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

15We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of Chios. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of Miletus. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible. From Miletus Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders of the church to meet with him ⌞in Miletus⌟. 18When they were with him, he said to them, “You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted 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 20:28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood.
• Acts 11:30The disciples did this and sent their contribution with Barnabas and Saul to the leaders ⌞in Jerusalem⌟.
• Acts 14:23They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted the leaders to the Lord in whom they believed.
• Acts 15:4The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them.
• Acts 16:4As they went through the cities, they told people about the decisions that the apostles and spiritual leaders in Jerusalem had made for the people.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.
• James 5:14If you are sick, call for the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil in the name of the Lord.
• 1 Peter 5:1I appeal to your spiritual leaders. I make this appeal as a spiritual leader who also witnessed Christ’s sufferings and will share in the glory that will be revealed.
• 2 John 1:1From the church leader. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you.
• 3 John 1:1From the church leader. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love because we share the 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