ACTS 20

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7On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, "Do not be troubled, for his life is in him." 11When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

NOTE on the first day of the week (Sunday) Paul gathered with a group of believers and broke bread with them. Paul got a little carried away and spoke until midnight. Eutychus fell asleep and fell out of a 3rd story window and was dead. Paul immediately went down to him and brought him back to the group alive and well. Then NOTE Paul continued to speak throughout the night.

What I love most about this setting is the realness of it all. Here is a group of Jesus followers eating and listening to Paul teach them-all in a home. This is presently the largest and fastest growing movement in this country-gatherings in the name of Jesus outside the local, organized church.

17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22"And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. 25"And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

NOTE here how much of Paul's life was invested in the Ephesian believers. He gave of himself completely for one reason. He was living in response to the call of Jesus on His life. Remember, this calling happened in the 9th chapter where the Lord sent him to bear witness of Jesus among the Jews, Gentiles and the kings.

29"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31"Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. 34"You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

36When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again and they were accompanying him to the ship.

It's been my experience that disciples left to themselves tend to be distracted away from their original calling from Jesus. The savage wolves are not ugly and furry, but are attractive and endearing. Because of these subtle, savage wolves within our fellowships: FIRST-Reminded the disciples of their duty to be overseers of the flock.

SECOND-Revealed to them the danger of being distracted away from Jesus.

Paul's greatest concern was that savage wolves-false teachers-would rise up after his departure. Three observations here: 1. The savage wolves come from among the fellowship. 2. The savage wolves spend their time distracting the disciples of Jesus away from their calling. 3. The only "salvation" from these savage wolves will come from God and the word of His grace.

This reminds me of the passage in II Corinthians 11:3: "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." The simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus. That's it. That's what it's all about!