Bible Study series: Acts 20:13-38. This is powerful.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn. Let’s learn together and apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn, so the translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
If you want to see the Greek text, click here:
At that link, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek.
I also write a summary for discipleship at the very bottom. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 20:13-38
13 We went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, and from there we were about to pick up Paul. For thus it had been arranged that he intended to go on foot. 14 And so he met up with us in Assos, and when we picked him up, we went to Mitylene. 15 From there we sailed off the next day and landed off Chios. And the next day we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided sail past Ephesus, so that he would not spend time in Asia, for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they reached him, he said to them:
“You yourselves understand that from the first day when I arrived in Asia how I spent the entire time with you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and being tested by what happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I withheld nothing profitable in announcing to you and teaching you in public and in households, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now consider! I am bound by the Spirit I go to Jerusalem, without knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except in every town the Holy Spirit testifies to me, saying that chains and troubles await me. 24 But on no account do I make my life precious to me, as I complete my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, testifying of the good news of the grace of God.
25 “And now consider! I know that all of you among whom I have traveled, proclaiming the kingdom, shall no longer see my face. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of anyone’s blood, 27 for I have not hesitated to announce to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Guard yourselves and the entire flock, over whom the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, shepherding the church of God, whom he had acquired through his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure ferocious wolves shall come in to your midst, not sparing the flock. 30 And from among yourselves men shall arise, speaking seductive things so as to draw disciples away for themselves. 31 Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.
32 “And so now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you the inheritance among everyone who is sanctified. 33 I did not covet gold or silver or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my needs and to those who were with me. 35 In all respects I showed you that by laboring in this way you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than receive.’”
36 And when he said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 There was a lot of weeping from all of them, as they fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him. 38 They felt pain, particularly at the statement which he had said that they were no longer going to see his face. Then they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:13-38)
Comments:
Introduction to the Speech
This long discourse can be divided into small sections, as follows:
1. Paul and team arrives in Miletus (vv. 13-16)
2.. Paul’s retrospective on ministering in Ephesus (vv. 17-21)
3.. Misgivings about destination to Jerusalem (vv. 22-24)
4. His charge to elders (vv. 25-31)
5.. Final admonition (vv. 32-35)
6. Tearful partings (vv. 36-38)
Now let’s begin the verse by verse commentary.
13-16:
This new direction to go on foot allows Paul to remain behind, perhaps to ensure Eutychus was well. Paul was tracking along the coast, and then he went to islands. He did not stay long in each place, so he must have trusted that the believers on the mainland would be led by the Spirit to evangelize the inhabitants on the islands. This must have happened some time in history, because Christianity got there. I don’t know the history of the spread of the gospel on those islands.
Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, as Luke says, because the Christian community was large there, and they would have detained him a long time. It is okay not to stop by close friends, when the journey has a restricted time schedule. In other words, it is okay to say no, but Paul did arrange to see the elders of Ephesus.
As to the feast of Pentecost, as noted at vv. 5-6, Paul left behind the old law, but he still honored feasts. What he could not allow into the New Covenant was the Old Sinai Covenant (Ex. 19), with its accompanying curses and judgments and wrath.
17-18:
This speech is akin to Samuel’s farewell speech to the nation: 1 Samuel 12.
Before we begin the speech itself, let’s look at this table of parallels:
|
Key Terms, Concepts, and Practices In Paul’s Speech in Acts 20:17-38 and His Epistles |
||
| Unit | Acts 20:17-38 | Epistles |
| 1 | Serve as slave (19) | Serve as slaves (Rom. 12:11; 14:18; 16:18; Col. 3:24; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 6:2) |
| 2 | Repentance (21) | Repentance (Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25; 2 Cor. 12:21) |
| 3 | Faith in Jesus (21) | Faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:22, 26; Gal. 2:16, 20; 3:26; Eph. 1:15; Phil. 3:9; Col. 1:4; 1 Tim. 3:13; Phm. 5) |
| 4 | Ministry received from Lord Jesus (24) | Ministry from God (Rom. 11:13; 2 Cor. 4:1; 5:18; 1 Tim. 1:12) |
| 5 | Grace of God (24, 32) | Grace (Rom. 4:16; 5:21; 2 Cor. 4:15; 9:14 Gal. 2:21; 3:18 and so on) |
| 6 | Gospel (24) | Gospel (Rom. 1:1, 9, 16; 15:16, 19; 2 Cor. 2:12; 9:13; Eph. 1:13; and so on) |
| 7 | Kingdom of God (25) | Kingdom (Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20; 6:9-10; 15:24, 50; Eph. 2:2; 5:5; Col. 1:12, 13; 4:11; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:1, 18 |
| 8 | Counsel of God (27) | Counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11) |
| 9 | Overseers appointed (28) | Overseers (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7) |
| 10 | Obtained (purchased, redeemed) church (28) | Purchased, redemption of people (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; Gal. 3:13; 4:5 (the verb differs by the idea is the same); Eph. 1:14 |
| 11 | Church is ekklēsia (28) | Church is ekklēsia (Rom. 16:1, 4, 5, 16, 23; Eph. 1:22; 3:10, 21 (and so on) |
| 12 | Blood sacrifice of God / Christ (28) | Blood sacrifice of Christ (Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:20) |
| 13 | Warning (31) | Warning (Rom. 15:14; 1 Cor. 4:14; Col. 1:28, 3:16, 1 Thess. 5:12, 14; 2 Thess. 3:15; Tit. 1:11.) |
| 13 | Build up (32) | Build up, edify (Rom. 14:19; 15:2, 20; 1 Cor. 3:9; 8:1, 10; 10:23; 14:3, 4, 5, 17; 2 Cor. 5:1; Gal. 2:18; 1 Thess. 5:11) |
| 14 | Inheritance (32) | Inheritance, inherit (Rom. 4:13, 14; 8:17; Gal. 3:18, 29; 4:1, 7; Eph. 1:14, 18; 5:5; Col. 3:24; Tit. 3:7) |
| 15 | Sanctify (32) | Sanctify (Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1:30; 6:11; 7:14; Eph. 5:26; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Tim. 4:5; 2 Tim. 2:21) |
| 16 | He did not covet gold or silver or clothing | He did not use ministry as a mask for greed (1 Thess 2:5 1 Tim 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7, 11). |
| 17 | Worked with his own hands (34) | Work with his / your hands (1 Cor. 4:12; 9:12; 2 Cor 11:7; 12:13; Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 2:9; 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:7-8) |
| 18 | Remember the weak and poor (35) | Help the week and poor: (Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14; Eph. 4:28; Gal. 6:2) |
Paul delivered this speech in a pastoral setting, not as legal defense nor a polemical speech in an uncoverted and sometimes hostile environment. Luke heard it, and it sounds like Paul in his epistles, so Luke was accurate.
In this brief section: while Paul was with them, he was open with them, holding nothing back.
Paul remained in the town Miletus, which is south of Ephesus. The messenger going to Ephesus and the elders coming down from there to Miletus would not take so much time that Paul’s haste to get to Jerusalem would have delayed until after Pentecost. In other words, the there-and-back-again journey was doable. He may not have been able to leave Miletus because the ship may depart without him and Ephesus may not have been safe for him after the major riot (Polhill, comments on vv. 13-16).
The elders from Ephesus reached the town Miletus in good timing.
“church”: In Greek it is ekklēsia (pronounced ek-klay-see-ah) and the meaning has roots in both Hebrew and Greek. It literally describes an assembly or gathering. It literally means “the ones called out” or “the called out” or “the summoned” who gather together.
Please see these posts a fuller definition.
Fellowship is so important for believers. Don’t believe the lie circulating in American society, particularly in social media, that not going to church is good enough. People who skip constant fellowship are prone to sin and self-deception and satanic attacks. We need each other.
This link has a list of the famous “one another” verses, like “love one another.”
Further, since American Christianity is undergoing discussion on the sizes of churches, let me add: the earliest Christian community met either in houses (Acts 2:46) or in Solomon’s Colonnade in Jerusalem (Acts 3:11; 5:12) or a large number in Antioch (11:26), which could hold a large gathering—call it a mega-church—and presumably in mid-sized gatherings. Size does not matter, since it varies so widely.
Moreover, one thing that impresses me about all those above links, is that the apostles, as they planted churches, were guided by the Spirit—always—and they were also deliberate about setting them up and establishing them. Planning is Scriptural. So wisdom says: listen to the Spirit and plan. Listen as you plan and be ready to drop your plans at a moment notice, when the Spirit says so. God will grow the church as we proclaim the good news.
19:
“serving”: it comes from the verb for being a slave, but slavery was different back then. Often people were freed after good service. I translated it “serving,” but one could say bond-serving, meaning a “deep, legal attachment” to God. Paul is simply saying with rhetorical force that he was all in, and he was bound to Christ who purchased him with his blood.
“humility”: Yes, the noun means “humility” and “modesty,” and it is used only here and in Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:3; Col. 2:18, 23; 3:12; 1 Pet. 5:5. So we have to have a humble attitude, but don’t allow hyper-humility or excessive humility to creep in, or else you will grovel and crawl on your knees (so to speak) everywhere you go. Rather, humility can stand tall on both legs and walk confidently. If Paul did not have some confidence, then he could never have pioneered a church in Ephesus and ones elsewhere. In Phil. 2:3, we are supposed to have this attitude, and the passage goes on to point to Jesus. We should be like him. He was on a mission and had a purpose. He was not self-focused, so he did not become arrogant or hyper-humble. He was God-focused and mission-minded, so he walked confidently.
In this verse Paul is reminding the Ephesian elders that he suffered to plant the church. Men who will rise up from among themselves (vv. 39-31) don’t have this authority. So be on the alert!
20:
“in public and in households”: the gospel can and must go into different forums or platforms. In Paul’s day it was public marketplaces and in houses. And both can be the right place at the right time even today. Now we can preach on blogs and websites. All of it works together so the gospel can spread.
21:
“testifying”: the verb can also mean “bear witness to” or “testify.” In these contexts it always means witnessing or testifying through the power of the Spirit.
“repentance”: it comes from the noun metanoia (pronounced meh-tah-noi-ah), which literally means “change of mind”; however, throughout the New Testament, it means more than that. It means regret and turning around and going in the other direction, and it must bear fruit (Matt. 3:8; Acts 20:21; 2 Cor. 7:9-10; Heb. 6:6). It is a radical life change.
“faith”: Its basic meaning is the “belief, trust, confidence,” and it can also mean “faithfulness” and “trustworthy” (Mounce p. 232). It is directional, and the best direction is faith in God (Mark 11:22; 1 Thess. 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 6:1) and faith in Jesus (Acts 3:16; 20:21; 24:24; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Tim. 3:13). Believing (verb) and faith (noun) is very important to God. We live on earth and by faith see the invisible world where God is. We must believe he exists; then we must exercise our faith to believe he loves us and intends to save us. We must have saving faith by trusting in Jesus and his finished work on the cross.
Recall this true acronym:
F-A-I-T-H
=
Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
Word Study on Faith and Faithfulness
22-23:
Paul now prepares them for his absence.
“consider!”: it is the standard Greek (and Hebrew) term that is usually translated as “behold!” It is a way of saying, “listen up!” or “amazing!”
“bound”: it simply means to “tie” or “bind.” NIV has “compelled by the Spirit,” and NLT: “drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit.” NAS has “bound in spirit.” The problem with the NAS’s translation is that the definite article means the phrase should be translated as the others have it.
It is amazing that in every town the Spirit speaks to him that troubles wait for him. Evidently, the church had prophets or at least prophetic persons in every community. Here is a sample:
We sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload the cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. They kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to go on to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:3-4)
In this case, the interpretation was wrongheaded. Paul was compelled or bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. It was a “God idea,” not a “good idea,” that comes from the mind of man. Sometimes the two sources of ideas overlap, but often they do not.
Another sample:
10 While we stayed there several days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He approached us and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem shall bind the man whose belt this is and turn him over to the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the local residents urged that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart in pieces? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he was not persuaded, we kept quiet and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:10-14)
Note that Agabus did not say, “Thou shalt not go!” He simply informed Paul what awaits him. It is the interpretation of his words that went too far. Please go to Acts 21:4 and 10-14 to find a more thorough exegesis.
“without knowing”: Sometimes God will lead us towards a future that is very vague and unclear. All Paul knew was that chains and troubles were ahead. Now that’s scary! Most Christians today would rebuke these thoughts and plans. I might too!
“troubles”: in Greek it is the noun thlipsis (pronounced th’leep-sees, and be sure to pronounce the p in ps). It can be translated as “affliction” or “oppression.”
24:
“no account”: In other words, Paul accounting book was blank measured against the life Christ had for him. In Christ, his accounting book was full. See v. 2 for a fuller discussion.
“precious”: it means “value, precious, costly, of great worth.” Paul was ready to die for Jesus, if that’s what Jesus wanted. Am I ready to die for the right cause, which is Jesus? I’m not ready to die for an inferior cause, like some vague thing called “justice.” But by God’s grace if he leads us to die for him, then only by God’s grace! Now don’t be morbid and believe Jesus leads to death. No, John 10:10 says he came to give abundant life.
“life”: it comes from the noun psuchē, and see v. 10 for a closer look.
“course”: it means a “race course,” or “course or career.” It is used only here and in 2 Tim. 4:7; Acts 13:25. It is not difficult to imagine a race track or perhaps better—an obstacle course.
“ministry”: it is the Greek noun diakonia (pronounced dee-ah-koh-nee-ah), and it means, depending on the context, “service,” “office,” “ministry,” or “aid, support, distribution.” The NIV says “task” here. Yes, we get our word deacon from it (1 Tim. 3:10, 13). It evolved into a position at church for a man (or woman) who did practical service, to help the pastor, so he (or she) could focus on the Word of God. But this does not limit the deacons’ service away from the Word, as we have observed with Philip and Stephen, who preached the gospel. Paul meant the term more broadly than practical service, though it meant that too for him. It was his entire apostolic ministry.
“received from the Lord Jesus Christ”: Paul got his ministry from Jesus himself (Acts 9:1-19); Gal. 1:11-24; 2:6-10). His authority depended on no one else.
“testifying”: In this context it means that in town after town the Spirit spoke prophetically through the prophetically gifted—prophets, in other words. This is more evidence that the charismata or gifts listed in 1 Cor. 12:7-11 were in operation, and in the Corinthian passage Paul was merely summarizing what he had seen in all of his churches. The entire book of Acts is very charismatic, even though Luke does not mention the fulness and power of the Spirit in every other verse. He expects us to assume it because of apostolic authority and the Spirit’s love for the people of God.
“good news”: it is the noun euangelion (pronounced yew-ahn-geh-lee-on, and the “g” is hard, as in “get”). Used 76 times in the NT, it combines eu– (good or positive) angel (message or announcement, and yes we get our word angel from Greek). The gospel announces salvation through Jesus Christ—a new “sheriff” is in town or on earth. Or if the sheriff imagery is displeasing to some, then the King of kings and Lord of lords has arrived, and he has a new revelation about God’s love for humanity and a new path right into his presence. The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16), so charismatic power is built into it. It announces the coming of the kingdom of God or a new way that God relates to the world, though it has roots in the OT (Mark 1:15). The gospel brings out a response in people, positively or negatively (Matt. 26:13; Mark 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:14a; 2 Cor. 2:12). (Personally, I believe that humans have enough free will to resist the gospel until the day they die, but they do not have enough free will to strut into salvation without the Word or the gospel communicated in some fashion, even in a dream about Jesus, which is happening in the Muslim world). The Greek word is described as the “gospel of grace” (Acts 20:24) (as distinct from the law of Moses), the “gospel of salvation” (Eph. 1:13), and the “gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:19).
It is the good news about Jesus, not the bad news about him.
“grace”: it comes from Greek noun charis (pronounced khah-rees) and has these meanings, depending on the context: graciousness, attractiveness; favor, gracious care, help or goodwill, practical application of goodwill; a gracious deed or gift, benefaction. In some contexts, it means “exceptional effects produced by divine grace,” in other words, empowerment to accomplish a task.
Here is a quick definition. God’s grace means he gladly shows his unmerited goodness or love to those who have forfeited it and are by nature under a sentence of condemnation.
Good news! We do not have to suffer condemnation for our past sins because God hands us his grace.
In his absence, Paul charges the elders to watch the flock and guard against wolves.
25:
“kingdom”: Jesus spoke often about the kingdom of God. He ushered it in, and at the birth of the church in Acts 2 it is now about to expand beyond Israel. It is for everyone who receives him into their hearts and becomes his followers. When that happens, they enter into his light; receive clarity; enjoy an intimate relationship with the Father through Christ and the Spirit; live a consecrated life through his resurrection power and in the Spirit and by his power. And so the kingdom makes all the difference in the world—by creating a new world, a new kingdom, he creates a new you, a new life.
Bible Basics about the Kingdom of God
Questions and Answers about Kingdom of God
Basic Definition of Kingdom of God
1 Introducing the Kingdom of God (begin a ten-part series)
26:
Paul is saying that the Ephesian elders and the church they are about to lead have received everything he had to offer. He explained to them the basics of the gospel, and even judgment. See the epistle to the Ephesians, which Paul wrote later, for a rundown of the doctrines and ethical imperatives Paul must have taught.
Bruce: “Like Ezekiel’s trustworthy watchman, he has sounded the trumpet so that all the province of Asia had heard. If there were any who paid no heed, their blood would be on their head: Paul was free of responsibility for their doom” (comment on vv. 25-27).
The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. (Ezek. 33:1-9, NIV)
27:
“whole counsel of God”: “counsel” is the noun boulē (pronounced boo-lay), and BDAG is the authoritative Greek lexicon, and it defines the term thus: (1) “that which one thinks about as possibility for action, plan, purpose, intention”; (2) “that which one decides, resolution, decision”; (3) it can even be a council that takes up proposals and deliberates, council meeting. Here it is the first definition. It is used 12 times, and 9 times in Luke-Acts. He favors this word. Believers need the fullest teaching of the Scriptures and God’s ways, not just the Happy Highlights. See v. 21 which discusses repentance, which is an elementary teaching. People need to go beyond these elementary teachings, and v. 21 is parallel to Heb. 6:1-2, which lists more elementary doctrines that disciples need to move beyond.
28:
“Holy Spirit”: Paul must have prayed to find out from God who should be the overseers of the church. The Spirit revealed them to Paul. Bruce: “It may be implied that their commission to take pastoral responsibility for the church had been conveyed through prophetic utterances, in which the direction of the Spirit was recognized … If they commission was received through prophetic utterances, they received it no doubt because they were known to be those on whom the requisite qualifications for this work had been bestowed—and bestowed by the same Spirit whose will was declared by prophetic utterances” (comment on v. 28). Recall that Paul and Barnabas were prophetically appointed as missionaries after prayer and fasting (Acts 13:1-3). The sweep of the book of Acts is very charismatic, without announcing it at every other verse.
For systematic theology:
The Spirit’s Deity and Divine Attributes
The Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Spirit in the Church and Believers
“acquired by his blood”: the verb “acquired” can mean “obtain, gain for oneself” (in middle voice). It can mean “save or preserve for oneself.” It is used only here and in 1 Tim. 3:13.
This verse supports the deity of Christ and the Trinity. The only person of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who acquired the church by his blood is Jesus. And the only antecedent to the pronoun “he” is God. In other words, “he” refers back to God in the previous clause. Therefore Jesus is God in the flesh. However, it could be translated as “he acquired by the blood of his own (Son).” So be cautious in using it to prove his deity. There are other verses, noted at the links, below.
The Trinity: What Are the Basics?
The Trinity: Why Would God Seem So Complicated?
The Trinity: What Are Some Illustrations?
The Trinity: What Does He Mean to Me?
4. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Took the Form of a Servant
29:
“wolves”: they are people who do not want to help people, but who help themselves to people. They lead people astray. Now what are the seductive people and things that lead people off the path of Jesus? In Paul’s days the wolves might be legalistic Messianic Jews who imposed circumcision on people as necessary for salvation. Or the wolves might be pagan Ephesians who found out that Christianity is growing, so they steal some elements of the “Way” and transform them into Christo-paganism. The fancy word for that is syncretism or mixing the gospel of Jesus with pagan teaching, like flesh is bad, and only the spirit is good. John the Apostle had to deal with this false teaching called proto-Gnosticism, in the Greek east in his first epistle.
Shepherds, watch over your flock! Don’t allow wacky teachings in to their midst!
30:
“draw … away”: the verb is used only four times in the NT: here, Acts 20:30; Matt. 26:51; Luke 22:41. And it means as it does here: “draw,” draw away, attract,” and “be parted” or an extra-strong goodbye.
The imagery of wolves has an OT foundation:
7 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. (Ezek. 22:27, NIV)
Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her rulers are evening wolves,
who leave nothing for the morning. (Zeph. 3:3, NIV)
31:
Paul is saying that he is the one who paid the price to plant the church at Ephesus. When men arise among their own community and seduce people away, they do not have the same authority as he did. He spent night and day in tears shoring up their faith.
“warning”: it is the verb, which only Paul uses in the NT: Acts 20:31; Rom. 15:14; 1 Cor. 4:14; Col. 1:28, 3:16, 1 Thess. 5:12, 14; 2 Thess. 3:15; Tit. 1:11. It means, yes, “warn,” and also the synonyms “admonish” or “instruct.” It combines the word nou– (mind) and thē (to put or place), so it really means “put in mind.”
Peterson expounds on the application of vv. 29-31 for us today:
The church of Ephesus certainly had to deal with heretical forces after Paul’s departure (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:15; Rev. 2:1-7) However, the warning has a wider application for Christian leaders to attract others to their own way of thinking, to satisfy a deep-seated need for approval or popularity (Cf. Gal. 4:17-18). Pastors need to be realistic about the way sin can manipulate itself in distortions of the truth and create destructive divisions among Christians. Paul’s solution was for the elders to watch out for themselves.” (comment on vv. 29-31)
Paul commends them to God, reminding them that while he was with them he worked during his ministry, so the elders must not covet gold or silver or clothing.
32:
“inheritance”: it is used 14 times in the NT, and in the synoptics Gospels it really means inheritance or land from a father or a guardian to the heir (Matt. 21:38 // Mark 12:7; Luke 20:14). In the other passages it is salvation (Acts 20:32; Eph. 1:18; Heb. 9:5). Saving inheritance is not given by the law, but by faith (Gal. 3:18). It is the reward of the believers (Col. 3:24; Eph. 5:5). Peter says it is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter. 1:4). Best of all, the Holy Spirit is the deposit of our heavenly inheritance. Our inheritance is our Spirit-filled life down on earth and our Spirit-filled life in heaven. So there are heavenly and earthly aspects to the term.
“sanctified”: the verb means to “make holy” or very awkwardly “holy-ize” or “holy-fy.” Paul’s theology of salvation and sanctification from his epistles works out like this: (1) salvation comes by the born-again experience, which is produced by the Spirit. This happens instantly. (2) Salvation, in a package deal, must include God declaring you to be righteous and holy. If he did not do this, then we could never achieve the right level of holiness and righteousness by our own efforts and works to make it into God’s pure presence when we die. (3) After we are saved and declared holy and righteous (the distinction is logical, rather than chronological), the Spirit breaks sin’s dominion and power and control over our lives so that we can embark on the long, daily journey that every believer is sent on, by the leadership of the Spirit. This third step is called sanctification.
Salvation and sanctification are linked, but distinct. Don’t confuse the two, or you will work yourself to death—to an early grave, because you can never do enough to be holy enough. Grace first. Empowerment by the Spirit second. The Spirit working sanctification in you, third.
Word Study on Holiness and Sanctification
Being Justified in Paul’s Epistles
33-34:
“covet”: it means “eagerly desire,” “long for.” It can perhaps be translated as “lust.” Too much covetousness has infiltrated the American church. Yes, pastors and leaders of parachurch ministries can get salaries, when the donations come in from Joe Factoryworker and Jane Shopkeeper (Acts 18:5; 1 Cor. 9:14; Gal 6:6), but massive salaries which enable these leaders to buy luxury items that Joe and Jane could never afford is wrong. Church planters must be willing to work, as Paul said he did in Corinth (Acts 18:3).
Coveting silver and gold is the way of sinful human nature, but what about clothing? Why would Paul or someone else have to resist the temptation to covet it? Clothing was expensive and difficult to make.
“these hands”: he surely held them up when he said those words.
35:
This is a great definition of prosperity. God gives us material possessions so that we can be a blessing to those who are weaker and needier. We must be a conduit through which God’s money and possession can flow. Wise, old saying: “If God can get it through you, he will get it to you.”
These words of Jesus did not make it into the four Gospels, even in Luke’s gospel. This shows that numerous of his sayings circulated around the early church, and we have only a fraction of them, as John said at the end of his Gospel (21:25).
“must”: In this context, Paul is saying it is a divine necessity to help the weak and poor.
“weak”: NIV translates it in this way, as it appears throughout the NT: sick, weak (most often), lay sick, disabled, feel weak, invalid, sickness, weakened, weakening.
Paul does not always work when the circumstance is right (18:5; cf. Gal. 6:6), but here he had to demonstrate that he did not rob people out of his greed. Paul’s enemies must have been criticizing him and distancing the flock away from him. So Paul is driving home the point that his motives were honorable.
36-38:
This is a very, very moving scene. Luke witnessed it with his own eyes. The Ephesian elders and Paul were “tight”; that is, they had a very close relationship. When I translated it, I admit I got a little “dust” in my eye, so I needed a small tear to get the “dust” out.
When it says “embracing,” it literally says “they fell on Paul’s neck.” Their embrace was strong and tender.
And kissing does not mean on the lips, it was just on the cheek. It is easy to see that Paul’s neck was moistened with tears.
Finally, “felt pain”: the verb is used only by Luke: 2:48; 16:24, 25; and here. BDAG is considered by many to be the authoritative Greek lexicon, and it says, “to experience mental and spiritual pain, be pained, distressed.”
It is touching to see how they felt the strongest stab of pain at his words that they would never see his face again. Very moving.
Well done, Luke, in your portrayal of the scene.
I like how Bock sums up the entire speech:
The key to all of this is found in what Paul commends to them as he departs: God’s grace and God’s word. Both the attitude and tone of grace and the content of the word serve as protections for the church. In fact, in many ways, the subject of the speech is not so much Paul as what God has done through him. … If one is open to God, then such ministry is possible, even though it can be fought with danger.” (comment on vv. 36-38)
GrowApp for Acts 20:13-38
Pick three.
1. In 18:21, Paul told the Ephesians that he would return to them, “God willing.” In 19:1, he did. So God willed it. Here he sailed past Ephesus and landed south, at Miletus, and summoned the elders from Ephesus. Lesson: sometimes God works in roundabout ways. How has God fulfilled your personal calling in surprising ways? Do you have a story to tell?
2. Paul testified about repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Tell you story of repentance and faith in Jesus. How has this changed your life? Tell your story.
3. Paul preached the grace of God. What does God’s saving grace mean to you?
4. Paul warns of false teachers, fierce wolves, infiltrating the church. Are you alert to teachers who take you away from God’s grace and draw you away from the church to themselves?
5. Paul did not covet gold or silver or clothing. Do you belong to a church that is modest in its appeal for funds? Or do you belong to a covetous church?
6. They felt pain at Paul’s departure. How have you recovered when someone left your life, never to be seen again?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 