Acts Chapter 20 Verses 17-27

Acts 20:17 “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

 “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” Paul knowing they would see his face no more called for the elders of the church at Ephesus.  These are the same elders of which he had been the principal teacher.  As a father in the ministry to his sons in the ministry he was giving to them final instructions, encouragement, and exhortation of their responsibilities as pastors and teachers.

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,” Paul knew that he had been the main example to these young preachers of how a minister of the gospel should conduct himself.  This teaches us as older ministers we should consider ourselves as the main example for those younger ministers who are coming up under us. 

“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:” Paul points out to the young ministers his example of serving the Lord with all humility of mind.  First we are to be servants of the Lord.  As we serve the Lord’s people we are serving the Lord.  Moreover we are to serve Him and His people with all humility of mind.  This principle is also taught us by the Lord’s example taught to us in Phil. 2:3-8: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

“And with many tears:” A gospel minister is invested emotionally to the people he serves.  There are times when he will cry because of the conditions and failings of those he serves.  Sometimes he will cry along with them in their losses of companions and family members and in their struggles of life.  Other times he will have tears of joy when they respond to the teachings of the word of God. 

“And temptations:” Testing to God’s children is a way of life.  We are often put to the test by trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions in our lives.  Paul went through a great number of these in his life and is a great example for us as he abided faithful to the Lord throughout it all. 

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,” Paul’s teaching was a thorough teaching to the young ministers coming up under his preaching and teaching.  Paul not only taught them publicly, but he also went to their homes and taught them privately as well.  Thus he studied with them in their homes. 

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Paul testified both to the Jews and to the Greeks.   He didn’t single out special privileges or favoritism to nationality or ethnic group.  Today we should not show favoritism based on background or skin color of the people we are to serve. Moreover what we teach should include repentance toward God (we all come to serve the Lord as sinners and in need of changing our behavior) and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:”  Paul spoke of going bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem.  Paul knew that the Spirit had directed him to go to Jerusalem regardless of what might befall him there.  A bond means you are not free to do your own thing.  This reminds me of my first experience of being called to pastor a church.  At the time I had felt my labor might be at one or two other churches.  But when I realized the Lord had another direction for me I knew that if I didn’t do His bidding I would greatly regret it. 

Moreover in responding to this leadership of the Spirit Paul did not know what would befall him there.  Often times gospel ministers are to go not knowing what may await them as they go. 

“Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”  Paul by the Holy Ghost witnessed the gospel of Jesus Christ in every city where he went.  Along with that witness bonds and afflictions abode with Paul.  A preacher should not let the prospect of bonds and afflictions deter him from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  Paul refused to let the beatings, the stonings, the times he spent in jail or anything else he suffered to move him from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Moreover, he did not count his own life dear unto himself so that he might finish his course with joy and preach that which he had received of the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”  Paul knew that he would see these young ministers any more to whom he had preached and taught the kingdom of God.  Thus this final address to them was being directed life a father on his death bed might make to his children.  

"Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

Being pure from the blood of all men is a reference to the book of Ezekiel chapter 3:17-21: Ezek. 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.”  Up to this point Paul had related his own experiences and examples to the young ministers of the church at Ephesus.  In the remaining verses of this chapter we have presented to us the final instruction Paul gave to the young ministers of the church at Ephesus. 

Verses 28-38

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”  With this verse Paul begins to teach, admonish, encourage and exhort the young ministers of the church at Ephesus. 

First he tells them to take heed unto themselves.  The preaching and teaching of the word of God must first be applied to our own life.  If we don’t apply it to our self how can we expect those to whom we preach and teach to apply it to their lives?

 

Second, we are to take heed to all the flock.  We should avoid favoritism or only applying our ministry to those we feel the closest to.  We need to concern ourselves with knowing the needs of each member of the flock so that we can minister to the needs of all the flock.  We should remember that the Lord loves everyone of them. 

 

Third, it is the Holy Ghost that makes us overseers.  The church does not make us overseers without the leadership and direction of the Holy Ghost. 

 

Fourth, we have a duty to feed the church of God.  The food we feed them is the word of God.   We must remember the Lord knows what each member needs and we need to preach and teach the messages the Lord gives us through the leadership of the Holy Ghost.

 

Fifth, we need to always remember that those to whom we are preaching are those which Christ has purchased with his own blood.

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”  Here Paul describes some as grievous wolves.  Wolves devour sheep for their own selfish pleasure.  In other words they come in to make merchandise of the Lord’s people for their selfish gain.  He speaks of these as entering in amongst them.  That is they join the church for selfish reasons to make merchandise of the church members. 

The second group of people arise within the congregation and through pride want to have disciples or followers after themselves.  Their means of doing this is to speak perverse things.  This has literally happened hundreds of times in the 2+ centuries since the time of Christ.  It is the reason there are so many denominations in the world today. 

Therefore it is necessary for God’s called ministers to be watchful.  This was considered by Paul to be so important that he warned them night and day for three years with tears. 

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”  First Paul commended these brethren to God.  God is to be first in the gospel minister’s life as well as in each of the disciples lives.

Second, Paul commended them to the word of his grace.  The word of God’s grace is something we need to be constantly mindful of.  The word of God’s grace is able to build us up in the faith.  Moreover, the word of God’s grace gives us an inheritance (possession) among all of them that are sanctified.  Please note that the preaching and belief of God’s grace does not give us an eternal inheritance, but rather it gives us through obedience to a possession (gospel kingdom) here in time with those through their obedience to the call to repentance, water baptism, and serving the Lord in his church kingdom on earth. 

“I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.”  With this statement Paul destroyed the message of those who preach a so-called prosperity gospel. 

“Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  The true God called ministers are often confronted with whether to work to supply their needs and those that are with them (their family) or to depend on the supply of the church.  Oftentimes those churches that many of God’s ministers serve are small congregations with very limited means.  In such circumstances it is necessary for God’s ministers to follow the example and precept Paul gave to the elder at Ephesus. 

“And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.”  Before Paul departed he prayed with the brethren.  This is a fitting end of Paul’s time with them.  Certainly the disciples sorrow to see Paul leave was clearly manifest here.