Paul Taking Leave of the Brethren At Troas
O. A. Jeary. Acts 20:6-12 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days… As far as mortal may be compared with immortal, Paul, after his conversion, may be likened to the angel (Revelation 14:6, 7). Of this apostle the Fathers have spoken in the highest terms, styling him "the trumpet of the gospel," "the roaring of the lion of the tribe of Judah," "the river of Christian eloquence," "the teacher of the universe," "to whom," says , "God had committed the whole dispensation of His mysteries." He had made an extensive circuit, allowing himself but few intervals of repose; he had visited many Churches, giving them much exhortation, and at length he arrived at Troas. I. THE NATURE OF THIS MEETING. "The disciples came together." It was not a meeting of philosophers, of senators, of literary men. Such had been passed over by the inspired penman. It was a meeting of the disciples of Christ. They were assembled for a devotional purpose. If there be a society on which the eye of Heaven rests with complacency it is a society of this nature. Devout associations draw after them great advantages. What scene can be more delightful than that of a company of Christians engaged in acts of sacred worship? Happy will it be for us, if, in the day of persecution, of affliction, of disease, and of death, when we can no longer thus associate, we can say, "I never turned away from the ordinances of the Lord, never absented myself without just reason from His house; I never deemed religious instruction unnecessary, and never slighted the opportunity of obtaining it; 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honour dwelleth.'" II. THE TIME OF THIS MEETING. They came together "upon the first day of the week." Thus they celebrated the institution of the Christian sabbath. It was on the first day of the week that Christ rose from the dead and accomplished the work of redemption. From that period the apostles and primitive Christians assembled on the first day instead of the seventh. The meetings of the apostles and first Christians, on this day, were sanctioned by the presence of their Master, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and in the annals of Christian experience, from their time to ours, this day will be found to have received particular notice and distinction. If the banished saint in the Isle of Patmos was favoured with a peculiar elevation of mind, and with extraordinary revelations on "the Lord's day," how many Christians in every succeeding age have, on the returns of the same day, been blessed with similar enjoyments! Christians should embrace all suitable opportunities of assembling together, but especially those presented on "the Lord's day." III. THE PLACE OF THEIR MEETING. They came together in an "upper chamber." This reminds us of the persecuted state of the first Christians. Our forefathers were no strangers to this kind of affliction; they worshipped God in dens, and holes, and caverns of the earth. But happier times are afforded unto us: "We sit under our own vine, and under our own fig tree, none daring to make us afraid." May the commonness of our privileges never render us insensible of their value! The worship of God is everywhere conducted most agreeably to the Christian plan, when conducted with simplicity. Christianity requires no splendid edifices; it asks for nothing to charm the senses. It says, "God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Let us, therefore, neither despise a place because it is unadorned, nor imagine a place to be more acceptable to God because it exhibits elegance and splendour. Yet ought we not to forget the liberality of those who devote a portion of their worldly substance for the erection of commodious places for religious worship. It is the decree of our God that "all things be done decently and in order." We ought not to be solicitous about our own dwelling, and indifferent about a place for His service. IV. THE DESIGN OF THIS MEETING. "They came together to break bread." This phrase refers to their celebration of the Lord's Supper — a service in which they appear to have been engaged the more frequently, as being doubtful whether they would be permitted to assemble for such a purpose much longer. They availed themselves of every opportunity to obey the last injunction of their Saviour — "Do this in remembrance of Me." That Christian who, believing in the perpetuity of this ordinance, habitually neglects it, refuses to do his part towards keeping up in the world the remembrance of Christ's death, and the expectation of His second coming. But it is not a simple remembrance of His death; it is the enjoyment of fellowship with Him, and communion with each other; that, as there is one Head, so we may be all as one body. To the disciples at Emmaus, Jesus was known in the breaking of bread; and how often has He manifested Himself to His disciples at the sacramental table, in a way most satisfactory and delightful! (O. A. Jeary.) Parallel Verses KJV: And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. WEB: We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.