consuls" (see n. on xviii. 12). The plural is used rhetorically, there being only one proconsul for each province. let them implead one another. R.V., "let them accuse one another." 39. in a lawful assembly. R.V., "in the regular assembly." The public assembly of free citizens was the final authority at Ephesus. The Town Clerk begs the turbulent citizens to wait till the next regular assembly is held, and to bring their grievances before it in an orderly manner. 40. The Town Clerk hints in this verse that the Roman authorities might exercise their right of depriving Ephesus of its "popular assembly" if the citizens were guilty of violent or illegal proceedings. Acts xx. 1-6. PAUL'S SECOND VISIT TO GREECE. And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into 2 Macedonia. 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 pur4 posed to return through Macedonia. 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 5 Trophimus. 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. Luke gives us the most meagre information with regard to this second visit to Greece. Paul went first of all to Macedonia, and doubtless visited the churches at Philippi and Thessalonica. Then he made his way down south, and spent three months probably at Corinth. Then, owing to a plot, he retraced his steps through Macedonia, whence he crossed by sea to Troas. 1. departed for to go into Macedonia. We know from 2 Cor. ii. 13 that Paul went first of all to Troas, where he spent some time waiting for Titus, whom he had sent on an errand to the Church at Corinth. 2. when he had gone through those parts. I.e., Philippi, Thessalonica, and Bercea. It was during this visit that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. 3. when he had spent three months there. I.e., at Corinth. During this stay at Corinth Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans. a plot was laid against him. The Jews evidently intended to kill him as he was on the point of embarking. 4. Sopater of Berea. R.V. adds, “the son of Pyrrhus. Some MSS. read Sosipater, and this suggests that he may possibly be identified with the Sosipater mentioned in Rom. xvi. 21. Aristarchus. See n. on xix. 29. Nothing further is known of Secundus. Gaius of Derbe. See n. on xix. 29. Tychichus. Probably one of Paul's active helpers at Ephesus. He accompanied Paul to Rome (cf. Eph. vi. 21 and Col. iv. 7). He is called "the beloved brother and faithful minister.” is also mentioned in Tit. iii. 12 and 2 Tim. iv. 12. He Trophimus. Also an Ephesian; cf. xxi. 29. He accompanied Paul during his later travels; cf. 2 Tim. iv. 20. 5. These going before. They crossed direct from Corinth to Troas, and did not go with Paul through Macedonia. 6. the days of unleavened bread. I.e., the feast of the Passover. Acts xx. 7-16. PAUL'S JOURNEY FROM TROAS TO 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 8 until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper 9 chamber, where they were gathered together. 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 10 the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble II not yourselves; for his life is in him. 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 13 little comforted. And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he 14 appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to 15 Mitylene. 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 16 Miletus. 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. At Troas Paul joined his companions, and almost immediately set sail towards Syria, following the coast of Asia until he came to Miletus. The narrative contains only one incident, viz., the account of the restoration of Eutychus, who had fallen from a high window, and was taken up apparently lifeless. 7. when the disciples came together. R.V., "when we were gathered together." Note the re-commencement of the "We-passages." to break bread. A technical expression, meaning "to partake of the Lord's Supper," which followed the Agape, or common meal; cf. 1 Cor. x. 16−21, xi. 20–34. ready to depart. R.V., 9. from the third loft. story." "intending to depart.” R.V., "from the third There can be little was taken up dead. doubt that Luke regarded the man as actually dead. There is no qualifying phrase, as in xiv. 19. We must remember, too, that Luke was present on the occasion, and his medical knowledge renders his testimony valuable. At the same time, the doubt must always arise whether a proper medical examination was made, and whether the so-called death may not have been a swoon. 10. embracing him. Cf. the action of Elijah (1 Kings xvii. 21) and of Elisha (2 Kings iv. 34). 13. Assos. South of Troas and opposite the island of Lesbos. to go afoot. R.V., "by land." Assos was only about 20 miles from Troas by road, and the journey by land took much less time than was needed for the voyage round Cape Lectum. 14. Mitylene. The capital of Lesbos. 15. Chios. A large island south of Lesbos. Samos. An island farther south and nearer to the coast. tarried at Trogyllium. This phrase is omitted in the R.V. Miletus. A famous seaport on the coast of Proconsular Asia-between 20 and 30 miles south of Ephesus. 16. the day of Pentecost. See n. on ii. 1. Acts xx. 17-38. PAUL'S ADDRESS TO THE ELDERS OF 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders 18 of the church. 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 19 seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the 20 lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, 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 22 Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me 23 there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, 24 saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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 |