The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (156 page)

19:14 Sceva:
Otherwise unknown. His sons were overpowered by the demon (19:16) because they made unauthorized use of a Christian exorcistic formula, i.e., they wielded the name of Jesus without faith in him or a commitment to his teaching.
See note on Acts 4:12
. 
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19:19 burned them:
The Ephesian believers threw their magical and superstitious books onto a bonfire as a public act of renunciation.
pieces of silver:
With each coin equivalent to a single day's wage, the value of the library was worth 50,000 days' earnings. 
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19:21 I must also see Rome:
Paul is magnetically drawn to the imperial capital in Italy (23:11), finally arriving there at the climax of Acts (28:14-31). 
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19:23 the Way:
A code name for the early Christian movement.
See note on Acts 9:2
. 
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19:23-41
The riot at Ephesus shows how the good news of the gospel was bad news for the idols and idol manufacturers of antiquity. Here Demetrius and a guild of tradesmen turn the city against missionaries whose promotion of one God dishonored the cult of Artemis and led to a sharp decline in the sale of miniature Artemis statues. The impression comes through that Demetrius was zealous not only to preserve the honor of the goddess (19:27), but even more so to protect his source of income (19:25).
See note on Acts 14:15
. 
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19:24 Artemis:
A goddess and huntress of Greek mythology whose cult was widely followed throughout the Roman world (19:27). In Ephesus, which was the center of Artemis worship and the home of her magnificent temple, she was closely associated with the ancient mother goddess of Asia Minor and was revered as a patroness of fertility. Figurines unearthed in recent times depict her as a woman with multiple breasts. 
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19:29 the theater:
Archeologists estimate that the Ephesian amphitheater seated nearly 25,000 people.
Gaius:
Possibly mentioned in Rom 16:23, but this is uncertain.
Aristarchus:
Accompanied Paul on his trips to Jerusalem (20:4) and Rome (27:2). He apparently stayed with the apostle during his first Roman detainment (Col 4:10; Philem 24). 
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19:33 Alexander:
He hoped to disclaim Jewish responsibility for the grievances of Demetrius. Once identified as a Jew, however, he was drowned out with two hours of shouting by the clamorous mob (19:34). It was no secret among pagans that Judaism was just as intolerant of idolatry as Christianity. 
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19:35 town clerk:
The city secretary of Ephesus and the local official who mediated public relations with Rome.
temple keeper:
An official title given to cities that hosted shrines associated with the Roman imperial cult.
the sacred stone:
A meteorite in the Artemis temple thought to resemble the goddess. 
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19:40 charged with rioting:
The mob was on the brink of disturbing the
Pax Romana
(Lat. "Roman Peace"). To preserve this worldwide stability and social order, Roman authorities were known to stamp out civil upheavals with swift and violent measures. 
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20:1-6
Leaving Ephesus, Paul makes a final sweep through northern and southern Greece before setting out for Jerusalem. Information about his activities during this time can also be gleaned from his NT letters:
(1)
Paul was collecting donations to help the poor Christians of Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-27; 2 Cor 8-9);
(2)
he had written two more epistles along the way, 2 Corinthians and Romans; and
(3)
he may have ventured into new missionary territory as far west as Illyricum, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea (Rom 15:19). 
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20:5 waiting for us:
The shift in perspective ("us") indicates that Luke, who had stayed behind in Philippi (16:12), met up with Paul and sailed with him to Troas (20:6).
See note on Acts 16:10
. 
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20:6 Unleavened Bread:
A religious festival that began with Passover and was celebrated in Jerusalem every spring. Although the adult men of Israel were required to make an annual pilgrimage to the city at this time (Deut 16:16), Paul no longer felt bound by this requirement of the Old Covenant and so did not attend the feast. For another example of this, see 1 Cor 16:8. 
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20:7 first day of the week:
The day following the Saturday Sabbath (Gen 2:3). This passage provides the earliest evidence that believers assembled on Sundays for catechetical instruction and sacramental worship. It was soon called the "Lord's day" (Rev 1:10) to commemorate the day Jesus rose from the dead (Lk 24:1; CCC 1343). • The sequence of apostolic preaching (20:7) followed by a eucharistic celebration (20:11) reflects the essential structure of Christian liturgy, where Christ comes to us in word and sacrament.
See note on Lk 24:30
. 
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20:10 bent over him:
Or, "laid upon him". Paul revives the boy Eutychus just as Peter revived the young girl Tabitha (9:40). • The prophets Elijah and Elisha both resuscitated youths to new life by lying down upon them (1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34). 
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20:13-15
Paul and his missionary team move down the chain of islands off the Aegean coast of Asia Minor. The final stop, at Miletus, is 30 miles from Ephesus. 
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20:16 Pentecost:
A religious festival held in Jerusalem 50 days after Passover. Pilgrims came to dedicate the first loaves of bread made from the spring wheat harvest. Paul's desire to arrive in time for the feast may be linked with the collection of money he had taken up among the Gentiles for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-28). Delivering this gift at the feast would have symbolized the initial harvest reaped among the nations by his gospel.
See note on Acts 2:1
. 
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20:17-38
A farewell speech to the leaders of the Ephesian Church. Paul challenges them with memories of his own conduct and cautions them of dangers that lie ahead. He urges them to be humble, persevering, and bold (20:18-21), giving their hands to hard work and their hearts to the less fortunate (20:34-35). He also warns them to protect their flocks from heretical wolves who are sure to bring confusion and error (20:28-30). After hints that Paul is uttering his final good-bye (20:22, 25), the speech ends with the elders in tears (20:37). 
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20:28 guardians:
The Greek term refers to "overseers", suggesting the Ephesian leaders are either "bishops" appointed to succeed the apostles or "elders" who shepherd the local Church only (20:17). Because ecclesiastical titles were not yet standardized, some degree of fluidity is evidenced in their NT usage.
See note on 1 Tim 3:1
and word study:
Elders
at Jas 5:14.
the Church of the Lord:
The better reading is: "the Church of God" (see textual note
v
).
with his own blood:
This translation asserts both the divinity (his = God) and humanity (blood) of Jesus. Others translate it: "with the blood of his Own" (see textual note w). This changes the sense of the passage, saying that the Father (his = God) obtained the Church through the redeeming death (blood) of the Son (his Own). 
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20:29 fierce wolves:
False teachers, who invariably attacked the Ephesian flock in later years (1 Tim 1:3-7; Rev 2:2). 
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20:31 three years:
The approximate duration of Paul's ministry in Ephesus.
See note on Acts 19:10
. 
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20:34 these hands ministered:
Paul often refused stipends from local Churches, preferring instead to support himself with income earned as a tentmaker (18:3). He wanted at all costs to make his gospel free of charge (2 Cor 2:17; 1 Thess 2:9). 
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20:35 It is more blessed:
This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the four Gospels but was passed down by the apostles in the form of oral tradition. The Gospels themselves give us only selections from this tradition, which was far too broad and detailed for anyone to make an exhaustive record of it in writing (Jn 21:25). 
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20:36 knelt down:
A traditional prayer posture noted also in 21:5. Kneeling illustrates the proper relation between God and his servants, who express the submission of their hearts through the lowering of their bodies (Ps 95:6; Eph 3:14). Other prayer postures stemming from Jewish practice include raising the hands (Ps 141:2; 1 Tim 2:8) and standing (Mk 11:25; Lk 18:11; CCC 2702). 
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21:1-18
A third series of "we" passages where Luke accompanies Paul on his final journey to Jerusalem.
See note on Acts 16:10
. 
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21:1-3
Paul and companions sail from port to port around the southwestern edge of Asia Minor and on past the island of Cyprus to Phoenicia, just north of Palestine. The final stretch from Patara to the harbor of Tyre was nearly 400 miles long. 
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21:7 Ptolemais:
A Phoenician port just south of Tyre (21:3). 
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21:8 Caesarea:
The provincial capital of Judea, another 32 miles down the coast from Ptolemais (21:7). This was the final stop on Paul's sea voyage; from here he would travel more than 50 miles on foot to Jerusalem (21:15).
Philip the evangelist:
One of the seven men ordained for service in 6:56. Soon afterward he was engaged in missionary preaching in Samaria (8:4-25) and along the coastline of Judea (8:26-40). 
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21:10 Agabus:
The prophet who foretold the famine years earlier (11:28) here announces Paul's upcoming arrest in Jerusalem (21:11). He enacts his message with the help of Paul's belt instead of merely enunciating it. • On the premise that actions speak louder than words, several Hebrew prophets delivered messages from Yahweh through symbolic acts and public demonstrations (Is 20:2-4; Jer 19:1-15; Ezek 4:1-17; Hos 1:2-11). 
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