What is the meaning of Acts 20:15? Sailing on from there “Sailing on from there…” (Acts 20:15) picks up right after Paul boarded the ship at Assos (Acts 20:13–14). His itinerary is no aimless cruise; it is a Spirit-directed journey toward Jerusalem (Acts 19:21; 20:22). • Each leg is deliberate, showing Paul’s stewardship of time (Ephesians 5:15-16). • The brisk pace echoes earlier missionary circuits where the team moved as the Lord opened and closed doors (Acts 16:6-10). • Travel difficulties—“danger from rivers… danger from robbers… danger from the sea” (2 Corinthians 11:26)—never deter Paul; they highlight God’s preserving hand. We arrived the next day opposite Chios Chios lies just off Asia Minor’s coast. Luke notes they stopped “opposite” the island, indicating an overnight anchorage rather than a full port call. • The detail underscores Luke’s eyewitness precision (Luke 1:3; Acts 27:1). • Skipping a leisurely visit kept Paul on schedule for Pentecost (Acts 20:16), illustrating the priority of worship and fellowship with believers in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). • Like Jesus who “set His face” toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), Paul stays on mission despite coastal attractions. The day after that we arrived at Samos Another day, another island—Samos, near the mouth of the Cayster River. • Luke’s travelog reminds us that ministry often occurs between the “big moments.” Shipboard conversations and brief shore contacts mirror Paul’s earlier witness to fellow travelers (Acts 13:5; 27:22-25). • Passing by Ephesus’s harbor (Acts 20:16) prevents a lengthy reunion that could delay Paul, yet he will still care for that church by summoning its elders (Acts 20:17). • The pattern reflects Jesus’ balance of movement and ministry: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also” (Mark 1:38). On the following day we came to Miletus Miletus, thirty miles south of Ephesus, becomes Paul’s strategic staging ground. • From here he calls the Ephesian elders, modeling pastoral oversight and accountability (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Peter 5:1-4). • Choosing Miletus shows prudence: fewer distractions and quicker sailing options toward Jerusalem (Proverbs 16:9; Acts 21:1). • The stop highlights unity across congregations; believers from multiple cities converge for mutual encouragement (Romans 1:11-12). summary Acts 20:15 traces three swift days: Assos to Chios, Chios to Samos, Samos to Miletus. Luke’s travel notes do more than chart geography; they reveal God-guided momentum, Paul’s disciplined urgency, and the seamless blend of ordinary movement with extraordinary mission. Every nautical mile advances the gospel, proving that even the “in-between” verse, faithfully recorded, carries purpose and encouragement for today’s journeying disciples. |
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