Acts 20:1-5 ~ stayed

Luke 4:4

Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Acts 20:1-5

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.

3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Jesus tells us every Word of God is written with His deliberation. And in God's Good Plan, the childhood of Jesus, the household of Mary and Joseph have given rich clues. We are able to read James and Jude for their years with Jesus and the reuniting of the brothers in Acts 1 and 2. Paul refers to their diligence in the New Testament, traveling with Jesus'  in-law sisters.

Why did Luke record Paul's travel itinerary?

Verse one - what uproar?

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus as it appeared in Acts 19

Chapter 19 Ephesus

there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence

Ephesus had a riot with Paul teaching the Good News. We don't hear of this in Athens. Jesus said Rome would house His Church, as He told His Disciples in Caesarea. Genesis 12:23 God protects Abraham with a Blessing for those who Bless him and a curse for those who curse him. The New Testament discusses this protection offered by God.

Matthew 11:21

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Jesus is right, to this day the town of Bethsaida has 3 locations and Bethsaida is unknown exactly.
Chorazin was crushed in 70 A.D. and is ruins. Tyre is not an island as Ezekiel foretold, thanks to Alexander the Great, who then went to visit the High Priest upon learning of the prophesy Alexander the Great would visit the High Priest. Alexander bowed to, "God's Representative on earth." The Scriptures are absolutely fascinating.

Temple of Artemis today

Verse 2 - Encouragement

Paul did not travel through Ephesus, known for worshiping odd things, screaming about hell. Paul records leaving the riot by encouraging people. His speech is called "Encouragement." 

Rather an unusual way to leave a riot.

Verse 3 Onward to Greece 

 (or if it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium)

Here we notice Paul is not 'planting'. We are not seeing Peace, Joy, Love and overall Bliss. We see discord and nothing resembling planting. Something more like hopscotch.

Hopscotch is jumping here - jumping there - no way this flight risk is going to plant a seed to do one single lasting effect. This is 'obviously' doomed. Who would believe this man is starting something of substance? Let's consider the Biblical verse and keep an eye on the names God chooses to write down:

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I planted,

Apollos watered,

but God gave the growth.

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

The Giants of the Faith


Verse 4 Time and Tide

4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

This is a great idea to know something of these Men God chose to record. Sopater is the head of the Synagogue who saw Jesus, fell in Love with God and became Christian. Sopater is going to go far. Gaius of Derbe is going to show up a few times. He is the older son, hence his name, "Gaius" and maybe God is thinking of the Prodigal Son being oldest? Maybe. God has a 'knack' for name usage comparing the birth of Jesus Christ to his Good Friday.

Timothy gets to live to old age accompanying Paul and will live into his 80's  as a Christian Bishop. One of the first.

But like the photo of Twelve Disciples is the idea behind JRR Tolkien and The Fellowship of the Ring. These men Love Jesus but time and tide is going to push their journeys in separate directions. The Scriptures tell us Life will send us in different Journeys. We each have unique talents and gifts and a unique Plan of God. Our soul and heart -  is to be revealed to God.

The Twelve  Disciples will all have different directions as well as the men Paul loves and worships together. Jesus is the Greatest. Just as Paul is hopscotching about - the direction of the Journey and the Fellowship past, present and future will change all within the Plan of God.

Paul is going on in Jesus Christ.

Abba, our Father,

We are Blessed each day as your renew Your Mercies. Blessed You daily load us with Your Benefits. Blessed to be given Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote of his plans for the year to Timothy and said, "I will see how it goes with me." We do not know all of Your Plans. We are told to Pray with Hope and Expectation for Beautiful Blessings You have given us yesterday and today. We will look with hope to tomorrow.

With You in great Blessings, we have Jesus telling us to Pray with Hope covering Heaven on earth with the Name and Love of Jesus. We have Jesus telling us to look to God giving us this day. God providing Bread - storage of food to provide for our needs. Yeast to cause growth, dry goods for God creating a plentiful storage to know tomorrow is going to be fine.

Jesus Gift of God to cover our cares and those we Love. God working the impossible in life. We all have miracles God has given us. We have not been carried by God so far to be dropped on our heads.

We believe and Trust God as our Good Father. And for our communities, Churches, employment, family and those we Love - Covered with Jesus. Broken backs healed. Healing all of cancer. Prayers answered. Peace found.

The believing world praying Jesus covering His Good Creation. In God we will Abide. Forever.

Amen in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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