Parting Words
Notes
Transcript
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
Knowing that he would never see them again, Paul takes the time while stopped in Miletus to call together all of the elders from Ephesus. He wants to leave them with one final message.
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.
Once all of these men had come together, Paul takes this time to give his testimony, as well as an encouragement to them. He wants them to follow his example.
He shares how he has served the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials. Even though his journey was not always pleasant, he kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed all that was necessary and beneficial from house to house. He preached the message of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to the Jews, and also to the Greeks.
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.
Paul says that he is bound in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, but that he doesn’t know all of the details of this journey. He just knows that God wants him to go there, and that he must be obedient to God in this matter.
The one thing he is confident of is that Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await him. He knows that the journey ahead is going to be full of progress and persecution. He is going to face many trials along this journey, but he also knows that God would not be leading him into such a dangerous journey if there was no reason for it.
So he says, none of these 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. Though imminent danger awaits, Paul is excited to finish his race well. He does not know what lies ahead in his immediate future, but he knows what lies ahead in eternity, so he is virtually unmoved by his conviction and stands ready to press on. He is so convicted that his death will come soon that he tells these Ephesian elders, “now I know that you all… 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.
Paul continues by expressing how he has held nothing back, but that he has preached the whole counsel of God. Therefore, he is innocent of the blood of all men, for he has done his part. He has preached the Gospel of Jesus without reserve, regardless of the persecution that came upon him as a result.
“Therefore,” he says, “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.”
He tells them that he is no longer going to be there to do it, so it is up to them to carry on the legacy of the Christian church. They must pick up where he is leaving off. They must continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of the cost. The church is so precious to Jesus Christ that it was purchased with His own blood. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that men could be free, but if they are going to walk in that freedom correctly, someone will need to teach them the way. That is where the leadership of the church comes in. The elders are called to be overseers, and to shepherd the church of God.
It is imperative that they do so, because once Paul is gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, men will rise up from within the church and will speak perverse things, attempting to draw away the disciples after themselves.
So Paul is passing on the mantle to these men. He said, “I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace.” In other words, he was leaving them in the hands of God and the Word. He was leaving them in good hands, but it would be up to them to continue striving for the Gospel.
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.
With his final parting words, he tells them that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
After this, he knelt down and prayed with them all. During these final moments, it tells us that they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more.”
They knew that there was a good chance they would never see Paul again, so it says they wept freely. They held nothing back. They cried out loud with a complete brokenness. They hugged him tightly and kissed him farewell.
They could go as far as the ship with him, but they could not go any further. The journey that God had called Paul to embark on was a journey that he would have to take alone. These other men were not called to such things.
Each of us have been called to do our own part, to fulfill our own part of God’s plan.
