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The book of Acts

Paul’s farewell to the elders of Ephesus

Chapter 20:13-38

Paul’s travel companions, including Luke, sailed south for about forty miles, took Paul on board at Assos, and came to Mytilene, capital of the island of Lesbos, about twenty five miles away, which they completed in one day.

Soon leaving Mytilene, they passed by the island of Chios and landed on the island of Samos, and stayed for a few hours in the town of Trogyllium. Sailing from there they arrived the next day at Miletus, having intentionally bypassed Ephesus, because Paul was eager to reach Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost, and would not be detained longer in that region.

Paul gives us a remarkable example of an ideal servant of Christ. As he had previously been a fanatical Pharisee, now he had a special dedication to the service rendered to his Lord. He worked tirelessly, courageously, without counting the cost to himself. His life belonged to the Lord, and he had no fear of death, which he considered gain. While alive, all his efforts were dedicated to spreading the Gospel and teaching.

From Miletus Paul had sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church to come to him. When they met, Paul made a remarkable speech, reminding them of the example that he had given them, raising warnings, giving them advice and his farewell as he did not expect to see them again.

He could honestly point out to these elders the commitment and loyalty he had shown them, because from the first day he arrived in Asia, and during the whole time he was there, he served God with true humility and selflessness. Having gone through great emotional stress because of the Jews, and trials because of the snares they set up against him, he had never shied away from preaching the Gospel, both publicly and from house to house, without discriminating between Jews and Gentiles.

Paul always announced the two faces of the Gospel: repentance and faith. Without repentance, there can be no saving faith, because repentance comes when the sinner, conscious of his sin, wants to leave it knowing that he is guilty in God's judgment. However, his big problem is that he cannot leave it, and seeing himself lost, he realizes that he needs a Saviour to deliver him from sin and its punishment. Only those who go through this experience feel that they need a Saviour.

Therefore, repentance alone is of little use. It must be accompanied by faith in the Person and work of the Son of God, so that the punishment He suffered on the cross may be applied for the forgiveness of sins. He is the only Saviour available and, by God's grace, He is sufficient to cover the sins of all who believe in Him. In many passages of the New Testament, faith alone is spoken of as a condition for salvation, but faith presupposes repentance. Only he who admits his situation as lost realizes he needs a Saviour, and only with repentance can he sincerely receive Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.

Paul revealed that he was now “bound in the spirit” to Jerusalem (but it was God who directed his spirit - Romans 8:16). Paul did not know precisely in advance what was going to happen there. From town to town, the Holy Spirit told him that there were bonds and afflictions awaiting him. Paul did not clarify how this revelation came to him, but it was certainly more than just a vague feeling. God was already preparing him to face courageously what was ahead.

As he was never to see them again on earth, Paul left advices all brethren who participate in the oversight of a local church will do well to observe, i.e.:

1. To take heed to themselves, to stay strong and healthy in the faith.

2. Also, to take care of the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made ??them overseers (bishops) to feed the church of God (as do the shepherds), which was purchased with His own blood (Christ is God).

3. To watch for savage wolves coming in amongst them, not sparing the flock. They would be men rising up among them, as fierce wolves will come in among the flock to destruction. Some, even among them, would be speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Paul reminded them how for three years he had not ceased to warn each one of them about this, with tears in his eyes, night and day.

Now “he commended them to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” He reminded them of how he had never coveted any riches from them, but worked with his hands for his sustenance and of those who were with him. This showed that they must support the weak. He also quoted the Lord Jesus as saying, “it is more blessed to give than to receive”, yet these words of our Lord are not found in any of the Gospels. They do represent the sum of much of His teaching, but here they are given as an inspired addition to His words in the Gospels.

Paul ended with a prayer, kneeling with all of them. The position indicates reverence and submission. A more comfortable position is not objectionable, provided the same reverence and submission are kept in our prayers.

The separation and the premonition of Paul that he would never see them again caused great sadness to all, and they expressed this sadness by falling down on Paul's neck and kissing him.

 

R David Jones

 

 

 

13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.
15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts chapter 20 verses 13 to 38