Acts Chapter 20 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for January 26, 2006 - January 31, 2007
(Read Acts 20 Online)

Reflections on Acts 20 by Mark Chesner, Coach

Middle School and High School are times of uncertainty. You are emerging from the person you were raised to be, and becoming the person you are deciding to be. You are making choices, for good or for bad, that will shape the person you will be for the rest of your life. Whether the choice is the friends you hang out with, the activities you do after school, or the college you are looking to attend after graduation, every choice seems critically important and every decision seems so unclear.

It may surprise some to see that Paul was going through something similar in Acts chapter 20, as he turns and considers his next trip to Jerusalem.

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:22-24

At this point in Paul's ministry, he has emerged from a clear path of his missionary journeys He has gone from town to town, from province to privince, preaching and teaching. He has faced riots, stoning, prison, and worse. He now knows that he has another journey ahead of him - the Holy Spirit is speaking to him clearly - and now he has to make the choice to go... or to flee instead. He knows that if he goes to Jerusalm, things will only get worse for him. But he also knows it is the course that God would have him take.

So, what does Paul do? First, he reviews where he has been, and what God has done for him.

You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Acts 20:20-21

Then he looks ahead and knows that the right choice is to follow God's priompting. he warns his friends about the hardships he sees for them, but does not worry about the hardships he himself wil face.

As you come to the big decisions in your life, remember Paul's approach to decision-making. Listen for the Holy Spirit's prompting. Look back to what you have done, and what God has done for you. Understand realistically the challenges ahead. But do not let the challenges stop you from following the course God has laid out in front of you.

Questions to Consider
- What big life decisions are you facing today? What little life decisions may easily become "big" if you let them?
- What is the Holy Spirit leading you toward?
- How can you both recognize the challenges to come, and still go forward without worrying about them?

Bible.Org Outline for Acts 20
C. The Journey to Jerusalem (20:1–21:16)
1. Through Macedonia and Greece (20:1-6)
2. In Troas: The Raising of Eutychus (20:7-12)
3. From Troas to Miletus (20:13-17)
4. In Miletus: Farewell Message to the Ephesian Elders (20:18-38)
a. Paul’s Message (20:18-35)
b. The Elders’ Response (20:36-38)