Acts 20

Acts 20:17-35

17. ¶ And from Miletus he sent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. 18. And when they were came to him, he said unto them, Ye know, ‘from the first day that I came into Affos, after what manner I have been with you at all Eafons, 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. Tellinging 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 with effect 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 overeers, 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 mean 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 coerced no man’s selves, or good, or apparel. 34. Yes, you 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 bielded to give than to receive.

Though Paul would not call at Ephefus, he greatly desired to see the elders of the church, and therefore sent for them to Miletus, who gladly attended him, where he addressed to them this most shocking and solemn discourse, that can scarce now be read by any gracious heart without a tear.

1. He opens with a noble appeal to them concerning his life and doctrine during the time he had favoured among them.

(1.) As to his life. Ye know from the first day that I came into Affos, after what manner I have been with you at all Jopies, how exemplary, holy, and unblamable his conversation had been, how unborn his conduct, how steady amidst all his trials, serving the Lord with all humility of mind. His Master’s service was his one business; and, amidst all the honour which the Lord had put upon him, he sought no glory nor applause; but, with the lowliest thoughts of himself, and deepest condolentness towards others, was ready to stoop to any service, even to the meanest, whereby the Saviour might be glorified, and the bodies of souls of men be benefited; and with many tears, in his prayers for them, and affectionate discourse to them, deeply concerned for those who obstinately rejected the counsel of God against their own souls, tenderly sympathizing with the afflictions of the faithful, and lamenting over backlashes and spoilesses; and with many temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, ever contriving his defraudation; in all which his apparent fidelity had been abundantly manifested, and his example remained for their imitation.

(2.) As to his doctrine. Ye know how I kept back from you nothing that was profitable unto you, not shunning with all simplicity and sincerity to declare the whole counsel of God; unward by fears, undismayed by difficulties, uninfluenced by any worldly motives; and have shewed and taught you publickly in the congregation, and privately from house to house, continually labouring to diffuse a sweet favour of Christ, and to communicate edification, encouragement, and confolation, wherever he went; testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, with the most earnest affection and concern, repentance towards God, the necessity and nature of it, as implying a deep and humbling knife of sin, its evil, malignity, and danger; a genuine self-adherence in the view of its guilt and ingratitude, with an unflagged and unrefereed renunciation of it, and real conviction of heart to the love and service of a pardoning God; and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, directing sincere to him as the great object of all these hopes, describing the fulness, freedom, and self-defeiency of his salvation, and urging them to truth in his blood, eighteenth, and grace, for pardon, peace, adoption, glory. Note, (1.) What was Paul’s doctrine must be ours, if ever we would approve ourselves to God, and profit men’s souls; under the influence of the Spirit desiring to lead them to a deep conviction of their ruin, and a humbling force of their sin, and thus to point out the glorious remedy provided in a crucified Jesus. (2.) They who have the care of immortal souls lying upon them can never be enough obligent. Their private conversation must breathe the same spirit as their discourse in the pulpit, and every company where they are found should be the wide and better for them. (3.) No fear or shame should ever lead us to suppress a little of those glorious gospel truths which are so effective to human pride; at least it should be our labour to deliver our own souls, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear.

c. II:

2. He lets them know what a scene of sufferings were before him. He left them not to avoid the crolls, but was about to encounter greater pernicious than ever. And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, by the mighty constraining of the Holy Ghoul led thither, and fully determined in my own soul to follow his guidance and direction; we have to do things that shall befall me there; the particular sufferings to which he should be exposed God had one revealed to him: (one that the Holy Ghoul untwelfth in every city, fearing, that bonds and afflictions abide me; either in general he had this notice given him, or in every city he pulled through the divinely impassive prophecy, foretold the sufferings which awaited him: but one of these things were me, to terrify him from his duty, or flake his constant mind; neither count I my life dear unto myself; valuable as it was, he paid no regard to it, when the cause of Christ called him to leave death and danger, content to suffer whatever the Lord pleaded to permit, so that I might finally my course with joy, accomplishing his blessed Mother’s work, and reaching the great of his high calling; and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God, freely and equally publishing the unfeasible riches of Christ, and proving by the full evidence the truth be declared; displaying in the most striking manner the sovereign, unmerited, beautiful love and effectual grace of God, manifested in the gospel of his dear Son towards sinners. Note, (1.) If our hearts are truly fared on God, and our conversation in heaven, we shall look down upon the malice of men and devils as unable to hurt us, and testify our our love in our hands, when Christ calls for them. (2.) Let is our race, and death the goal; our one concern is to finish our course with joy, and that, by perfecting fidelity approving ourselves to God, we may receive the crown of life and glory which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to all his faithful servants. (3.) Our ministry is received at the Lord, and to him must we finally render up the solemn account. (4.) The grand subject of all our discourse, if we would fulfil the ministry we have received of the Lord, must be the gospel of the grace of God, in opposition to all the pride of duties and human self-sufficiency, labouring to make full future know the necessity of a free publication through the blood and righteousness of a Redeemer, and, from a view of their utter impotence and corruption, to lead them to those supplies of grace and strength which can only be derived from him.

3. He informs them that he is now taking his last leave of them, and appeals to God for his freedom from the blood of all men. And now, behold, I know, that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, the doctrines, privileges, and duties thereof, shall see my face no more, nor ever again enjoy my personal ministry among you. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. He appeals therefore to them in the presence of God for his fidelity: the whole truth of the gospel, so far as God had revealed it to him, he had declared; and now, if any soul among them perished, their blood was on their own heads; he was free. Note, (1.) It is a singular distillation when we can make such an appeal to God, and those to whom we have manifested, for our simplicity and faithfulness in the discharge of our sacred truth. (2.) The whole counsel of God, without reserve, must be declared; the truths of God need no concealment: and they show their ignorance of the spirit of the gospel, who with tenacity mention its glorious privileges, pretending fear left the sovereign, free, and boundless grace of God should be perverted to licentiousness. We must declare it: let men abide it at their peril.

4. He gives them a solemn parting charge. Take heed to yourselves, that your own conversation may be exemplary, and your souls influenced by that gospel you preach to others; and to the fact committed to your charge, for whom you must give an awful account shortly before the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls; ever the whole the Holy Ghoul hath made you everfears, appointing you to your office, and furnishing you with gifts for the discharge of it; to feed the church of God with knowledge and understanding, and with wisdom and meeknots to preside over them; which he hath purchased with his own blood; the inestimable value of their souls therefore is evident, when he who is very God became incarnate, and submitted to the death of the crolls, to make atonement for their sins, and to purchase them for his own. Did Jesus bleed to redeem his people, and can we be his servants, and not desire to spend and be spent in the service of their faith? Surely a negligent minister, beyond all others, tramples under foot the blood of the Son of God.

5. He warns them of the dangers which they would be called to contend against, and exhorts them to be watchful. For I mean this, by revelation, that after my departure fluid grantees neither enter in among you; both persecutors will ravage, and false teachers more terribly seek to corrupt the faith, and ruin the souls of the people, not fearing the fluid, along every vile art to believe, enforce, and destroy them. As if your own selves shall men arise, of those who now perhaps make a fair profession, and in whom you place confidence; speaking perverse things, departing from the simplicity of the gospel, launching pernicious herefies, and introducing dangerous innovations, to draw away disciples after

them, and erect themselves into heads of texts and parties; see 2 Tim. i. 15. Isaiah 18. Therefore words, the greatest vigilance would be necessary, and being so examined they were so examined, and should with indefatigable diligence to discover to confirm the disciples faith, and caution them against those deluders, that they may not by them be moved away from the hope of the gospel; and remember the example which I have let you, which you are called to hesitate, that by the grace of these years I called not to warn every one might and day with tears, so fervently and affectionately had he been concerned for them, carefully observing the truth effects of deceivers, jealous over the least appearances of a decension from the purity of the faith, and the simplicity of the gospel, lamenting with despotless sorrow when any staggered or fainted in their mind, and declined from their holy profession; and, called for in his administration, he endeavored to recover the fallacy, and to warm others to be more as usual, taught by their fellowships. Oh that we, who are put in truth with the gospel, may be enabled to show facts and, fidelity, and affectionate concern towards the souls of our people.

6. He solemnly commends them to the divine care and keeping. And now, brethren, having admonished you of the dangers you must encounter, and knowing that more than mortal wisdom and strength is needful for you, that you may approve your fidelity to Christ, I command you to God, to his power to protect, his wisdom to guide, his hope to comfort you; and to the word of his grace, to his written and revealed word, for your conduct and direction, or to the essential word Christ Jesus, out of whose tidness they should receive grace, and by him be preserved and kept the full and full all the wiles of deceivers and the opposition of persecutors; which is said to hold you up, in faith, hope, and tidiness, to all which you unto the soul, and to give you an inheritance among all that which are powerful, preparing you for that kingdom which he hath prepared for you, and bringing you as last to an inheritance among his family in light and glory everlasting. Note, (1.) Our keeping is not in our own hands: let to ourselves we must have to be, but by grace we are saved. (2.) None may hope for a part among God’s faints in heaven, who are not pernicious and their errors as we earth, and fanciled by the Holy Ghoul. (3.) The gospel is the great means of producing, through the power of divine glory, true fancikkation. (4.) The kingdom of glory is the inheritance of God’s people, being chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world, called by his word, and justified by faith; their title is indefensible, and the position of the people, and never perish, but shall have ever fallen in life.

7. He particularly reminds them of the deadness which he had shown to this world, and his labours, that he might not be beholden to any man for a provision, which he truly preached the gospel. I have carried to man’s place or gold, or apparel, content with what he could obtain from his own industry, and burdensome to none of them for a maintenance. Yes, you yourselves know, that these hands have manifested to my sacrifices; enticed as he was to a liberal provision, he think for the sake of the gospel to wave his right, and to work hard at his trade, by which he was enabled to earn a forfeiture not only for himself, but also to help them that were neither, who were left to provide for themselves; and this he did with a view particularly to the false teachers, that he might remove every shadow of that man which they would have been glad to give against him. Thus, by my example, I have secured you all things, the order of learning, as I have done, to make it to support the work, assisting the necessities and relieving their wants, and removing every handle of prejudice which the deceivers might feel, to fulfil into the minds of the weak brethren, as if they laboured for mercenary ends. And, to encourage them hereunto, he hope them to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to reserve; it is more godless, a marked a more noble Christian spirit, to relieve the wants of others, and lay out ourselves for their good without a recompense, than to be burdensome to them for a maintenance.

8. ¶ And when he had thus spoken, ‘he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37. And they all wept fore, 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.

Acts 20:36-38

Having finished this most affecting discourse,

1. He kneeled down and prayed with them all, commencing them solemnly to the Lord Jesus, and keeping, no doubt, that they might be enabled faithfully to discharge the solemn truth committed to them, and observe the good counsel he had delivered. Note, (1.) Ministers must waive the word down with their prayers, that God may give the increase. (2.) Friends will do well to part in prayer, that if it please God they may meet here again in peace; and, if not, that they may together shortly unite their never-ending praises before the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2. They parved with floods of tears and the most affectionate embraces. They all wept fore, deeply affected with her discourse,

his

his prayer, and his departure from them; and full on Paul’s neck and laffed him, taking their last farewell of their dear paffor, with hearts full of love, and swelling with grief; forewaving most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. To part was bitter; to part for a long while, would have been yet more irksome; but to part, without the hope of ever meeting again among the living, this added peculiar anguish to the separation, and antedated the funereal sorrows: it was a kind of living burial. And they accompanied him unto the ship, willing to enjoy his company to the last moment, and to testify their deep respect and fervent love towards him. Note, That our friends may be separated from us, so that we can see their face no more, it is our consolation, if we are united in one Jesus, that we shall assuredly meet in a better world, never to part again.