Acts 20:17

Acts 20:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
• New International Version (NIV)From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

Context of Acts 20:17

15Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus]. 16Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. However, from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to meet him there]. 18And when they arrived he said to them: “You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now], 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me];

Acts 20:17 word by word

Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς Μιλήτου πέμψας εἰς Ἔφεσον μετεκαλέσατο τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• MiletusΜίλητοςMilētos · MiletusG3399
• he sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• EphesusἜφεσοςEphesos · EphesusG2181
• and calledμετακαλέωmetakaleō · to summonG3333
• the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
• of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for Acts 20:17

• Acts 20:28Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.
• Acts 11:30And this they did, sending the contribution to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
• Acts 14:23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah].
• Acts 15:4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported to them all the things that God had accomplished through them.
• Acts 16:4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decrees decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for the churches to observe.
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].
• James 5:14Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
• 1 Peter 5:1Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed:
• 2 John 1:1The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who know and understand the truth—
• 3 John 1:1The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the beloved and esteemed Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Commentaries on Acts 20:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17He sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church - These are called , bishops, Acts 20:28. By the , presbyters or elders, here, we are to understand all that were in authority in the Church, whether they were , bishops or overseers, or seniors in years, knowledge, and experience. The , 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17He 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 Acts 15:2.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Miletus was a major sea port on the western coast of Asia Minor at the opening of the Meander River. Paul met briefly with the elders of the church of Ephesus there on his way to Jerusalem.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church--As he was now some forty miles south of Ephesus, we might think that more time would be lost by sending thus far for the elders to come to him, than by going at once to Ephesus itself, when so near it. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 20:17

• Church
• Elder
• Ephesus
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Ephesus
• Ephesus, Ephesian
• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw

Commentaries on Acts 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings