MESSENGERS OF GOOD NEWS

Newsletter 250 July 3, 2011

Acts 20:1-12 King James Version

The background of this portion of scriptures is that Paul and his party were carrying the offerings of the churches, for the needy, in Jerusalem and hoped to be there by Passover. Probably their group became larger as they visited each church. There is more safety in a larger group, but also less personal responsibility. For many years, I was the treasurer of our annual fund collection for building church buildings and evangelism purposes. I was always assisted by another missionary and we went directly to a branch of the bank used for the mission’s accounts. They accepted that responsibility and transferred the money to the branch we used. As we were often camping in tents, this was a much safer practice. Paul had no such banking system to rely upon. Like ours, both Paul’s group and ourselves, it was a large sum, and we were accepting it in an open church building thronged with people, we never had even a near robbery. Yes, our cars were in danger outside, but the Lord protected His own.

Because he knew that this might be his last visit with them, there were many delays. As I grow older, I too find saying farewell to those I love more difficult each time it happens. We have personally seen only two of our dozen great grand children, and probably will never see the others. Their parents are widely scattered over the globe. Even of our four daughters, only one lives nearby.

1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. (Acts 11:26, Acts 19:21, Acts 16:9, Acts 20:3)

2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

JEWS WERE HIS GREATEST DANGER

3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. (Acts 9:23, Acts 20:19, Acts 4:24, Acts 16:9, Acts 20:1)

Plans had to be altered yet once again from sea to overland and by Pentecost instead of Passover.

4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 17:10, Acts 19:29, Acts 17:1, Acts 14:6, Acts 16:1, Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12, Acts 21:29, 2 Timothy 4:20, Acts 16:6, Acts 20:16, Acts 20:18)

5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. (Acts 16:10, Acts 20:5-15, Acts 16:12, Acts 12:3, Acts 16:8)

Notice here is one of the “we’ sections of Acts. In verse 2 says Luke writes “he”, but in verse 6, he writes “we.” Luke had joined the party at Troas. This change of words is how we know.

6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. (Acts 16:8)

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10, Acts 16:10, Acts 20:5-15, Acts 2:42, Acts 20:11)

They waited for the entire church to come together. This happened when they gathered as one to break bread. Acts 2:42, tells us that they did this “steadfastly”, not occasionally as is the custom of so many today. Paul knew that this was the way he would see most of the believers.

8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. (Matthew 25:1, Acts 1:13)

9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

(Eutychus means lucky or of good fortune, perhaps it was his good fortune that there was an apostle present, that he might be brought back to life after his fall.)

10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. (1 Kings 17:21, 2 Kings 4:34, Matthew 9:23, Mark 5:35)

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7)

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.


__________


READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
JULY

3rd. Sunday – 2 Kings 3, Acts 23, Proverbs 16:1-15
4th. Monday – 2 Kings 4, Acts 24, Psalm 80:1-7
5th. Tuesday – 2 Kings 5, Acts 25, Psalm 80:8-19
6th. Wednesday - 2 Kings 6 Acts 26, Psalm 81:1-7
7th. Thursday - 2 Kings 7, 8, Acts 27:1-20, Proverbs 16:16-24
8th. Friday – 2 Kings 9, Acts 27:21-40, Psalm 81:8-16
9th. Saturday - 2 Kings 10, Acts 28, Psalm 82

__________

OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS

(With links to 791 titles)

Ctrl/click to follow these links


http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books
httpv://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com

__________

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard, and why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.“

Acts 22:15,16

__________


SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.

http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
__________

Heckuva Engineer...

An engineer was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess."

He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket.

The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week."

The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.

The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want."

Again the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.

Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?"

The engineer said, "Look I'm an engineer.
I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool.