17 And G1161 from G575 Miletus G3399 he sent G3992 to G1519 Ephesus, G2181 and called G3333 the elders G4245 of the church. G1577
Which G3739 also G2532 they did, G4160 and sent it G649 to G4314 the elders G4245 by G1223 the hands G5495 of Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul. G4569
And G1161 when they had ordained G5500 them G846 elders G4245 in every G2596 church, G1577 and had prayed G4336 with G3326 fasting, G3521 they commended G3908 them G846 to the Lord, G2962 on G1519 whom G3739 they believed. G4100
Take heed G4337 therefore G3767 unto yourselves, G1438 and G2532 to all G3956 the flock, G4168 over G1722 the which G3739 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 hath made G5087 you G5209 overseers, G1985 to feed G4165 the church G1577 of God, G2316 which G3739 he hath purchased G4046 with G1223 his own G2398 blood. G129
Let G515 the elders G4245 that rule G4291 well G2573 be counted worthy G515 of double G1362 honour, G5092 especially G3122 they who labour G2872 in G1722 the word G3056 and G2532 doctrine. G1319
And G1161 when they were come G3854 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 they were received G588 of G5259 the church, G1577 and G2532 of the apostles G652 and G2532 elders, G4245 and G5037 they declared G312 all things G3745 that God G2316 had done G4160 with G3326 them. G846
And G1161 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 came together G4863 for to consider G1492 of G4012 this G5127 matter. G3056
And they wrote G1125 letters by G1223 them G5495 G846 after this manner; G3592 The apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 and G2532 brethren G80 send greeting G5463 unto the brethren G80 which G3588 are of G1537 the Gentiles G1484 in G2596 Antioch G490 and G2532 Syria G4947 and G2532 Cilicia: G2791
And G1161 as G5613 they went through G1279 the cities, G4172 they delivered G3860 them G846 the decrees G1378 for to keep, G5442 that were ordained G2919 of G5259 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 which G3588 were at G1722 Jerusalem. G2419
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 20
Commentary on Acts 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
In this chapter we have,
And in all these we find Paul very busy to serve Christ, and to do good to the souls of men, not only in the conversion of heathen, but in the edification of Christians.
Act 20:1-6
These travels of Paul which are thus briefly related, if all in them had been recorded that was memorable and worthy to be written in letters of gold, the world would not contain the books that would have been written; and therefore we have only some general hints of occurrences, which therefore ought to be the more precious. Here is,
Act 20:7-12
We have here an account of what passed at Troas the last of the seven days that Paul staid there.
Act 20:13-16
Paul is hastening towards Jerusalem, but strives to do all the good he can by the way, oµs en parodoµ, "as it were by the by.' He had called at Troas, and done good there; and now he makes a sort of coasting voyage, the merchants would call it a trading voyage, going from place to place, and no doubt endeavouring to make every place he came to the better for him, as every good man should do.
Act 20:17-35
It should seem the ship Paul and his companions were embarked in for Jerusalem attended him on purpose, and staid or moved as he pleased; for when he came to Miletus, he went ashore, and tarried thee so long as to send for the elders of Ephesus to come to him thither; for if he had gone up to Ephesus, he could never have got away from them. These elders, or presbyters, some think, were those twelve who received the Holy Ghost by Paul's hands, ch. 19:6. But, besides these, it is probable that Timothy had ordained other elders there for the service of that church, and the country about; these Paul sent for, that he might instruct and encourage them to go on in the work to which they had laid their hands. And what instructions he gave to them they would give to the people under their charge.
It is a very pathetic and practical discourse with Paul here takes leave of these elders, and has in it much of the excellent spirit of this good man.
Act 20:36-38
After the parting sermon that Paul preached to the elders of Ephesus, which was very affecting, we have here the parting prayer and tears, which were yet more affecting; we can scarcely read the account here given of them, and meditate upon them with dry eyes.