How does Acts 20:15 demonstrate Paul's commitment to spreading the Gospel? Text of Acts 20:15 “‘Sailing from there, we arrived the next day off Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and on the next day we came to Miletus.’ ” A Snapshot of Tireless Movement • In a single verse Luke lists three separate maritime legs—Chios, Samos, Miletus—packed into three consecutive days. • No leisurely pace; Paul keeps pushing forward, shaving off hours by sea instead of going overland. • Each port is a deliberate step closer to Jerusalem where he hopes to arrive by Pentecost (Acts 20:16). Strategic Routing for Maximum Gospel Impact • Paul chooses islands and coastal towns that served as commercial hubs. Every dock means fresh ears for the message of Christ (cf. Acts 17:17; Acts 18:4). • By sailing at night and arriving at dawn (a common practice), he maximizes daylight for ministry and fellowship. • His route skirts Ephesus to save time, yet he summons the Ephesian elders to Miletus for a focused, elder-only briefing (Acts 20:17-38). He balances urgency with shepherding care. Sacrificial Endurance for the Sake of Christ • Constant travel meant physical fatigue, exposure to storms, and the risks Paul later catalogs—“in danger at sea… in toil and hardship, in sleepless nights” (2 Corinthians 11:25-27). • He does it willingly because, as he’ll soon say, “I consider my life of no value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). • Acts 20:15 compresses that resolve into a brisk journal entry: relentless legs of travel stitched together by unbroken commitment. Anchored to a Greater Purpose • Each nautical mile fulfills Christ’s command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). • Paul’s pattern mirrors the Savior’s own itinerancy (Luke 4:43). • His urgency stems from his belief that people are lost without the gospel (Romans 10:14-15) and that time is short (Ephesians 5:16). Practical Lessons for Today • Gospel work often looks like ordinary logistics—tickets, routes, calendars—yet God’s mission advances through such details. • Intentional planning and holy urgency belong together; efficiency need not conflict with spiritual depth. • Personal comfort takes second place to kingdom opportunity. The question is not “Is this easy?” but “Will this reach more people for Christ?” Acts 20:15 may read like travel notes, but beneath the itinerary beats the heart of a man determined that every tide and wind serve the spread of the good news. |
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