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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:3

Abode three months - Partly, as we may suppose, at Corinth, at Athens, and in Achaia; from which place he is supposed to have sent his epistle to the Romans, because he continued longer here than at any other place, and mentions several of the Corinthians in his salutations to the believers of Rome. When the Jesus laid wait for him - Paul had determined to go by sea to Syria, and from thence to Jerusalem. This was the first object of his journey; and this was the readiest road he could... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:4

And there accompanied him - Rather, says Bishop Pearce, there followed him as far as to Asia; for they were not in his company till he set sail from Philippi, and came to them at Troas, in Asia, whither they had gone before, and where they tarried for him, Acts 20:5 . Into Asia - Αχρι της Ασιας ; These words are wanting in two MSS., Erpen, the Ethiopic, Coptic, and Vulgate. Some think that they embarrass this place; for how these could accompany him into Asia, and go before him, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:5

Tarried for us at Troas - See the preceding verse. Troas was a small town in Phrygia Minor, in the province called the Troad: see Acts 16:8 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:6

Days of unleavened bread - The seven days of the passover, in which they ate unleavened bread. See the account of this festival in the notes on Exodus 12:1-51 (note). It is evident, from the manner in which St. Luke writes here, that he had not been with St. Paul since the time he accompanied him to Philippi, Acts 16:10-12 ; but he now embarks at Philippi with the apostle, and accompanies him to Troas, and continues with him through the rest of his journey. To Troas in five days - So... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:7

Upon the first day of the week - What was called κυριακη , the Lord's day, the Christian Sabbath, in which they commemorated the resurrection of our Lord; and which, among all Christians, afterwards took the place of the Jewish Sabbath. To break bread - To break eucaristia , the eucharist, as the Syriac has it; intimating, by this, that they were accustomed to receive the holy sacrament on each Lord's day. It is likely that, besides this, they received a common meal together. Some... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:8

Upper chamber - It was in an upper chamber in the temple that the primitive disciples were accustomed to meet: on that account, they might have preferred an upper chamber whenever they could meet with it. The pious Quesnel supposes that the smoke, issuing from the many lamps in this upper chamber, was the cause of Eutychus falling asleep; and this, he says, the apostle mentions, in charity, to excuse the young man's appearing negligent. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:3

Verse 3− 3.Because the Jews laid wait for him. The Lord did exercise his servant so diversely and continually that he set before us in him an example of most excellent constancy. It is not sufficient for him to be wearied with the labor and trouble of a long and wearisome journey, unless he be also brought in danger of his life by those which lay in wait for him. Let all the servants of Christ set this mirror before their eyes, that they may never faint through the wearisomeness of straits.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:7

Verse 7− 7.And in one day. Either doth he mean the first day of the week, which was next after the Sabbath, or else some certain Sabbath. Which latter thing may seem to me more probable; for this cause, because that day was more fit for all assembly, according to custom. But seeing it is no new matter for the Evangelists to put one instead of the first, according to the custom of the Hebrew tongue, ( Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1) it shall very well agree, that on the morrow after the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:1-6

Apostolic supervision of Church life. From Ephesus through Macedonia, to Greece, returning through Macedonia by way of Philippi to Troas. I. The cautious vigilance of Paul in superintending THE RISING SPIRITUAL LIFE of the infant Churches; a lesson in faithfulness and devotion to the interests of fellow-Christians, as well as in allegiance to Christ. It was not enough that the Churches had the truth. It was endangered by many difficulties and surrounding obstructive influences,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:1-12

"In labors more abundant." The rapid succession and the unbroken continuance of St. Paul's labors is truly marvelous. Rest or recreation seem to be things unknown to him. The tension of spirit caused by imminent and pressing danger seems not to have produced in him, as it does in most men, the need of breathing-time to recover their usual tone. His one idea of the use of life, and of the various faculties of mind and body with which his life was equipped, was apparently to preach Jesus... read more

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