Click chart to enlarge
Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission
THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH
Click chart to enlarge
Considering the fact that Acts 13 is such a strategic chapter in regard to world evangelism, take a moment and study Irving Jensen's chart at top of the page (click it to enlarge it which is what I have to do at age 72!). Notice the bold vertical line (|) at the end of Acts 12 and beginning of Acts 13 which Jensen estimates to be about year 47 (it could be a short time prior). Note the horizontal description of "Church" - Church Established in the first 13 years from Acts 1 through Acts 7, then the Church Scattered between Acts 8 through Acts 12, which occurred over a period of about 14 years (and remember all dates and times are at best approximations because Luke gives only a few events that allow us to give specific dates, such as the death of Herod in A D 44 in Acts 12:23) and lastly, beginning in Acts 13 (and until the end of this age), the Church Extended, this extension being the primarily the fruit of Paul's Three Missionary Journeys which"upset the world!" (Acts 17:6) Now, you have a good grasp of the chronological context of Acts 13. And as they say in the restaurant when your delicious meal is served "Enjoy!" The three missionary journeys are summarized below (this note will be repeated in subsequent chapters). Click links for the maps of each journey.
| Paul's First Missionary Journey | Acts 13:4-14:28 |
| Paul's Second Missionary Journey | Acts 15:36-18:22 |
| Paul's Third Missionary Journey | Acts 18:23-21:26 |
- Maps in table above are from the Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover/Paperback version) copyrighted © 1998 B&H Publishing Group, used by permission, all rights reserved. This is one of the best resources for Bible maps as the maps also include helpful short descriptions of the events portrayed on the maps. Please do not download for use on another website. Thank you.
- Here is a map with all three journeys on one map.
| FIRST | SECOND | THIRD |
|
|
|
Charles Swindoll points out that "When we study the journeys of Paul in the book of Acts, we’re not just reading the travel log of a man; we’re observing the redemptive plan of God unfolding as He promised. Through the ministry of Saul of Tarsus, God’s mission to reclaim His creation from the death grip of evil would move to its next stage. The plan of this mission was outlined in the Lord’s promise at His ascension, where He said,
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses...
- In Jerusalem [Stage 1: Acts 2–7],
- and in all Judea and Samaria [Stage 2: Acts 8–12],
- and even to the remotest part of the earth [Stage 3: Acts 13–28].” (Acts 1:8+)
John Hannah's Outline for Third Missionary Journey (see map)
- The third missionary journey of Paul (Acts 18:23-21:16)
- The ministry in Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23)
- The ministry in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-19:41)
- Instruction of Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
- Instruction of some of John's followers (Acts 19:1-7)
- Instruction of the Ephesians (Acts 19:8-20)
- Instructions concerning his plans (Acts 19:21-22)
- The riots in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41)
- The ministry in Macedonia and Achaia (Acts 20:1-5)
- The ministry in Troas (Acts 20:6-12)
- The ministry in Miletus (Acts 20:13-38)
- His journey to Miletus (Acts 20:13-16)
- His message to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-35)
- Concerning his ministry (Acts 20:17-27)
- Concerning the church (Acts 20:28-35)
- His farewell to the Ephesians (Acts 20:36-38)
- The ministry at Tyre (Acts 21:1-6)
- His journey to Tyre (Acts 21:1-3)
- His ministry in Tyre (Acts 21:4-6)
- The ministry in Caesarea (Acts 21:7-16)
- Agabus' prediction (Acts 21:7-12)
- Paul's reply (Acts 21:13-14)
- The journey toward Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-16)
- The journey of Paul to Rome (Acts 21:17-28:31)
- His witness in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-23:35)
- Paul's report to the elders (Acts 21:17-26)
- Paul's arrest (Acts 21:27-36)
- Paul's defense (Acts 21:37-23:10)
- His first defense (Acts 21:37-22:23)
- The background (Acts 21:37-40)
- The content (Acts 22:1-21)
- The result (Acts 22:22-23)
- His second defense (Acts 22:24-23:10)
- The background (Acts 22:24-29)
- The council (Acts 22:30)
- The content (Acts 23:1-9)
- The conflict (Acts 23:10)
- His first defense (Acts 21:37-22:23)
- Paul's deliverance (Acts 23:11-35)
- The encouragement (Acts 23:11)
- The plot (Acts 23:12-16)
- The counterplot (Acts 23:17-24)
- The letter to Felix (Acts 23:25-30)
- The deliverance to Felix (Acts 23:31-35)
- His witness in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-26:32)
- Paul's defense before Felix (Acts 24:1-27)
- The setting (Acts 24:1)
- The accusations of Tertullus (Acts 24:2-9)
- The reply of Paul (Acts 24:10-21)
- The consequences (Acts 24:22-27)
- Paul's defense before Festus (Acts 25:1-12)
- The setting (Acts 25:1-5)
- The trial (Acts 25:6-11)
- The result (Acts 25:12)
- Paul's defense before Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:32)
- The arrival of Agrippa (Acts 25:13)
- Festus' presentation of Paul's case (Acts 25:14-22)
- Festus' presentation of Paul (Acts 25:23-27)
- Paul's defense before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-23)
- Paul's answer to Festus (Acts 26:24-26)
- Paul's interaction with Agrippa (Acts 26:27-29)
- The conclusion (Acts 26:30-32)
- Paul's defense before Felix (Acts 24:1-27)
- His witness on the way to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:15)
- His witness aboard ship (Acts 27:1-44)
- His witness on Malta (Acts 28:1-15)
- Paul's miraculous preservation (Acts 28:1-6)
- Paul's healing of Publius' father (Acts 28:7-10)
- Paul's continued journey toward Rome (Acts 28:11-15)
- His witness in Rome (Acts 28:16-31)
- The occasion for his witness (Acts 28:16-22)
- The content of his witness (Acts 28:23-28)
- The result of his witness (Acts 28:29)
- The summary of Paul's witness in Rome (Acts 28:30-31)
- His witness in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-23:35)
- Hannah's Bible Outlines - Recommended Resource
Cyril Barber - A beautifully produced work that brings within the reach of the busy pastor the benefits of this commentator's prodigious labors. A warmly devotional treatment.
James Rosscup: "This work, originally out in 1857, has proved helpful to many, though it is now far out of date as to literature commenting on Acts. For many basic details verse by verse, it still is of good value and often will help on word meaning and special problems. The fact that it was reprinted is indicative of its respected place in Acts studies." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors)
Ajith Fernando - Loaded with exegetical and devotional gems, though dated.
D Edmond Hiebert - An exhaustive exposition of Acts by a conservative Presbyterian scholar of the past century. Gives a precise interpretation of the text on the basis of the original. Omission of technical matters makes it suitable to the English reader.
Spurgeon: "In all respects a work of the highest merit."
- Acts 20 Commentary - less Greek
- Acts 20 Commentary
GREG ALLEN
JACK ARNOLD
- Acts 20:1-12 New Testament Practices
- Acts 20:13-27 The First Pastors' Conference
- Acts 20:28-38 Concerns of a Shepherd
WILLIAM ARNOT
Cyril Barber - First published in 1883. These sermons reveal Arnot's thorough awareness of the original text and the milieu of the early church. His material is provocative as well as edifying. Both laypeople and pastors should read this book eagerly in order to better determine the course of the church, its commitments, and the criteria of its fellowship. Recommended.
- Acts 20:1-12 A Communion Sabbath at Troas
- Acts 20:13-30 Paul's Address to Elders at Ephesus
- Acts 20:35 The Larger Blessing and the Less
WAYNE BARBER
- Paul the Missionary- Part 7
- Paul the Missionary- Part 8
- Paul the Missionary- Part 9
- Paul the Missionary- Part 10
WILLIAM BARCLAY
- Acts 20 Commentary
- Acts 20 Commentary - Gnomon
JOSEPH BENSON
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR
- Acts 20:1-19 "From Ephesus To Macedonia And Greece And Back"
- Acts 20:20-28 "Ephesian Elders Charged To Be Faithful"
- Acts 20:29-38 "Ephesian Elders Charged To Protect Flock"
Cyril Barber - This is a work that deserves a place in every pastor’s library.
CAMBRIDGE GREEK TESTAMENT
OSWALD CHAMBERS
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
- Acts 20:1-16 How One Man Changed the World
- Acts 20:17-21 Godly Leadership
- Acts 20:22-27 Finishing the Course
- Acts 20:28 Job Description for Church Leaders
- Acts 20:29-32 Guarding the Flock
- Acts 20:33-38 Why Givers are Blessed
- Acts 20:17-21 The Soul winning Ministry of Paul
- Acts 20:18-31 Primitive Christianity
- Acts 20:20-21 The Soul winning Ministry of Paul
- Acts 20:20-21 Two Words of Salvation
- Acts 20:20-21 Two Words of Salvation - 2
- Acts 20:20-21 Two Words of Salvation - 3
- Acts 20:21 The Words of Salvation
JOHN DARBY
JOHN DUMMELOW
DAN DUNCAN For corresponding Mp3's click here.
Cyril Barber - This companion volume to Steir's The Words of the Risen Saviour and Words of the Apostles deals with the messages of the apostle Paul in the book of Acts. C. H. Spurgeon said Eadie's work was "designed to give ordinary readers a juster and fuller conception of the doctrine and life-work of the apostle:' Recommended.
D Edmond Hiebert - Greek text. Still one of the most thorough commentaries on the Greek text. Significant for the Greek student.
Rosscup notes that Expositor's Greek Testament is "One of the older, much-used commentaries, which offers considerable help on Greek words, grammar, background etc. and will prove rather contributive, consulted along with newer and longer studies." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works).
MICHAEL FRONCZAK
DON FORTNER
- Discovering Christ in Acts - 352 pages
- Acts 20 Commentary
- Acts 20 Commentary - different resource
GENE GETZ - short videos (~10) emphasizing principles in the text
- Acts 20:1-6; Video A Supportive Team: To serve God effectively, we should develop a supportive team.
- Acts 20:7-12; Video The Communion Experience: When we gather together to worship God and to encourage one another, we should plan times to remember Christ's suffering on the cross.
- Acts 20:17-38;Video Relationships with One Another: Spiritual leaders are to develop deep, lasting, and loyal relationships with one another.
GLOAG, PATON J - exegetical commentary - helps to know some Greek
Spurgeon "Dr. Hackett says aye Dr. Gloag's work: "I have examined it with special care. For my purposes I have found it unsurpassed by any similar work in the English language. It shows a thorough mastery of the material, philology, history, and literature pertaining to this range of study, and a skill in the use of this knowledge, which places it in the first class of modern expositions." (Commenting on Commentaries - excellent resource with links to all 66 books)
- A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles - Volume 1 - Acts 1-12
- A Critical and Exegetical Commen - Acts 13-28
GOSPEL COALITION
RICHARD HAWKER Poor Man's Commentary
HOLMAN PUBLISHING
- Holman Christian Standard Bible Study Bible - Well done conservative notes.
H A IRONSIDE
Preceptaustin - This is a very helpful commentary.
Cyril Barber - Historically helpful. Contains some important insights. Critical matters are confined to the footnotes. Oriented toward the pastorate.
- Acts 20 Commentary
- Acts 20 Commentary - Unabridged
- Acts 20:13-24 The Integrity of Paul's Ministry, part I
- Acts 20:25-28 The Integrity of Paul's Ministry, part II
- Acts 20:32-38 The Integrity of Paul's Ministry, part III
STEVE KRELOFF
PAUL KRETZMANN
LANGE COMMENTARY
- Acts 20:7-17 For the Love of the Church, Part 3
- Acts 20:1-17, 36-38 Loving the Church
- Acts 20:17-20 Paul's View of the Ministry, Part 1
- Acts 20:21-24 Paul's View of the Ministry, Part 2
- Acts 20:25-28 A Charge to New Testament Church Leaders, Part 1
- Acts 20:29-38 A Charge to New Testament Church Leaders, Part 2
- Acts 20:22-35 Parting Counsels
- Acts 20:24 Fulfilled Aspiration
- Acts 20:32 Parting Words
- Acts 20:35 The Blessedness of Giving
- Acts 20:22-35 Parting Counsels
MAPS - related to Acts
- Acts 2 - Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora
- Acts 4-11 - Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine
- Acts 9, 11, 12 - Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry
- Acts 12:20-23 - Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I (Kingdom of Herod Agrippa II)
- Paul's Journeys (summarized)
- Acts 13:4-14:28 - Paul's First Missionary Journey
- Acts 15:36-18:32 - Paul's Second Missionary Journey
- Acts 18:23-21:26 - Paul's Third Missionary Journey
- Acts 21:15-26:32 - Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment
- Acts 27:1-28:31 - Paul's Voyage to Rome
P G MATTHEW - sermons
J VERNON MCGEE
MONERGISM
- Acts 20 Commentary
- Acts of the Apostles - 423 page Pdf (includes all the following notes)
- Acts 20:7 - first day of the week
- Acts 20:12 - young man alive
- Acts 20:21 - repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
- Acts 20:26 - pure from the blood
- Acts 20:27 - counsel of God
- Acts 20:28 - overseers
- Acts 20:30 - your own selves
- Acts 20:35 - how he said
- Acts 20:17-27 A Model for Ministry
- Acts 20:28-31 Spiritual Leadership
- Acts 20:32-38 Spiritual Disciplines
JAMES NISBET - Church Pulpit Commentary
- Acts 20 Devotionals
- Acts 20:7-12 Proper Preparation
- Acts 20:17-31 ‘I Didn’t Witness!’
- Acts 20:23-24 Steadfast Service
- Acts 20:32-38 Toddler's Creed
- Acts 20:17-25 Home Before Dark
- Acts 20:17-27 The Legend Of The Pelican
- Acts 20:17-32 One Life Is Enough
- Acts 20:17-32 Of Mice And Christians
- Acts 20:17-32 Life Wish
- Acts 20:17-38 Painful Farewells
- Acts 20:22-32 Always On Duty
- Acts 20:22-35 Tough Or Easy?
- Acts 20:22-35 An Open Hand
- Acts 20:24 A Ruling Passion
- Acts 20:28-38 Is It Blessed To Receive?
- Acts 20:32 Handle With Care
- Acts 20:35 The Benefit Of Giving
- Acts 20:35 The Blessing Of Giving
PASTOR LIFE
| It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive | Acts 20:32-35 | Christmas; Stewardship; Giving | Mark Adams |
| The Ninth Beatitude | Acts 20:35 | Stewardship; Giving | Paul E. Brown |
ARTHUR PEAKE
PETER PETT
- Acts 20:17-21 Serving the Lord with Humility Tears and Trials
- Acts 20:22-25 Faithfulness Is Better Than Life
- Acts 20:24 A Cause to Live for
- Acts 20:26-27 The Guilt of Giving Part of God's Counsel
- Acts 20:28-31 Watch Out for the Wolves Within
- Acts 20:28 At the Price of God's Own Blood
- Acts 20:32-35 I Entrust You to God and to the Word of His Grace
- Acts 20:1-6 Reading Between the Lines
- Acts 20:7-12 Points in Paul's Preaching
- Acts 20:13-19 Analysis of Service
- Acts 20:20-23 The Man and the Doctrine
- Acts 20:24-25 Paul's Acceptance of Discipline
- Acts 20:27-29 What Paul Leaves Behind
- Acts 20:30-38 The Character in the Charge
MATTHEW POOLE - English Annotations on the Holy Bible
Cyril Barber - one of the great commentaries on the book of Acts.
D Edmond Hiebert - A thorough (513-page), informative exposition by a conservative Anglican scholar. Full treatment of introductory problems. Has a full index. One of the standard older commentaries on Acts.
Gerald Cowen - Older works which one should obtain if the opportunity arises include R. B. Rackham, The Acts of the Apostles (Baker, 1978; reprint of the 1901 edition). This is considered by many to be a classic on Acts, and was called by W. Smith the greatest of all the commentaries on Acts (in Profitable Bible Study). This work includes an extensive introduction, including articles on the theology of Acts, and a verse by verse commentary. (Commenting on Commentaries on Acts)
- Acts 20:1
- Acts 20:2
- Acts 20:4
- Acts 20:5
- Acts 20:7
- Acts 20:8–12
- Acts 20:13
- Acts 20:15
- Acts 20:17
- Acts 20:20
- Acts 20:21
- Acts 20:22
- Acts 20:25
- Acts 20:27
- Acts 20:28
- Acts 20:29
- Acts 20:30
- Acts 20:37
- Acts 20:24 The Gospel Of The Grace Of God
- Acts 20:35 The Marks of a Christian: Generosity
- Acts 20:35 Christmas is Over…Now What?
- Acts 20:1-12 Asleep in Church
- Acts 20:24 Planted
- Acts 20:18-35 Past, Present, Future, Part 1
- Acts 20:18-35 Past, Present, Future, Part 2
- Acts 20:18-35 Past, Present, Future, Part 3
PHILLIP SCHAFF
JOHN SCHULTZ
- Acts 20:7 Paul's Sermon at Troas
- Acts 20:17-21 Paul's Appeal to the Ephesian Elders
- Acts 20:24 Duty of Ministers
- Acts 20:26, 27 Ministerial Fidelity
- Acts 20:31 Watchfulness Recommended
- Acts 20:32 A Farewell Discourse
- Acts 20:35 The Blessedness of Liberality
- Acts 20 Commentary
- Acts 20-21 Study. Acts 20:19 Sermon Acts 20:24 Sermon
- Acts 20:21 Sermon, Acts 20:31 Sermon
- Acts 20:24 Sermon, Acts 20:24b Sermon Acts 20:29 Sermon,
- Acts 20:25 Sermon, Acts 20:26 Sermon
JAMES SMITH - Handfuls on Purpose - expanded sermon outlines
- Click this page for all the topics below
- A MIDNIGHT MEETING. Acts 20:2-12
- A PERSONAL TESTIMONY. Acts 20:13-27
SPEAKER'S COMMENTARY
R C SPROUL - Devotionals
- Acts 20:21 Two Essential Things
- Acts 20:24 A Gospel Worth Dying For
- Acts 20:26-27 The Minister's Farewell
- Acts 20:2-38 Last Words
- Ray Stedman - Acts: An Unfinished Story - Overview (from Adventuring Through the Bible)
JOSEPH SUTCLIFFE
- Kingdom Mission: Paul in Macedonia and Greece - Acts 20:1-6
- Kingdom Mission: Paul in Troas - Acts 20:7-12
- Kingdom Mission: Paul's Gospel Farewell to Ephesus - Acts 20:13-38
- Acts 20:1-12 To the End of the Earth (46): A Deadly Sermon by Derek Thomas
- Acts 20:13-38 To the End of the Earth (47): A Solemn Charge by Derek Thomas
- Acts 20:19-24 To Spend and Be Spent in Christ by Nate Shurden
- Acts 20:32 A Farewell Benediction by J. Ligon Duncan
JOHN TRAPP
DANIEL WHEDON
STEVE ZEISLER