June 30
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PAUL BIDS THE EPHESIAN LEADERS FAREWELL
A poem by ILMA
Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged others to join him
The believers sailed with Paul and traveled by ship to Mitylene
The next day they sailed to the island of Kios to Samos to Miletus
Paul decided to sail on past Ephesus and didn’t want to stay in Asia.
Paul was rushing to get to Jerusalem for it was almost Pentecost Festival
When he landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders at Ephesus
He asked them to come and meet him and started telling them of his work
He reminded them doing the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears.
Paul said that he has one message for Jews and Greeks alike
The message is that they must repent from sin and turn to God
He told them that he is bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem
Paul emphasizes to them that he will finish the work assigned by Christ.
He reminds them to guard themselves and feed God’s people
He mentioned how he is not scared to die for he has done his work
He finished speaking and prayed with them and bid them goodbye
They were sad most of all then they escorted him down to the ship.
MEMORY VERSE
They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. – Acts 20:37
Read: Acts 20:13-38
When Paul was about to proceed to Jerusalem, he met up with all the Ephesian elders. We can witness how the Spirit of the Lord has used Paul to bring the Good News to the Ephesians and how these elders and leaders looked up to him who followed the call of the Lord to spread the Good News. It was a heart-warming farewell as Paul reminded them of all the things he has done for the Lord and pleaded them to continue the work he has started as he goes to Jerusalem.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the elders treasured Paul’s ministry in Ephesus?
• Why was Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian leaders significant in his journey?
Tag Archives: Acts 20
PAUL’S JOURNEY TO MACEDONIA Poem Devotional
June 29
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PAUL’S JOURNEY TO MACEDONIA
A poem by ILMA
When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them
Then he started for Macedonia and heartened believers in all towns he passed by
He travelled down to Greece where he stayed for three months
Then he prepared to sail back to Syria but discovered a plot so he went back.
Several men traveled with him namely Sopater, Aristarchus and Secundus
Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus from the province of Asia joined him too
Then he went ahead and waited at Troas and after Passover, they boarded a ship
They headed to Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas.
The first day, they gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper
Paul was preaching to them and the next day, he talked till midnight
Then Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy
Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death.
Paul went down, bent over him and took him in his arms
“Don’t worry,” he said “he’s alive!”, then they all went back upstairs
They shared in the Lord’s Supper and ate together and he continued
The young man was taken home alive and all were greatly relieved.
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MEMORY VERSE
Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly received. – Acts 20:12
Read: Acts 20
Paul’s journey to Macedonia happened just after the riot in Ephesus. We still see how he continued to encourage believers and preached the Good News. In this journey, he miraculously brought back to life Eutychus who fell from the windowsill.
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REFLECTION
• What kind of a disciple Paul was?
• Would you go all the way to risk your life as a believer just to preach the Good News?