Acts 20:17-31

A Heartfelt Goodbye: Lessons from Paul's Farewell

Bible Passage: Acts 20:17–31

Big Idea: The heart of faithful leadership is visible in a life devoted to God and His people, echoing the call for vigilance and service in our own church communities.

Acts 20:17–31 NKJV

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 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, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

Acts 20:17–31 NKJV

how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

Acts 20:17–31 NKJV

testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 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. “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 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. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

1. Paul's Humble Service

Acts 20:17–21 “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 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, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s life and ministry was never about gaining notoriety or building a following. There were rumors about Paul that people started saying he was taking he was only in it for the money, that he was going place to place taking all he could from the churches and then moving on.

People will lie on you. Not everyone will like you. Some may even hate you. They hated Paul, they hated Jesus, they hated John the Baptist. There will be some that hate you too and they will try to ruin your name. That is why it is so important to maintain your integrity above everything.

Paul is able to say, “You hear the rumors. I have heard the rumors. But you know how I lived. You saw my life while I was with you.” Your greatest testimony is living your life upright in the midst of opposition, never giving in to the pressures of culture, never compromising your integrity. This is how we are called to live and called to serve.

Paul is talking to leaders of the churches. He is meeting with Bishops, deacons, and pastors, reminding them that no matter what your title may be, you are a servant first. You cannot be a leader if you are unwilling to serve. True spiritual leadership is not about seeking a platform or building a brand, it is about living a life that points to Christ that others can follow.

One way Paul held to his integrity is the fact that he says he preached the same thing in private that he did in public. In this time, if someone only spoke about something in private, they were considered untrustworthy. They must be hiding something or not telling the truth. But Paul proclaimed, I never shrank back from preaching you the truth. I preached the same whether in private or in public. Paul preached one message everywhere he went. He preached repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Repentance - metanoia - to turn around, to change your mind.

Repentance toward God - change your mind about God and the things of God. You come to the moment when you say, “God, you are right and I am wrong. I am turning away from this and turning toward you.” Repentance is not, “I am sorry” and going back to do the same things again and again. Repentance is “God, I was wrong. I am turning to you and by your grace and strength I will never go back there again.”

Turning from a life of sin and turning to a life of faith in Christ.

2. Paul's Courageous Journey

Acts 20:22–24 “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 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.”

Paul starts by saying this is how I lived. He continues by saying this is how I am going to keep on living. I have faced trials and opposition everywhere I have gone and I will continue to face even harsher trials. He says, I am going to Jerusalem and all I am not going for applause or expecting to be celebrated. I am going, knowing that chains and tribulation await me.

NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME - Paul did not let the threats of affliction, persecution, prison, or death deter him. We too easily let the things going on around us move us.

It is time to Stand firm in the face of all hell and declare, give it your best shot, I shall not be moved!!!! If God be fore me, who can stand against me!! 2 Cor. 4:17-18

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NKJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Paul’s focus was on the eternal. Whatever happened here was only temporary.

Paul did not count his life of any value compared to his mission. His goal was not to just survive. His goal was not to just hold on. His goal was to finish his race with joy which he did.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Keep pressing on. Don’t quit! Finish your race!! Stop just simply trying to survive and focus on running your race with joy. Get your focus off of the temporary things of this world and get them on the eternal things of God. You have a crown waiting!!!!!!!!

3. Paul's Honest Legacy

Acts 20:25–27 ““And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Why did Paul say, “I am innocent of the blood of all men?” He was not talking about physical blood.

Ezekiel 33:1–6 NKJV

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

Paul was saying, “I have not been ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom to everyone. If they disregard the message, their blood is not on my hands. They have made their own choice.”

Are your hands clean? Have you been ashamed of the gospel?

True legacy lies in faithful proclamation of the gospel.

4. Paul's Vigilant Warning

Acts 20:28–31 “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. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Paul’s warning begins with “Take heed for yourselves” before talking about caring for the flock. It is impossible to adequately care for others if you neglect your own soul.

Know your value - The value of a thing is determined by the price someone is willing to pay. You may have something at home that you think is worth a lot of money but it actually is not worth anything unless you find someone willing to pay for it.

What was the price of the church of God? The most accurate translation of this phrase is, “which he purchased by the blood of his own.” The church of God was bought with a great price. That is why God values it so much and why we must recognize that value.

Not only was the church as a whole bought with a price but you were bought with that same price.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Paul warns of false teachers. He called them savage wolves, using the same language Jesus used.

Matthew 7:15 NKJV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Jude 4 NKJV

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul warned the church in Acts 20 about the rise of ravenous wolves that would come to deceive and cause division. He described them as individuals who would twist truth for personal gain. Today, we see this in various forms—whether online or in our communities, some leaders distort Scripture for popularity or profit. It reminds us to stay rooted in God’s word and to challenge ourselves to be discerning in recognizing those who may not have our spiritual well-being in mind.

Acts 20:32 NKJV

“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 begins to close his farewell by saying, I am giving you over to God and to the word of his grace. I have done all I can for you. I have never shrank back from declaring the truth of the gospel to you. I have preached to you, prayed with you, and cried with you for 3 years. Now, it is time for you to walk in what I have given you.

There comes a time when you have to be able to depend on God for yourself. There are times in your life when the pastor or the evangelist or the prophet or apostle is not there to give you a word. That is why Paul is emphasizing the word. The word of God is what is able to build you up when you feel like you are so low you will never get up. The Word of God strengthens you when you have no strength and there is not always someone around to share the word with you. You have to know it for yourself.

The Word of God builds you up and gives you an inheritance. The word inheritance here means a portion. When you are in a mess and do not know how you will ever get out of it, there is a portion for you in the Word of God that can pull you out of it.

Get in the Word!!! You can never expect to leave a legacy like Paul if you do not open the Word of God any time beyond Sunday.

Acts 20:37–38 “Then 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. And they accompanied him to the ship.”

When you live a life worth following, you leave a legacy worth remembering.