Acts 20:17

“And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, etc.] 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, (<442028>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…”

“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.”

“He sent to Ephesus - Perhaps a distance of twenty or thirty miles. The elders of the church - Who had been appointed while he was there to take charge of the church. See the notes on Acts 15:2. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Sending to Ephesus, he called the elders of the Church - These are called bishops in Act 20:28, (rendered overseers in our translation.) Perhaps elders and bishops were then the same; or no otherwise different than are the rector of a parish and his curates. Acts 20:18”

“20:17 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.”

“the elders: Act 20:28, Act 11:30, Act 14:23, Act 15:4, Act 15:6, Act 15:23, Act 16:4; Ti1 5:17; Tit 1:5; Jam 5:14; Pe1 5:1; Jo2 1:1; Jo3 1:1 Acts 20:18”