When we read through the book of Acts, a lot of times we hop from (true) story to story. It’s no wonder, then, in Acts 20, that many of us jump straight from the account of Eutychus to the account of Paul meeting with the Ephesian elders in Miletus to exhort them. The problem with this approach is that sometimes we miss valuable moments. Moments that show us the humanity of our Biblical heroes.

In Acts 20:7-11, we find that Paul has spent a long day preaching and teaching in Troas, raising a man from the dead (by God’s power), and staying up all night preaching before an early departure Monday morning. In the midst of this exhaustion, Paul gives orders to Luke and the rest of the disciples (v. 4) to go on to Assos without him (by boat), and that he will meet them there (by foot).

There’s a lot of speculation around these verses. Some say Paul knew the dangers of that particular journey and chose rather to go on foot. That doesn’t make much sense in light of the care Paul had for others. He wouldn’t put them in harm’s way while going a safer route himself. So, I tend to side with others who believe that Paul chose to walk to Assos alone (a 25-31 mile, 2 day journey) because he needed his only company to be Almighty God.

When we read down in Acts 20:22-23, we see that Paul tells the elders from Ephesus that he doesn’t know what awaits him in Jerusalem, only that the Spirit has told him there will be chains and tribulations.If you know things like that are coming, what do you think your mindset is like? I, for one, would probably be going over every single possibility of what could happen to me when I arrived. Will I be scourged? Will I be stoned? Will I be beaten? Will I be run out of cities? Will they attack my friends? I would go over every scenario in my mind, stressed to the point of not functioning.

Perhaps Paul is struggling with this. Perhaps he takes the road to Assos by himself because he needs time to give it all to God. This is, after all, the same Paul who wrote to us (from prison!) to be anxious for nothing, but in everything to give thanks to God..and the peace of God will guard our hearts (Philippians 4:6-7). Paul is one who practices what he preaches, and so maybe he needed a moment to cast all of his anxieties for what was to come upon his God. Or, perhaps this is Paul’s coming to terms trip. Perhaps he is having his own Gethsemane moment, longing for things to happen a different way, but ultimately giving things up to the will of God, and accepting whatever will come, however it will come. Either way, we know Paul commanded the others to go without him, and he set out on a 30 mile journey by himself toward Assos.

This story really helps me when I view the apostle Paul. It helps me see him as a real man, with struggles and hardships, and yet as a man with an attainable faith.

I can be like the apostle Paul. You can be like the apostle Paul. We just have to do things in the apostle Paul’s way. After all, he told us we could! “Imitate me as I imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).” So what kinds of things should we imitate?

Perhaps we would all do well if we would simply spend alone time with God. Too often, I am tempted to share my problems with others before I turn to my Father and cast my anxieties upon Him. Too often, my lips complain rather than ask God to conform my thoughts to His thoughts. Too often, I spread negativity instead of asking God to calm my spirit and help me to humbly approach a situation. If I would remind myself to take my own ‘road to Assos’, maybe I would be a better communicator with others. Maybe my attitude would better reflect my Savior. Maybe I would stop complaining and simply accept God’s will for my situation.

Paul had a lot coming to him, yet he trusted in God and cast all of his cares upon Him. We would do well to do the same. So, find some time to be alone with God. Give Him all your worries and cares and fears, and allow Him to calm your soul and give you peace that goes far beyond your imagination.