Christians...what does Acts 20:20 mean to you?

Question

Some churches take it to mean that we should go door to door to teach about church traditions and doctrines. Others think it means that Paul went from house to house of the believers to teach them...much as we might go to our weekly Bible studies at the church on Wednesday or some other night.

I see some silly answers here...I was being serious however. I do see a few promising answers...then I see some which lean toward the LDS and JW philosophies.

If you feel the need to go door to door to preach, when Christ did not nor did he condone going door to door...he taught that his disciples were to go from house to house of people who believed...those who invited them in to be their guests, because they wanted to learn.

Answer 1

A quick reading of Acts 20:20 might give the impression that the apostle Paul went from house to house to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the unconverted. The context, however, beginning with verse 17, reveals the true meaning.

The apostle Paul "sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church," and said to them "I . . . taught you publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:17-20). Paul taught the leaders of the church in their own homes. He was not going from house to house attempting to witness to or persuade whomever opened the door

God Bless You

Answer 2

Please look at the following scriptures and then re-read Acts 20:20 once more. The answer will be obvious.

Matthew 28:18-19 18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,. . .

Acts 1:8 . . .but YOU will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon YOU, and YOU will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.". . .

Romans 15:20-21 . . .In this way, indeed, I made it my aim not to declare the good news where Christ had already been named, in order that I might not be building on another man's foundation; 21 but, just as it is written: "Those to whom no announcement has been made about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."

Matthew 24:14 . . .And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. . .

Answer 3

Paul was speaking specifically to the Ephesian elders. He was simply telling them that HE WENT WHEREVER THE HOLY SPIRIT LED HIM.
This should not be excluded nonetheless. The "door to door" thing has already been dominated by the Jehovah's Witness crowd.
We are given our GREAT COMMISSION in Mt. 28:19-20....any who claim Christ Jesus should be following this. We live in a much different time than Paul...for the foundations of the Christian Church (NOT CATHOLIC) were spread abroad not only by the disciples, but those who had been discipled, as well as the 70 that Jesus sent out; two by two to spread the Word.

ANY who are born again NEED to realize that we are all called to bear witness to what Jesus has done for us; and spread the Gospel in any way that is PROVEN effective///// If you feel led to go door to door...so be it.

Answer 4

it doesnt mean the jehova witnesses KNOW the truth, it only means that Jesus taught door to door, therefore he cannot be blamed for teaching the gospel when certain people choose NOT to beleive in it.
while i acknolwedge that JW's are well studied, I also know So were the pharisees and saducess, and Yet they came together and believed in false doctrines. believing in false teachings and incorrect traditions is something that the WHOLE Religious world is guilty of.
in addition though i bear witness of jesus christ, I cannot prove i know all things Except that there is a God.

There was one example of going door to door that I was visited by a voice that declared there was someone in the area looking for the kingdom of God. I truly went from door to door and found several people that wanted to talk about Religion and i found someone who was taking JW lessons, but at the time I was LDS and believed the LDS church was the only true church on earth. WHY? because the prophet Joseph Smith was told not to join any church and was led by Jesus to Organize and RESTORE the church of jesus christ because the whole world had apostatized.

Answer 5

While it might be a good idea to evangelize from house to house if you feel lead to you must remember Paul lived in an age with no television and radio and no established churches. Paul was an evangelist and felt a call to go to the homes of believers and preach to the public because he had good news he felt he should share. with others. He did not have access to the multimedia of today's evangelists, like Billy Graham.

Answer 6

I agree with the latter point...Paul went to the houses of other believers and taught....group study. The key word is believers...believers got together in small groups to help guide, , correct, strengthen, teach, uplift and energize each other...so they could go out into the world and spread the word.

He mainly preached to "unbelievers" in public, where he had a large audience...."open preaching."

Answer 7

"While I did not hold back from telling YOU any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching YOU publicly and from house to house." - Acts 20:20

The only ones who go from house to house and speak about the Kingdom for which we pray for so long (some people don't realise it): "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME (which is Jehovah) be sanctified. Let your KINGDOM come." - Matthew 6:9,10
CHRISTIANS are commanded to "make disciples of people of all the nations," but this does not mean that they are to use pressure or convert others by force. Jesus' commission was to "tell good news to the meek ones," to "bind up the brokenhearted," to "comfort all the mourning ones." (Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18, 19) Jehovah's Witnesses seek to do this by declaring the good news from the Bible. Like the prophet Ezekiel of old, Jehovah's Witnesses today try to find those who "are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done."—Ezekiel 9:4.

The best-known way they use to find those who are distressed by present conditions is by going from house to house. Thus they make a positive effort to reach the public, just as Jesus did when "he went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God." His early disciples did likewise. (Luke 8:1; 9:1-6; 10:1-9) Today, where it is possible, Jehovah's Witnesses endeavor to call at each home several times a year, seeking to converse with the householder for a few minutes on some local or world topic of interest or concern. A scripture or two may be offered for consideration, and if the householder shows interest, the Witness may arrange to call back at a convenient time for further discussion. Bibles and literature explaining the Bible are made available, and if the householder desires, a home Bible study is conducted free of charge. Millions of these helpful Bible studies are conducted regularly with individuals and families throughout the world.

Jehovah's Witnesses try to recommend the good news to others in this way also: by being exemplary in the Christian conduct that they recommend to others. They try to 'do unto others as they would have others do unto them.' (Matthew 7:12) They try to be this way with all men, not just with fellow Witnesses, friends, neighbors, or relatives. Being imperfect, they do not always succeed 100 percent. But it is the desire of their hearts to do good unto all people not only in telling them the good news of the Kingdom but also in extending a helping hand whenever possible.—James 2:14-17.

Answer 8

And yet, only eleven verses earlier, Paul preached a young man to sleep and out a second story window. Best stick to the churches.

Answer 9

The passage is an archetype for pastors and priests. Visiting families, conducting these visits for religious purposes, not simply for ceremony, and teaching in private what is also taught in public.

Answer 10

I would say it is aboy him visiting different homes of believers but I do not think he went uninvited.