Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
Session FIFTEEN: Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey Ends
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen / Discuss ACTS 20:1 – 21:17
a. Discuss initial impressions & observations & translation differences. Chapter 20:28 and Chapter 21:9
III. Paul’s Experience Parallels Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem:
a. Paul traveled with “disciples.” (20:1-4ff)
b. Hostile Jews seek Paul’s Life. (20:3,19 and Luke 22:1-2)
c. Paul made or received 3 predictions about his sufferings, including being “handed over to the Gentiles.”
• (20:22-23; 21:4, 11 and Luke 9:22, 44; 18:31-32)
d. Paul declares he is ready to lay down his life.
• (20:24; 21:13 and Luke 22:19; 23:46)
e. Paul is intentional about finishing the course God put him on and is submissive to “the will of God,” come what may.
• (20:24; 21:13-14 and Luke 9:51; 22:42)
f. Observe the language of vv. 20:8, 25, 30, 31, 38 and 21:14.
IV. Paul’s Last visit to Macedonia (20:1-6):
a. Perspective from the Epistles:
• At this time, 56-57 AD, from Macedonia Paul wrote the letter we call 2nd Corinthians and from Corinth (Achaia or Greece) he wrote his letter to the Romans (see “Paul’s Letters” from Session Ten)
• 2nd Corinthians 2:12; 7:5-13; Romans 15:18-33
b. Luke resumes “we.” (vv. 5-6)
• Paul’s “last supper” in Philippi or 1st “Easter” (Christian Passover).
V. On to Miletus (20:7-38):
a. One week in Troas. (vv. 7-12)
• Earliest record of Sunday worship.
• A boy named “Lucky”
1. Shows Paul’s true grace – he resuscitated the lad even though he fell asleep during Paul’s sermon
2. Reminiscent of 1st Kings 17:19ff & 2nd Kings 4:32-33
b. Island hopping to Miletus in a hurry to get to Jerusalem. (vv. 13-16)
c. Ministry in Miletus (vv. 17-38):
• Paul sends for the elders in Ephesus.
• Authentic Pauline message – most likely from Paul’s notes given to Luke. (vv. 18-35)
• Verse 35 not found in Gospels. (see John 21:25)
VI. ON to Jerusalem (21:1-17):
a. Island Hopping to Caesarea.
b. Staying at Philips house
• Agabus comes down (15 yrs earlier he predicted the famine in Jerusalem)
• The Lord’s will be done.
c. Welcomed (for now) arrival in Jerusalem.
VII. APPLICATION
a. Sunday worship was a common practice in the very early church.
b. Simply because something seems hard or costly does not necessarily mean that it is not God’s will to do it.
c. As Christians, we are no longer our own. We were bought with a precious price. We were bought with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:28; 1st Cor. 6:19-20)
VIII. Close in Prayer
NEXT SESSION: Trouble in Jerusalem
Read ACTS 21:18 – 23:11 to prepare for class
