Paul the Apostle Moves On to an Uncertain Future As He Remains Destined for Glory

Paul Bids Farewell Before Continuing On His Journey

An Apostle Moves On Toward an Uncertain Future

(Acts chapter 20, verses 13–24)

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Get a free subscription on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/RevPaulBern

Last week as we left off at verse 12, the apostle Paul had just left Troas after bringing a young man back to health after a fall of some 3 stories. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on “the first day of the week” (see verse 7). You can tell that Paul was one tough dude, as it relates in verse 11: “Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.” So Paul healed the young man who fell three stories, went upstairs and ate before talking until dawn. Only after that did he leave to go to where he was going next. So after being up for 24 hours straight, Paul embarked on his journey without stopping to rest first. He was a driven man who was on a mission from God — literally.

Part One of This Week’s Verses for Study and Memorization

This week, as we take up where we left off, there is a brief description of where Paul and those traveling with him traveled to next. So let’s begin right there, starting at verse 13: “13) 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. 14) When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15) The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16) 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. 17) From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.”

The Faithfulness of the Apostle Paul

“We” in verse 13 referred to the men who had accompanied Paul as he was spirited out of Ephesus following the riot that had occurred there (see chapter 19, verses 23–41). This includes…