Acts 20:2

Sunday, 3 September 2023

 

Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece Acts 20:2

 

The words are more correctly rendered, “And having passed through those parts, and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Paul departed from Ephesus, having first given his farewell to them. Luke next records, “And having passed through those parts.”

 

The meaning is the various parts of Macedonia which would have included Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi, along with any other area where a church was established by this time. It is possible that he wrote 2 Corinthians during this period. That is hinted at in 2 Corinthians 7 –

 

“For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7

 

It is also possible that he journeyed northwest into Illyricum at this time –

 

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19

 

As for his time in Macedonia, Luke continues the narrative, saying, “and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece.”

 

A great amount of area, time, and events are brushed over with just a few words. The things that happened during this period are not unimportant, but they are not germane to the ongoing narrative. Therefore, the Holy Spirit did not inspire Luke to include the details. Rather, they are quickly summed up, and the narrative continues, noting his arrival in Greece.

 

Here, Luke uses the term Hellas. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and scholars vary widely on what they believe it means – all of Greece, the area of Achaia, the area between Macedonia and Achaia, etc. Without knowing what Luke was thinking, it is hard to be dogmatic about why he chose this particular name at this time.

 

Life application: This verse in Acts is not unlike Acts 18:22, where Paul is recorded as having landed at Caesarea, gone up to greet the church, meaning in Jerusalem, and then proceeded down to Antioch. A lengthy journey and an extended amount of time and activity were brushed over in just a few words.

 

We are being kept on a precise and meticulously recorded path of the ongoing redemptive narrative as outlined in Scripture. At times, immense detail is given concerning a single event that may have spanned just a couple of hours. At others, almost no detail is provided for an excursion that could have gone on for months or more.

 

Therefore, it is good to stop and consider why such minute detail is given at times. The Lord is focusing attention on matters of doctrine, theology, etc., even if we don’t realize it right away. So, take the time to stop and reflect on such things. Ultimately, they have great importance, or they would not have been so carefully recorded.

 

Glorious God, how wonderful is Your word. It is a story of love, redemption, and blessing in Christ. Someday we will see and understand why history has unfolded as it has. For now, we have the framework set before us to know what is important to our lives in Your presence.  Help us to carefully consider what is recorded in Your word. It is a marvelous treasure pointing us to You and what You have done and are doing to bring us back to You. Amen.