his name with that of Arístarchos seems to identify him with the Gaius of Derbe (Acts 20:4). The Apostle John addresses his third Epistle to someone by that name, but we do not know whether it is the same person or not.
Trophimus of Asia (3x in the NT - Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20) Personal name meaning, “nutritious.” Gentile Christian from Ephesus who accompanied Paul to Jerusalem for the presentation of the collection (Acts 20:4-5 ; Acts 21:29 ). Paul's free association with Trophimus led to the false charge that Paul had defiled the Temple by bringing a Gentile within the Court of Israel (Acts 21:19 ). The Trophimus whom Paul left in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20 ) is either another Trophimus or else evidence for a second Roman imprisonment. (According to Acts, Paul did not pass by Miletus on his way to Rome). (Ibid)
Trophimus went as far as Jerusalem Acts 21:29
Tychicus (5x - Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 3:12) - Personal name meaning, “fortunate.” One of Paul's fellow workers in the ministry. A native of Asia Minor (Acts 20:4 ), he traveled with the apostle on the third missionary journey. Tychicus and Onesimus carried the Colossian letter from Paul (Colossians 4:7-9 ), and were to relate to the church Paul's condition. Paul also sent Tychicus to Ephesus on one occasion (2 Timothy 4:12 ) and possibly to Crete on another (Titus 3:12 ). Tradition holds that he died a martyr. (Ibid)
Abruptly, Acts now returns to being written in the first person, which means that Luke has joined Paul again. These disciples that are mentioned in this passage went on ahead to Troas and were waiting for Paul and Luke. Those two sailed to Troas after the Feast of the Unleavened Bread to join the rest there and spend seven days in Troas after sailing for five days from Philippi. I love that Paul still observes the Jewish traditions and feasts; I wonder what the Gentile Luke thought of the Feast (it is an interesting question as to whether he attended). Here is the map from Bibleatlas.org showing Troas, which is north of Ephesus:
The group is now in Troas. My next devotional examines Acts 20:7-12 - Paul preaches for hours and a young man named Eutychus falls asleep and falls out a window; a miracle is needed!
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Please help me to encourage others through the Holy Spirit and be there for them during difficult times and when things are going well. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
The Bibleatlas.org was accessed on 12/28/2024 to review the maps for Macedonia and Troas.
Precept Austin was accessed on 12/28/2024 to review commentary for Acts 20:1-6.
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.