Acts 20:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →With the riot in Ephesus ended, Paul gathers the disciples, embraces them in farewell, and sets out for Macedonia.
What Does Acts 20:1 Mean?
The uproar is the riot of Acts 19, when Demetrius the silversmith turned Ephesus against Paul because the gospel was emptying the trade in idols. Once the city quiets, Paul knows his season there is finished. Before he goes he calls the believers to himself — not slipping away in the night, but gathering them for a farewell embrace.
The embrace says as much as any sermon. Paul had spent some three years in Ephesus (20:31), and these people were not names on a tally but beloved friends. The gospel does not make its servants detached; it binds hearts together, so that even necessary departures are tender. The chapter ahead is full of farewells, and every one of them shows how deeply Christ teaches his people to love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 20:1
What does Acts 20:1 mean?
With the riot in Ephesus ended, Paul gathers the disciples, embraces them in farewell, and sets out for Macedonia.