Acts 20: Spiritual Friendship

Alongside our Sunday teachings, we’re keeping things simple. We’ll be reading through the book of Acts, featuring the many unique voices of the ClearView Church congregation. Each week, we’ll release two chapters, followed by a few reflection questions.

In this  episode, you’ll hear a brief introduction from Pastor Phil, followed by a reading of Acts 20 and some reflection questions from a member of our congregation.

Read along with the following reflection:

What stuck out to you from this chapter? Was it the extensive travel by boat or on foot? Perhaps the story of the young man being raised from the dead? Was it maybe Paul’s relentless commitment to “testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” as we read in verse 24? Or was it the sorrowful farewell to beloved friends and partners in the gospel?

Take a few moments. Go back over the stories. 

How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through the text?

Let your heart respond to God in prayer. Rest and be refreshed in His presence.

Faith Matters is a ministry of Clearview Church, Oakville, On.
https://clearviewchurch.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

You are listening to the Faith Matters Podcast from Clearview Church, where we explore everyday faith in a complex world. Our goal is to strengthen and equip followers of Jesus just like you through practical and theological discussions and resources. In this season of the podcast, we're diving deeper into the practices of prayer and study. Each week, we'll release two episodes featuring voices from our congregation reading a chapter from the book of Acts, along with a few reflection questions. Each episode will begin with a short introduction to help set the context of the passage. As you listen, we encourage you to go slow. There will be built-in pauses with gentle background music, giving you space to reflect and wonder about what you're hearing. You might choose to follow along in your Bible or use a Bible app as the passage is read aloud. Above all, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and reveal what you need from the text. Our hope is that this practice would nurture and deepen your faith as you continue to grow your life with Christ. Now, on to the book of Acts and the passage of the day.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Acts chapter 19 is one of the wildest chapters in Acts. The Spirit is moving in Ephesus with power and clarity and more than a little chaos. We read about how people are baptized, healed, and delivered, and yet we see counterfeit spiritual powers being exposed for what they are. And as the gospel spreads, the idol makers in Ephesus start feeling the economic pressure of the gospel, and the city comes to a boil. It's interesting when Jesus moves into a place, even the business model has to change. But now in Acts 20, Paul is preparing to leave Ephesus.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, said goodbye 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 some Jews had plotted 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 Secondus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derby, Timothy also, and Titicus 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 festival of unleavened bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 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 is 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. We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Aesos, 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 Aesos, we took him aboard and went on to Mytilene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived at Chios. The day after that, we crossed over to Samos and on the following day arrived at Mililis. 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. Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them, You know how I live the whole time I was with you. From the first day I came into the province of Asia. I serve the Lord with great humility and with tears, in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 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. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I'm going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me. My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. The task of testifying to the good news of God's grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you, for I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard. Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you by this kind of hard work we must help the weak. Remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. What stuck out to you from this chapter? Was it the extensive travel by boat or on foot? Perhaps the story of the young man being raised from the dead? Was it maybe Paul's relentless commitment to testifying to the gospel of God's grace as we read in verse 24? Or was it the sorrowful farewell to beloved friends and partners in the gospel? Take a few moments, go back over the stories. How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through the text? Let your heart respond to God in prayer. Rest and be refreshed in His presence.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

We hope this time has helped you slow down and create space to hear from God. Join us again for our next episode as we continue through the book of Acts together. Go in peace and may you continue to grow your life with Christ.