Acts 20:14
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Acts 20:14
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
Chapter Context
Acts 20 is a historical narrative chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of truth, judgment, creation. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-85 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Chronicles Christianity's spread across the Roman Empire despite official and unofficial opposition.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-38: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it establishes important theological principles that resonate throughout Scripture. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Acts and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Acts 20:14
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
Analysis
And when he met with us at Assos—Paul rejoined Luke and the traveling party at Assos after walking alone approximately 20 miles from Troas while his companions sailed. The Greek verb συμβάλλω (symballō, "met with") suggests a planned rendezvous, indicating Paul's deliberate choice to travel by land while the ship made its coastal voyage.
We took him in (ἀναλαβόντες, analabontes)—literally "having taken him up" aboard the ship. Came to Mitylene—a significant port city on the island of Lesbos, approximately 30 miles south of Assos. This verse marks the resumption of the "we" sections in Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16), indicating Luke's eyewitness participation. Paul's solitary walk may have provided time for prayer and reflection as he journeyed toward Jerusalem and the suffering he knew awaited him (Acts 20:22-23).
Historical Context
This occurred in AD 57 during Paul's third missionary journey as he hastened to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16). Assos was a major port in the Roman province of Asia with a harbor on the Adramyttian Gulf. The coastal route from Troas to Assos by sea was shorter than the land route, but Paul chose to walk, possibly to maximize his time with the Ephesian elders or for private devotion.
Reflection
- Why might Paul have chosen to walk alone to Assos rather than sail with his companions, and what does this reveal about his preparation for suffering?
- How does Luke's resumption of the "we" narrative enhance the credibility of Acts as eyewitness testimony?