This verse highlights steadfast devotion to fellowship, teaching, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Luke narrates: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.” (v.7) In this passage, the gathering occurs in Troas, an ancient city in the northwest region of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), near the Aegean Sea. Believers gather on Sunday, “the first day of the week,” which highlights a practice that was starting to develop among early Christians who met on this day to remember Jesus’s resurrection (John 20:19) and to engage in fellowship. The mention of “breaking bread” can point to a shared meal that included partaking of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing unity and communal worship.
Remarkably, “Paul began talking to them” (v.7), indicating an informal yet focused setting where the Apostle taught the gathered believers. Paul (who likely lived between AD 5 and AD 67) was in the midst of his missionary journeys, spreading the gospel throughout the Roman world. His message resonates deeply with Jesus’s invitation for humankind to follow Him (Matthew 11:28-30). This extended teaching session suggests the believers’ hunger to hear more about Jesus’s life and teachings before Paul’s departure.
We also see that “he prolonged his message until midnight” (v.7), reflecting Paul’s urgency to encourage and strengthen the church before leaving the next day. This late-night gathering points to the dedication of both Paul and the believers. Their sacrifice of rest symbolizes a profound commitment to spiritual growth. In a broader sense, this devotion inspires us today to be steadfast in our own pursuit of God’s truth and open to learning whenever opportunities arise.
Set to dark mode
Acts 20:7 meaning
Luke narrates: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.” (v.7) In this passage, the gathering occurs in Troas, an ancient city in the northwest region of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), near the Aegean Sea. Believers gather on Sunday, “the first day of the week,” which highlights a practice that was starting to develop among early Christians who met on this day to remember Jesus’s resurrection (John 20:19) and to engage in fellowship. The mention of “breaking bread” can point to a shared meal that included partaking of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing unity and communal worship.
Remarkably, “Paul began talking to them” (v.7), indicating an informal yet focused setting where the Apostle taught the gathered believers. Paul (who likely lived between AD 5 and AD 67) was in the midst of his missionary journeys, spreading the gospel throughout the Roman world. His message resonates deeply with Jesus’s invitation for humankind to follow Him (Matthew 11:28-30). This extended teaching session suggests the believers’ hunger to hear more about Jesus’s life and teachings before Paul’s departure.
We also see that “he prolonged his message until midnight” (v.7), reflecting Paul’s urgency to encourage and strengthen the church before leaving the next day. This late-night gathering points to the dedication of both Paul and the believers. Their sacrifice of rest symbolizes a profound commitment to spiritual growth. In a broader sense, this devotion inspires us today to be steadfast in our own pursuit of God’s truth and open to learning whenever opportunities arise.