Atos 20
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 20
Morris - This is the first mention of the disciples meeting on the first day of the week, but this seems to have soon become a regular practice (see 1 Corinthians 16:2). For a considerable time, as long as he was welcome, Paul (presumably the others also) continued to meet and preach in the synagogues on the Sabbath day. However, as Jewish opposition became more virulent, this soon became impracticable. The last reference to this practice of meeting each sabbath day with the Jews in the synagogue is in reference to Ephesus (Acts 19:8). Paul was finally forced to move this synagogue next door to the school of Tyrannus (an odd name for a schoolmaster, unless it was a nickname given him by his students), where he preached every day. It seems likely that, during the period while the Jews and Christians would meet together each Sabbath day, the Christians would then want to meet by themselves the next day for fellowship and study (although there is no specific reference teaching this). However, this would normally be a workday, so they would probably have to wait until early evening to do so. This practice of meeting on the evening of the first day with the other disciples presumably then continued after they could no longer worship in the synagogue. This would also explain why Paul was preaching at Troas until midnight and why Eutychus fell asleep (Acts 20:9). The first day of the week then eventually became known as "the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10). By worshiping and resting on that day, the Christians were still keeping the sabbath ("sabbath" means "rest," not "seventh" or "Saturday") and also honoring the Lord Jesus, who rose from the dead on the first day of the week. He is both Creator and Redeemer, and now that He has completed both great works (Genesis 2:1-3; John 19:30), it is appropriate that we remember both together this way (Defender's Study Bible) Related Resources: Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Does God require Sabbath keeping of Christians? What is the Sabbath day? Why do Christians worship on Sunday? Why do some churches have a Sunday night/evening service? When we were gathered together: A formal meeting of the disciples. See this verb used for gatherings of disciples in Ac 4:31; 11:26; 14:27; 15:6,30;19:7,8; 1 Co 5:4 In Heb 10:25 Jack Arnold - In the first century, the church observed the Lord's Table in two phases--the Agape Feast and the Eucharist. Before the actual partaking of the elements of the Lord's Table, there was an Agape Feast (Love Feast) which was a supper (covered dish) at which time Christians fellowshipped together and shared food. This is why the Lord's Table is often referred to as the breaking of bread in the New Testament. Then there was the Eucharist which was a thanksgiving and religious observance of partaking of the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ, and this came after the Agape Feast. This verse teaches very clearly the importance of the Lord's Table. It was observed each Lord's Day. On this occasion in Acts, the local church at Troas was gathered not primarily to hear the Word taught, not to hear a great preacher or teacher, not to hear the choir or even to sing hymns, but to observe the Lord's Table. These Christians did not gather to be entertained or amused but to remember Christ through the breaking of bread. Why is the partaking of the Lord's Table so important for the Christian? The Bible says that when Christians are partaking of the Lord's Table they are sharing or fellowshipping with Christ in a way they cannot fellowship with Him in any other way. “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing (fellowship) in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing (fellowship) in the body of Christ” (I Cor. 10:16)? Of course, the bread and wine are only symbols, and Christ is in no way present in the elements, not even in a spiritual sense. However, Christ is spiritually present to the believer’s faith in a very special sense when partaking of the Lord’s Table. There is some kind of special grace imparted to the believer when observing the Lord’s Table, providing the Christian is in fellowship with his Lord. However, this grace is sanctifying grace and not saving grace. Therefore, the Lord's Table should always be observed with great respect and reverence, and it should never be a common exercise. The Lord's Table, however, does not always have to be taken in a quiet, somber, sanctimonious atmosphere, for it can be taken before, during or after a time of praise, joy and fellowship. Remember, the Lord's Table was always observed at the end of the Agape Feast in the New Testament, and almost always in the warm, casual environment of a home. One further note is that the New Testament seems to indicate that any group of Christians can partake of the Lord's Table without having an ordained minister to administer the elements. The Lord's Table can be observed at home in small groups or at the church in a large group. It is, however, important for Christians to observe the Lord's Table on a regular basis in the local church. My personal preference would be to observe the Lord's Table every Sunday, according to the pattern of Acts 20:7. In Roman Catholic theology, the whole worship service, the mass, is centered around the Lord's Table and hardly any stress is placed upon the preached Word. In Protestant circles which today are largely liberal, there is little emphasis upon the Lord's Table or the preached Word. In evangelical circles, there is much emphasis upon the preached Word (praise God), but very little stress upon the Lord's Table. The ideal situation, biblically, is a gathering to observe the Lord's Table on every Lord's Day, and a solid preaching of the Word of God. The reason this was possible in the early church was that they met for four or five hours at a time. The three highlights of a Christian's life should be when: 1) He is partaking of Holy Communion; 2) He is hearing the preached Word, and 3) He is exercising his spiritual gifts in service for Christ. (Acts 20:1-12 New Testament Practices) To break bread - to celebrate the Agape (love feast, or common meal—cf. 1 Cor 11:20–22) and communion. The language naturally bears the same meaning as in Acts 2:42.
Atos 20
Morris - Only one other example of miraculous restoration to life through an apostle is cited, that of Tabitha through Peter. This is the last such instance recorded in Scripture before the Second Coming of Christ. Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did. And it came about at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room (Ed: a number of interesting things occurred in the "upper room" in Acts Acts 1:13, Acts 20:8, cp Lk 22:12!) ; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he (Peter) gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. (Acts 9:38-41+) Acts 20:13 But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. NET Acts 20:13 We went on ahead to the ship and put out to sea for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way. He himself was intending to go there by land. GNT Acts 20:13 Ἡμεῖς δὲ προελθόντες ἐπὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἀνήχθημεν ἐπὶ τὴν Ἆσσον ἐκεῖθεν μέλλοντες ἀναλαμβάνειν τὸν Παῦλον· οὕτως γὰρ διατεταγμένος ἦν μέλλων αὐτὸς πεζεύειν. NLT Acts 20:13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. KJV Acts 20:13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. ESV Acts 20:13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. ASV Acts 20:13 But we going before to the ship set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land. CSB Acts 20:13 Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. NIV Acts 20:13 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. NKJ Acts 20:13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. NRS Acts 20:13 We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. YLT Acts 20:13 And we having gone before unto the ship, did sail to Assos, thence intending to take in Paul, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go on foot; intending himself to go by land Mk 1:35 6:31-33,46 Acts 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE JOURNEY CONTINUES FROM TROAS TO MILETUS Remember to follow along on the Map above. Recall from Acts 20:7 Paul had planned "to leave (Troas) the next day" but remained in Troas longer. In order to make up for this delay, Paul sent Luke and the rest of the party on by ship and he would go by land as the route over land was much shorter than by sea. This would give him a some time to prolong his stay at Troas. Jack Arnold comments that "What we have in Acts 20:13-38 is a record of the first pastors' conference ever held. At this conference, the Apostle Paul gathered the elders (pastors) of the Church of Ephesus together and gave them final instructions as to how to lead the Christians in Ephesus in his absence from them. This is a very important passage for elders and it should be mastered by all Christians so as to have an effective functioning local church. Also, what Paul says about his own ministry is to be applied directly to men who are elders of a local church." (Acts 20:13-27 The First Pastors' Conference) John