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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. ATTENTION TO FINISHED WORK
A. CARE FOR THE CHURCHES
>>1. EPHESUS (SOUTHWESTERN ASIA)
Acts 20:1a After the tumult stopped, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell (also Mt 9:36; I Cor 8:5; I John 3:16; II Tim 3:16a; I Tim 4:13; I Pet 5:3)
>>2. MACEDONIA (NORTHERN GREECE)
Acts 20:1b and departed for Macedonia. Acts 20:2a When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement,
>>3. ILLYRICUM (ALBANIA)
Acts 20:2b he came to Achaia (also Rom 15:19)
>>4. ACHAIA (SOUTHERN GREECE)
Acts 20:3a There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria,
>>5. BACK TO MACEDONIA (NORTHERN GREECE)
Acts 20:3b-4a he decided to return [overland] through Macedonia. Sosipater from Berea, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; (also Rom 16:21)
B. CARE FOR HIS CO-WORKERS
>>1. ADVANCE PARTY AT TROAS (NORTHWESTERN TURKEY)
Acts 20:4b-5 Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius and Timothy from Derbe; and the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. (also I Cor 1:14; Rom 16:23; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; Titus 3:12; II Tim 4:12; Acts 21:29; II Cor 8:16-24)
>>2. MAIN PARTY JOINS THEM
Acts 20:6a We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, (also Acts 16:40)
II. ATTENTION TO UNFINISHED WORK
A. CARE FOR INDIVIDUAL
>>1. CHURCH IN TROAS
Acts 20:6b-7 where we stayed for seven days. On the first day of the week, when we gathered to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to leave the next morning. He extended his speech until midnight. (also Col 2:16-17; Gal 4:1-11; Rom 14:5)
>>2. FOR YOUNG EUTYCHUS
Acts 20:8-10 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered, and a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, slowly sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overtaken by sleep, he fell from the third story and was taken up dead
But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed; his life is now back in him.”
>>3. LAST SUPPER
Acts 20:11-12 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. (They took the youth away alive and were not a little comforted).
B. CARE FOR OTHERS
>>1. SPLIT PARTY
Acts 20:13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.
>>2. REUNITED AT ASSOS
Acts 20:14-15 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mytilene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus.
>>3. AT MILETUS
Acts 20:16-17 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. But from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. (also Jn 13:35)