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 shewed you, and have taught you publickly, 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. 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 shewed 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.
Paul declares to the
elders from Ephesus that he is bound in the spirit, feels compelled and
led to go to Jerusalem. It would be easy to criticize Paul for making his
journey to Rome more difficult by going to Jews he had already said he was not
going to but he is bound in the spirit, let us remember. He doesn’t know what
will happen although the Holy Ghost has shown him it will not be pleasant. He
is ready to die for Christ, though.
Verse 28 brings to mind
what Peter would say;
1Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Verse 29 is a warning
and a prophecy combined. Jesus would warn about this same thing.
Matthew
7:15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which
come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Paul will have
something to say of this in Romans.
Romans
16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye
have learned; and avoid them. 18 For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
And Peter and Jude will
warn…
2Petere
2:1 But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Jude
1:4 For there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord
God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice from verse 30
some of Paul’s words to Timothy.
1Timothy
1:18 ¶ This charge I commit unto thee,
son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou
by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding
faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have
made shipwreck;
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I
have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
2Timothy
2:14 ¶ Of these things put them in
remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to
no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to
shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun
profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a
canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is
past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2Timothy
4:3 For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables.
And John also gave
warnings.
1John
2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last
time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many
antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of
us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but
they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Also Jude.
Jude
1:4 For there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord
God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul stresses his own
faithfulness to the gospel in this passage and how he took nothing from them
but supported himself.
Acts
18:2 And found a certain Jew named
Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;
(because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came
unto them. 3 And because he was of the
same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were
tentmakers.
And his declarations of
his own standards and admonitions regarding laboring.
1Corinthians
9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we
power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a
warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of
the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the
flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or
saith not the law the same also? 9 For
it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox
that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For
our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope;
and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is
it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over
you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer
all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about
holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar
are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so
hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the
gospel. 15 ¶ But I have used none of
these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done
unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my
glorying void.
2Thessalonians
3:10 For even when we were with you,
this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
See his urging these
Christians to support, as he has done with his own hands as he has supported
those workers with him, the infirm, weak of body and, perhaps, by extrapolation
the poor among them who were truly poor as opposed to citizens of
semi-socialist democracies today. These poor were more like what you would find
in Africa, Asia, and South America today where the social safety net is either
non-existent or weak to say the least. There is no Medicare in these places as
there was none then, no Medicaid, or Social Security, or unemployment benefits,
and if your family couldn’t help you if a sickness kept you from supporting
yourself or circumstances were hard then you were likely to starve to death or
die from an opportunistic disease that took advantage of your weakened
condition.
Acts
20:36 ¶ 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.
This is truly a sad
parting for the elders of the Ephesian church, and an ominous one.
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