Acts 20:17
in Acts 20From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.
KJV
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
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This verse in Acts 20
Commentary
12 notes on this verseBut that Paul taught with simplicity what he knew, not only to those who were [employed] with him, but to those that heard him, he does himself make manifest. For when the bishops and presbyters who came from Ephesus and the other cities adjoining had assembled in Miletus, since he was himself hastening to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost, after testifying many things to them, and declaring what must happen to him at Jerusalem, he added: "I know that ye shall see my face no more.
This site's exposition
called the elders of the church
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church, presbuteroi, the term Acts uses interchangeably with overseers in the address that follows at verse twenty eight, evidence the commentators read as the earliest church using one office under two names, elder by age and dignity, overseer by function. The thirty mile trip each way cost the elders real effort, a measure of what this farewell meant to them and to him. What follows is the only speech in Acts addressed to believers rather than to outsiders, and the only one to a group Paul himself had founded and led for three years.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church." Sending from Miletus to Ephesus, the apostle Paul summoned the bishops of the church, and there retraced for them his story with great affection, reminding them of the moderation and humility with …
See him, hasting to sail by, and yet not overlooking them, but taking order for all. Having sent for the rulers, through those he discourses to them (the Ephesians): but it is worthy of admiration, how finding himself under a necessity of saying certain great things about himself, he tries to make the least he can of it. "Ye know." For just as Samuel, when about to deliver up the government to Saul says in their presence, "Have I taken aught of your hands? Ye are witnesses, and God also" (1 Sam. xii. 3, 5); (so Paul here). David also, when disbelieved, says, "I was with the flock keeping my father's sheep: and when the bear came, I scared her away with my hands" (1 Sam. xvii. 34, 35): and Paul himself too says to the Corinthians "I am become a fool; ye have compelled me." (2 Cor. xii. 11.) Nay, God Himself also does the same, not speaking of himself upon any and every occasion, but only when He is disbelieved, then He brings up His benefits. Accordingly, see what Paul does here: first he adduces their own testimony: that you may not imagine his words to be mere boasting, he calls the hearers themselves as witnesses of the things he says, since he was not likely to speak lies in their presence. This is the excellence of a teacher, to have for witnesses of his merits those who are his disciples.
Since custom commonly escapes notice, especially in the New Testament calling bishops [ἐπισκόπους] elders [πρεσβυτέρους] and elders bishops, note this here, also from the Epistle to Titus, and moreover to the Philippians, and from the First to Timothy. From Acts therefore there is grounds to …
The Medieval Church2 voices
He called the elders of the Church. For elders, the Greek uses πρεσβυτέρους.
"He called the elders of the church." Many are unaware of the custom of Scripture, especially of the New Testament, of calling bishops elders and elders bishops; yet this is evident both from this passage and from the Epistle to Titus, as well as from …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,.... Which is said, by some, to be about four hundred furlongs from Miletus, and, by others, ten German miles. And called the elders of the church; that is, at Ephesus; not the ancient members of the church, but the officers of it; the pastors, bishops, and overseers, as they are called, Act 20:28 and are so styled from their office, and not their age.
Sending to Ephesus, he called the elders of the Church - These are called bishops in the 28th verse, (rendered overseers in our translation.) Perhaps elders and bishops were then the same; or no otherwise different than are the rector of a parish and his curates.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But if unfavorable winds and stormy weather had overtaken them, his object could not have been attained, and perhaps he was unwilling to run the risk of detention at Ephesus by the state of the church and other causes. Those here called "elders" or "presbyters," are in Ac 20:28 called "bishops." (See on Ac 20:28).
He sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church - These are called επισκοποι, bishops, Act 20:28. By the πρεσβυτεροι, presbyters or elders, here, we are to understand all that were in authority in the Church, whether they were επισκοποι, bishops or overseers, or seniors in years, knowledge, and experience. The πρεσβυτεροι, or elders, were probably the first order in the Church; an order which was not so properly constituted, but which rose out of the state of things. From these presbuteroi the episcopoi, overseers or superintendents, were selected. Those who were eldest in years, Christian knowledge, and experience, would naturally be preferred to all others, as overseers of the Church of Christ. From the Greek word πρεσβυτερος, comes the Latin presbyterus, the English presbyter, the French prestre, and our own term priest; and all, when traced up to their original, signify merely an elderly or aged person; though it soon became the name of an office, rather than of a state of years. Now, as these elders are called επισκοποι, bishops, in Act 20:28, we may take it for granted that they were the same order; or, rather, that these superintendents of the Church were indifferently called either presbyters or bishops. As he had not time to call at Ephesus, he thought it best to have a general convocation of the heads of that Church, to meet him at Miletus, that he might give them the instructions mentioned in the succeeding parts of this chapter.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He sent to Ephesus - Perhaps a distance of twenty or thirty miles. The elders of the church - Who had been appointed while he was there to take charge of the church. See the notes on Act 15:2.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀπὸ | apo | From | G575 → | 640 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Μιλήτου | miletou | Miletus | G3399 → | |
| πέμψας | pempsas | having sent | G3992 → | 79 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἔφεσον | epheson | Ephesus | G2181 → | 16 times |
| μετεκαλέσατο | metekalesato | he called for | G3333 → | 4 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρεσβυτέρους | presbuterous | elders | G4245 → | 65 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίας. | ekklesias | church. | G1577 → | 113 times |
ἈπὸFrom
apoG575 →640 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ΜιλήτουMiletus
miletouG3399 →
πέμψαςhaving sent
pempsasG3992 →79 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἜφεσονEphesus
ephesonG2181 →16 times
μετεκαλέσατοhe called for
metekalesatoG3333 →4 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
πρεσβυτέρουςelders
presbuterousG4245 →65 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίας.church.
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 1 Peter 1:18–19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
- 1 Peter 5:2–3
Through
1 Timothy 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- Galatians 6:6
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
- Luke 10:7
Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- Hebrews 13:17
Where this verse is studied
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About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceAsia MinorMiletusThe port where Paul, hurrying to Jerusalem, summoned the Ephesian elders for the farewell address that is the only speech in Acts…
- PlaceAsia MinorEphesusGreat harbor city of Asia, home of the Artemis temple; Paul's three-year base where the word grew mightily; addressed in Ephesians…
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book III, Chapter 14, Section 2; J. A. Alexander, Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.