How does Acts 20:15 connect with Paul's mission in Acts 1:8? Setting the Scene: Acts 20:15 “Sailing from there, we came the next day opposite Chios; the following day we arrived at Samos, and the day after we came to Miletus.” •One short verse, three islands, four days on the Aegean. •It looks like a simple travel log, yet Luke records it because each nautical mile is another step in a divinely scripted mission. The Commission Revisited: Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” •Four concentric circles: Jerusalem ➜ Judea ➜ Samaria ➜ ends of the earth. •Power source: the Holy Spirit. •Purpose: witnessing to the risen Christ. How the Itinerary Echoes the Commission 1.Jerusalem—The Gospel’s Launchpad •Paul began as a persecutor in Jerusalem (Acts 9:1–2), then proclaimed Christ there after conversion (Acts 9:28–29). 2.Judea and Samaria—The Middle Rings •Paul’s early preaching tours included Judean towns (Galatians 1:22–23) and extended northward, harmonizing with Acts 1:8’s second and third rings. 3.Ends of the Earth—The Aegean Circuit •By Acts 20:15, Paul is deep in Gentile territory. Chios, Samos, and Miletus lie far beyond Judea, demonstrating that “ends of the earth” is no figure of speech. •Romans 15:19 reminds us Paul had taken the gospel “from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.” Acts 20:15 adds fresh dots on that expanding map. 4.Holy Spirit Navigation •Acts 13:2–4—Paul’s first missionary launch came by direct Holy Spirit instruction. •Acts 20:22—“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem…”. Even in the itinerary, the Spirit is steering the ship, fulfilling Acts 1:8’s promise of empowerment. Geography That Preaches •Chios—A commercial hub: business travelers hear the message. •Samos—Home to philosophers: intellectual culture meets gospel truth. •Miletus—Gateway to Asia’s heartland: from here Paul summons the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17–38) to multiply witness further. Each stop functions as a relay station, pushing the witness outward—exactly the Acts 1:8 pattern. Living the Pattern Today •Eyes on the Map –Identify your “Jerusalem” (home), “Judea” (community), “Samaria” (cross-cultural nearby), and “ends of the earth” (global reach). •Dependence on the Spirit –Acts 20:24: “I consider my life worth nothing to myself…”. The same Spirit who drove Paul’s ship drives our witness. •Finish the Course –2 Timothy 4:7 echoes the satisfaction of a life aligned with Acts 1:8: “I have finished the race.” Acts 20:15 may read like a travel diary, yet every wave under Paul’s hull carries the echo of Acts 1:8. Geography becomes theology: the gospel must keep moving until every circle is reached. |
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