Miletus · noun — genitive singular feminine, a place
sent
πέμψαςpempsas
G3992
to dispatch (from the subjective view or point of depar… · verb — aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine
to
εἰςeis
G1519
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
Ephesus
ἜφεσονEpheson
G2181
Ephesus · noun — accusative singular feminine, a place
called
μετεκαλέσατοmetekalesato
G3333
to call elsewhere · verb — aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular
elders
πρεσβυτέρουςpresbuterous
G4245
older · noun — accusative plural masculine
church
ἐκκλησίας.ekklēsias
G1577
a calling out · noun — genitive singular feminine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Acts 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had…
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,…
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord…
Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that Go…
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Acts 20:17-35
It should seem the ship Paul and his companions were embarked in for Jerusalem attended him on purpose, and staid or moved as he pleased; for when he came to Miletus, he went ashore, and tarried thee so long as to send for the elders of Ephesus to come to him thither; for if he had gone up to Ephesus, he could never have got away from them. These elders, or presbyters, some think, were those twelve who received the Holy Ghost by Paul's hands, Act 19:6. But, besides these, it is probable that Timothy had ordained other elders there for the service of that church, and the country about; these Paul sent for, that he might instruct and encourage them to go on in the work to which they had laid t…
from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church--As he was now some forty miles south of Ephesus, we might think that more time would be lost by sending thus far for the elders to come to him, than by going at once to Ephesus itself, when so near it. But if unfavorable winds and stormy weather had overtaken them, his object could not have been attained, and perhaps he was unwilling to run the risk of detention at Ephesus by the state of the church and other causes. Those here called "elders" or "presbyters," are in Act 20:28 called "bishops." (See on Act 20:28). The identity of presbyters and bishops in the New Testament is beyond all reasonable dispute.
Adam Clarke on Acts 20:17
He sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church - These are called επισκοποι, bishops, Act 20:28. By the πρεσβυτεροι, presbyters or elders, here, we are to understand all that were in authority in the Church, whether they were επισκοποι, bishops or overseers, or seniors in years, knowledge, and experience. The πρεσβυτεροι, or elders, were probably the first order in the Church; an order which was not so properly constituted, but which rose out of the state of things. From these presbuteroi the episcopoi, overseers or superintendents, were selected. Those who were eldest in years, Christian knowledge, and experience, would naturally be preferred to all others, as overseers of the Chur…
He called the elders of the Church. For elders, the Greek uses πρεσβυτέρους.
"And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church." Sending from Miletus to Ephesus, the apostle Paul summoned the bishops of the church, and there retraced for them his story with great affection, reminding them of the moderation and humility with which he had behaved among them, above all bringing to their notice the word of the Lord so that false preachers, when they came, might not overturn their hearts, and that they might not make the too dangerous mistake of deviating from established rules. He mentioned, too, that he had been a financial burden to no one; on the contrary, giving them the affection of a spiritual father, he had fed himself and his colleagues with his own hands, since it was, as everyone knew, a more blessed thing to give than to receive. He said that, after taking leave, he would depart and never see their faces again. When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with all the people, and everyone's weeping sounded loudly, and, kissing his neck, they cried with profuse tenderness because he had told them they would not see him again.
Since custom commonly escapes notice, especially in the New Testament calling bishops [ἐπισκόπους] elders [πρεσβυτέρους] and elders bishops, note this here, also from the Epistle to Titus, and moreover to the Philippians, and from the First to Timothy. From Acts therefore there is grounds to be convinced about this. For it is written therefore: From Miletus having sent to Ephesus, he called the elders of the church together, and did not say the bishops. Then he adds: "In which the Holy Spirit appointed you bishops [ἐπισκόπους] to shepherd the church." (Acts 20:28) And from the Epistle to Titus: "You shall appoint elders [πρεσβυτέρους] in every city, as I directed you." (Titus 1:5) To those who are in Philippi, "with the bishops and deacons." (Philip. 1:1) I think that this should also be assumed from the earlier passage addressed to Timothy. For he says, "If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be blameless." (1 Tim. 3:1-2) And after a short time: "Let a widow be counted who is not less than sixty years old." (1 Tim. 5:9) For indeed there is a rule of the church, setting forth what such a one ought to be.
Dictionary and topics
Bishop — An overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was no difference as to order between bishops and elders or presbyters (Acts 20:17-28; 1 Pet. 5:1, 2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3). The term…
Elder — A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7). The “elders…
Miletus — (Miletum, 2 Tim. 4:20), a seaport town and the ancient capital of Ionia, about 36 miles south of Ephesus. On his voyage from Greece to Syria, Paul touched at this port, and delivered that noble and…
Paul — =Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him in infancy “for use in the Gentile world,” as “Saul” would be…
Elder · IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH — IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Ephesus · Paul visits and preaches in — Paul visits and preaches in
Miletus · addresses them at — addresses them at
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
John Gill on Acts 20:17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,.... Which is said, by some, to be about four hundred furlongs from Miletus, and, by others, ten German miles.
And called the elders of the church; that is, at Ephesus; not the ancient members of the church, but the officers of it; the pastors, bishops, and overseers, as they are called, Acts 20:28 and are so styled from their office, and not their age. The twelve disciples the apostle found in this place, and the numerous converts made by him here, first composed this church, which doubtless was formed into Gospel order by himself; to which he afterwards wrote an epistle, when at a distance from them, called the Epistle to the Ephesians; and in the latte…
Acts 20:14-21
14. And when we were come together at Assos, having received him we came to him. 15. And sailing thence the day following we came over against Chios; and on the morrow we arrived at Samos, and having tarried at Trogyllum, we came to Miletus. 16. For Paul purposed to sail beyond Ephesus, lest he should spend the time in Asia: for he made haste if it were possible for him to keep the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem. 17. And having sent messengers from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the elders of the church. 18. Who when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day wherein I entered into Asia, how 1 have been with you at all seasons, 19. Serving the Lord with…
Miletus was a major port on the western coast of Asia Minor at the mouth of the Meander River. It provided a place for Paul to meet briefly with the elders of Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem.
