Acts 20

After the Ephesian disturbance, Paul departs for Macedonia, repeatedly "encouraging" the disciples before continuing into Greece, where he remains three months. Luke gives little detail, but Paul's letters suggest that this period was connected with ministry in Macedonia and Achaia and probably with preparations for the collection for Jerusalem. The narrative emphasizes movement and strengthening rather than new foundation work.

A Jewish plot causes Paul to abandon his intended sea route to Syria and return through Macedonia. Luke then lists several traveling companions representing regions already reached by the mission, including Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, and Asia. Many scholars see this delegation as connected with the collection for Jerusalem, although Acts does not explicitly say so here.

Verse 5 marks the return of the first-person plural, indicating that the narrator again travels with the group from Philippi to Troas. The reference to the days of Unleavened Bread supplies chronological orientation and continues Luke's habit of locating travel within Jewish festival time. The group reaches Troas in five days and remains seven days, setting the stage for the following narrative.

Acts 20 narrates the final stages of Paul's ministry in the Aegean region before his journey toward Jerusalem. The chapter begins with travel through Macedonia and Greece, where Paul encourages established communities and adjusts his route because of a plot against him. Luke then resumes the first-person plural travel narrative and recounts the gathering at Troas in which Eutychus falls from an upper window and is restored to life.

The second half is dominated by Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus. The speech is unique in Acts because it is directed primarily to Christian leaders rather than to Jewish or Gentile outsiders. Paul reviews his ministry, anticipates suffering, warns of future threats to the community, and entrusts the elders to God and the word of grace. The chapter therefore combines travel narrative, miracle, autobiographical defense, and pastoral exhortation while preparing for Paul's arrest and the Jerusalem-Rome sequence that occupies the remainder of Acts.