Impressions (Acts 20:1-21:16)

I want to challenge you today to think about the people you love and cherish most. Think about the words you would like to say to them if it were the last time you would ever see them. The words we say have power. They will have a lasting impact on the lives of those we love. We leave a legacy that is primarily based on the relationships we develop through the words we say. What kind of lasting impression will you leave behind?

Paul's final missionary journey is underway, and beginning in Chapter 20, we will see that he knows this is it for him. He will not be revisiting these brethren. So he spends copious amounts of time with them, making the best use of his time so they know he loves them.

As we study this together, our goal is to consider our legacy, and I hope through this study, we can decide to leave a legacy of love, hope, encouragement, and sincerity like Paul.

Farewell Tour

As we study through this text, we will notice that Paul is on his farewell tour and has much to say to the churches he has helped establish.

Encouragement (1-6)

It starts kind of slow and vague. In the first six verses of Acts 20, Paul leaves Ephesus and travels to Macedonia, visiting the churches he helped establish and encouraging them. After that, he spends three months in Greece until a plot is made against him by the Jews, and he decides to go back to Macedonia on his way until they reach Troas. Paul stayed in Troas for seven days.

In this section, we see that Paul is all about encouragement. These brethren need to be lifted and encouraged after all of the suffering and persecution they have been through. He wants to leave them with encouragement.

How important is it for us to be encouragers? We read of Barnabas being the "Son of Encouragement." That's what his newly given name means. He is the man behind Paul. He encouraged him in his early conversion years, and he went with Paul on his first missionary journey. Do you like to be encouraged? I bet you do. I bet you hope that someone will encourage you right now, and I bet it would leave a lasting impression if they did.

Focused Worship (7-16)

Now, we get to the next section. They decide to stay there for a week when they get to Troas. In verse 7, we see that the disciples gathered together on the first day of the week to "break bread" or take the Lord's Supper. Paul has something to say.

Acts 20:7--12 (ESV) --- 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.‌

So they were all there listening to Paul talk for a long time. He kept talking to them until midnight. The first day of the week was a worship day for all the saints. Paul wanted to worship with the brethren as he traveled along the way. He wanted to give them some encouragement, so he spoke to them all night! While he was there talking so late, a young man fell out of a window and died, but Paul picked him up and told everyone that he was not dead.

What's the point of this section? Is it that preachers shouldn't preach long or that members shouldn't fall asleep? No, the point is that he wants to encourage the brethren by teaching them the truth and answering all their questions. In this case, he is focused on worshipping and breaking bread. There is no stopping him.

Notice what Paul did when he had finished raising the man. He goes back up, breaks bread, and keeps talking with them. The message he was giving them was too important to stop speaking. What kind of impression does that make?

When our worship is the focus of our lives, we send a message to people around us. We tell them that life is not worth living if I cannot worship my God, who has been so good to me. Paul was hungry for spiritual food, which, like Jesus, was to do the will of him who sent him out to teach. He lives and breathes to teach people the gospel.

Perspective (17-27)

After Paul left Troas, he stopped in Miletus and was sent to the Ephesian elders. Remember, he spent two years there. These men know each other well. When Paul comes to them, he tells them they know who he is and how he lived among them. His life was exemplary from the first day he set foot in Asia. He didn't shrink back from telling the truth to anyone, but he remained humble throughout it all.

Then he gets into his plans and explains why they are there.

Acts 20:22--25 (ESV) --- 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.‌

These are Paul's last words to these elders and to all the congregations he's been to. He wants them to know that they won't see him again because he will suffer in Jerusalem. Notice how he encourages them. He says, "I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

When we think about Paul, do we consider his life to be of no value? Of course not! Paul's writings are some of the most valuable we come across. He is responsible for shedding light on the gospel for millions of people. But he doesn't see himself like that. If I were Paul, I might think that the best thing would be for me to stay alive and keep sharing the gospel. But Paul was utterly devoted to his ministry and would gladly give himself to complete his ministry.

What is Paul expecting to do? In Acts 9, Jesus told Paul that he would go before the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel. He hasn't completed Jesus' mission for him. His perspective on life is that he is here to serve God fully.

Is that your perspective? These words will most certainly, leave a lasting impression. For a man so important to thousands of people in the first century, to say that he did not consider his life all that important is mind-boggling. But that's who Paul is. That's his perspective on life.

Warning (28-38)

He continues talking to the elders and tells them some vital information.

Acts 20:28--32 (ESV) --- 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.‌

They need to know that dangers lie ahead. Paul is concerned for the souls of the brethren when he is gone. He wants them to pay close attention to themselves and the flock because fierce wolves will come in among them and even from "among your own selves." These men will draw the disciples after them by speaking twisted things.

Paul's last words would have been packed with information about the gospel but also with warnings about the future. He knows that men twist the truth and want to be exalted by other men. In verse 31, we read that for three years, he did not cease admonishing them to be on alert against the twisting of the gospel. This was a big deal for Paul while he was with them, and it will be an even bigger deal after he leaves.

Paul's words of warning would make an impact. Sometimes, we don't like to give warnings. As parents, we continually warn our children, and we wonder if any of what we say sinks in. But Paul knows that his warnings are essential to the church's future in Ephesus. I'm sure he warned all men everywhere about what was to come, as we see in other letters.

Staying True (21:1-16)

After this, Paul travels on toward Jerusalem, and everywhere he stops, he finds disciples who tell him not to go to Jerusalem. When he gets to Caesarea, Phillips's daughters prophesy that he will be bound and taken to prison by the Gentiles. Listen to the response from his friends.

Acts 21:12--14 (ESV) --- 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”‌

The disciples and his traveling companions tried to talk him out of going. Paul asks, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?" Those who are with him don't want him to go. Isn't it funny how people who love you act when you are trying to do something for God that will cost you? They try to convince Paul not to go and weep over this. This is similar to the disciples responding to Jesus. They didn't want to lose him.

But it's incredible that Paul stays true to what God wants him to do. He shows tremendous faith and love for God's mission. He says, "I am ready to not only be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." We might think that's a martyr complex. Is Paul trying to kill himself? No, he's trying to save those who refuse to believe. He cares so much about their souls that he would lay his life down to reach them.

This love for his brethren is evident, but his love for the Lord is even greater. He wants everyone to know we aren't living here to serve ourselves. It's beautiful to see things work out well for a follower of Christ, but their goal in life is not to enjoy this life. It's to enjoy the life to come. Notice the impact this has on the disciples. Isn't it great to see the disciples coming around and saying, "Let the will of the Lord be done?" They care about God's mission more than their desire to have Paul stick around. They understand that he must go. Paul is changing people on his way out.

Lesson

So what is Paul's focus in the last days of his life? The point of this farewell tour of Paul's is to show us how devoted he was to people's souls. He was willing to share his life with his brethren. He didn't hold anything back. His time was spent explaining to them the fullness of God's message, the importance of the Lord's Supper, and the need for everyone to remain faithful to God's mission.

Paul shows us how the essence of his life was not hobbies and tent-making. He didn't focus on making everyone around him happy. He was mentally focused on following through with the work God had given him to do, and he let nothing stop him. This set the example for the rest of the disciples to follow.

His last words to his brethren show that the focus of his heart was primarily on doing the will of God. He wasn't going to let anything stop him from that. He considered the worship and work of God to be his purpose in life.

As we worked through this story, I noticed that Paul looked more and more like Jesus. Last week we saw him performing miracles on the level of Jesus. Now we see him raising people from the dead. But also, we see him setting his face toward Jerusalem. Paul is at a point in life where he is ready to give it all. He just wants God to be glorified through him. Everything else is inconsequential.

Application

What about you? What is the essence of your life? It's easy for us to get distracted and pursue things that have no lasting value. But God didn't create us and save us to live for hobbies and recreation. He didn't save us, so we stayed alive for as long as possible. We must see our lives as having purpose and meaning through worshipping and serving God. How firmly are you grounded in the essence of God's work?

It's easy to lose sight of God when faced with suffering, tragedy, or even temporary pain. Paul shows us what Spiritual maturity looks like as he stays focused no matter what comes his way. He will not be deterred or distracted. His mission is clear, and he's not backing down.

It's also easy for us to preserve our lives and justify putting off what God wants us to do. Paul shows us that he has understood God's call for him and is submitting to it.

Let us take on this attitude. Let us progress in our spiritual maturity to where we also look like Christ. Who here is ready to suffer for his name? Who is ready to lay it all on the line?

Conclusion

In conclusion, making God the essence of our lives is not easy, but it is worth it. When we put God first in our lives, we experience love and peace beyond anything this world can offer. May we strive to keep God at the center of our lives, no matter what challenges we face, and may we never lose sight of the love and grace always available to us through Him.