Paul’s Final Address to Asian Brethren
Acts 20:17-38 KJV 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
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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. 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.
Introduction
We are not given any hints on the elements of time that were in play in Paul’s summoning the Asian brethren to him at Miletus. He had passed by Ephesus on purpose because of his desire to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost.
We are not told how long it took them to arrive, but when they were all present, Paul began his final address to them. They all seemed to sense that this would be the last time they would see him on this side of heaven. All in all, it was a sad time.
Paul’s Testimony
He begins by reminding them of how he had served the Lord before them from the very first of his entering into Asia. He had been with them during all seasons of the year and during all the troubles and trials that came upon him by the persecution of the Jews. It had been a type of guerrilla warfare of the Jews in following him in Asia and Europe. When he had visited the cities of Ephesus, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, they had been there to harass and persecute him and the disciples whom he had won and trained.
He had not held back on anything that the disciples and brethren needed in order to be saved and to become seasoned in the doctrines and information that was needed for them to carry on as the Lord would have them. He taught publicly, and many times in the homes of people outside of the public eye.
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He presented the gospel to both the Jews and the Gentiles publicly in synagogues, schools, and marketplaces, and privately in homes and in church assemblies, which often met in homes. He had consistently presented the gospel with no deviation at all.
Bound for Jerusalem
After bringing these things to their remembrance, he stated to them that he was now compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. He did not know the details of what would happen to him on his arrival there. He only knew what the Holy Spirit had said to him, that he would suffer bonds and afflictions everywhere he went.
None of the troubles that he encountered caused him to waver even when his very life was in dire straits. He had turned neither right nor left but kept true on the path that the Holy Spirit had laid out for him.
He states what they inevitably did not want to hear: that they would see him no more. This was the last meeting that they would have with him on this earth. He had worked among them for many years, teaching and training them for the Lord’s Work. He called on them to bear witness that he was clear of any guilt, unchargeable of any accusation of neglecting to present the gospel to Jews and Gentiles in all Asia. Much like the watchman who carried the warning to sinners and saints in the book of Ezekiel, he was free of the blood of all men. He was clear of the blood of all men, saints, and sinners, because when the message of salvation was needed, he presented it. When the “other things” of the gospel were needed, he taught them. No matter what the need was, he, through the strength and help of the Holy Spirit, did what was necessary to fulfill his task in his service for the Lord.
The Warning
He warns them to take heed of themselves and to the flocks over which the Holy Spirit had placed them. They were to make sure that they provided for the spiritual needs of the flock, in pastoral care. They were to “feed the flock” as the overseers. They were to take care because they would 257
encounter vicious “wolves” that would tear them, the overseers, to shreds, nor would they spare the disciples. False teachers would arise among them, speaking forth false doctrines that would draw away the disciples and cause them to follow after these perverse teachers.
Concerning this, Dr. Albert Garner had this to say: They would begin…
To draw away … from the flock of God, disciples after themselves," after the manner or order of their perverted teachings, that are alien or foreign to the teachings of Jesus Christ - In perversion of the a) Moral standards - b) Ethical standards - c) And doctrinal standards -and practices of the
new covenant church, the house of God, that Jesus built, purchased, and commissioned. Thus, from without the local
church, and within the local church fellowship, the people of God are to be on guard against pious religious perverters of
both doctrinal and moral and ethical concepts of Jesus Christ and His church followers.1
He reminds them that for about three years he did not fail to warn them night and day, and that with tears. If the missionary would do this with tears, how much more should the overseers whom God would place over the flocks, do as well, but with many more tears.
The Overseer’s Stewardship
"Cattle shall be delivered over to the cow herd in the morning; the cowherd shall tend them during the whole day
with grass and water; and in the evening shall deliver them
to the master, in the same manner as they were entrusted to
him. If, by the fault of the cowherd, any of the cattle be lost or stolen, that cowherd shall make it good. When a cowherd
has led cattle to any distant place to feed, if any die of distemper, in spite of the fact that the cowherd applied proper remedy, the cowherd shall carry the head, the tail, the fore-foot, or some such convincing proof taken from the 258
animal's body, to the owner of the cattle. having done this,
he shaII be no further answerable. If he neglects to act thus, he shall make good the loss." Paul, therefore, compares the Ephesian Church to a flock of sheep, seeking pasturage under the guidance of their shepherds. S.S. Times2
Paul commends them all to continue without his leadership, but follow the Lord for His care, and mercy, and guidance, without him. The Lord would give the brethren an inheritance. Paul did not refer to the believers, but to the overseers themselves.
Paul’s Example
Paul used himself as an example of how the overseers should be. He had not sought to have anything of any man but used his own hands to provide for his needs and the needs of those around him. As we have seen previously, Paul was a tentmaker. There were times that Paul had to use his occupation to provide for his own needs and to help with the needs of those of his company.
When I was a young preacher, older preachers advised me to go right to a seminary as soon as I could. I took that advice and even graduated from high school a year early in order to do so. However, down through the over fifty years of active ministry, I have found that advice was not always the best. Through my own experience, I would advise any young preacher to get himself some trade or formal job skill to that he might be able to adequately provide for himself and his family. Many negative things in my ministry might have been avoided if I had known this for myself when I first started. I am not advising to not attend Bible College or Seminary but get the trade or skill first. God’s call will still be there, and the preacher will be much more equipped to carry out God’s work before him.
In closing, Paul reminded them that he had set an example to them in all kinds of things, including working with his hands, and to not to forget that Jesus taught that it was more blessed to give than to receive.
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His Departure
When Paul finished speaking, he knelt down before them and prayed for them all. We are given no clue about what he prayed, but whatever the content of that prayer was, it caused all the brethren to tears. Verse 37 states that they all wept sore. This meant that they were crying openly, sobbing without shame, “even as they had seen Paul do in his compassionate labors among them, for near three previous years.”3
These Asian brethren were in great sorrow because of the words that Paul had spoken and because that they would see him no longer. They then…
…escorted, went with him to the ship," as he left them for a few more earthly labors, death in Rome, and then for heaven's glory, where he would await their arrival. Would you ask yourself, "Am I sailing for glory? Am I aboard the old ship of Zion? Is glory my destination?" If it is not, receive the Lord Jesus Christ by repentance and faith, be baptized into the flock of God, the church of Jesus Christ,
and get on board the old ship of Zion. Sail on! Sail on! and
on! and on! till the glory call to heaven's shore.
Conclusion
Next, we will continue to consider Paul’s last journey to Jerusalem.
1 Dr. Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on Acts 20:30
2 IBID, verse 31
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