Listen Well

Tim A. Reger

Acts and the Pauline Epistles • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Introduction

Today we are picking up our story in . To make sure you understand where we are, let me take a minute and set the scene.

Paul had been in Ephesus, where (once again) an uproar broke out. That is in the last part of . Then we come to .

Acts 20:1–6 NIV84

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Acts 20:1-6

They set out for Macedonia and Greece, that is where Corinth is located. So they spent 3 months during which Paul wrote the book we just studied.

Back in Troas

After that they traveled back to Troas. It was at Troas that we are introduced to a young man named “Eutychus.” We pick up the reading with verse 7.

Acts 20:7-12

Acts 20:7–12 NIV84

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Let’s get the background for this story.

First of all, it is the first day of the week which would be our “Sunday.” They were breaking bread or “eating together.”

Now we are told that Paul was planning to leave the next day. So in true preacher fashion, he kept on taking until midnight.

The room was lit up by a number lamps (many lamps) and was upstairs. In fact, they were apparently on the third story.

Now there was young man named Eutychus. Now he is described as sinking into a deep sleep. He had trouble listening, because he was too tired to listen. Now because he was seated in a window, when he fell asleep, he fell out out of the window and all the way to the ground.

Three stories. Eutychus fell three stories, and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and threw himself on top of saying, “Don’t be alarmed, he’s alive.”

Then Paul and the young man went back upstairs, ate together, and when it was daylight—Paul left, and the people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Now some preachers would say that’s what happens when you fall asleep during a sermon.

What I want us to see is the power of God. Paul was preaching, and a young man falls three stories to his death. But Paul restores life through Jesus Christ.

Have you wondered why we don’t see this kind of power in our lives? I believe the reason we don’t see God working around us like this is because we don’t believe.

Some of us don’t believe God preforms miracles any more. Some of us don’t believe there are such things as miracles any more. And some of us simply don’t believe that God can do miracles any more.

Yet the truth is it doesn’t matter which group you are in or if you are in some other group—all of these false beliefs are based in the same short shortsightedness. We simply don’t believe God and His Word!

Good

Farewell to Ephesus

Acts 20:13–21 NIV84

We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Acts 20:13-

Paul and his group end up in Miletus because Paul decided to sail past Ephesus (remember the uproar). Besides Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem before Pentecost.

While in Miletus Paul sent for the elders at Ephesus:

Paul reminds them how he lived and served with them.

I serve the Lord with humility and tears.

Paul’s message: “Turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul was compelled to go to Jerusalem—not sure of what would happen to him.

I taught and taught.

I consider my life worth nothing, if only I may . . . testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

Paul says he won’t see them again.

Paul says he’s innocent of everyone’s blood—because he proclaimed the who will of God.

Now His challenge to the elders:

Be shepherds to the church of God.

Watch out for wolves.

Men who distort the truth

Be on your guard

Use hard work to help the weak.

They prayed—embraced and he left them, but what grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.

So What

Today we need to look for the miracles of God—believe in them and expect God to preform them.

We need to be on guard, because there will be a number of men and women that will distort the truth, and draw people away from the gospel.