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Acts 20:13-38

Paul’s third – and last – missionary journey was drawing to an end. Most of Paul’s time on this journey had
been spent in Ephesus, where for three years, Paul had been preaching the gospel and teaching the
community of believers that came into being there. Then Paul returned to Macedonia, where he spent
about a year and a half, strengthening the assemblies and sharing the gospel in new territory – perhaps even
to Illyricum, on the Adriatic coast.

In addition to sharing the gospel, Paul spent time gathering an offering from the assemblies that had been
established through him. This offering was intended for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem, that they
might reap a material benefit from those assemblies who had benefited so much from Jerusalem spiritually
(Rm 15:25-27), through those they had sent out preaching the gospel, such as Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and
Peter.

Paul then spent three months in Corinth with the believers there. During this time, delegates gathered in
Corinth with the offerings from their assemblies – Galatia, Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia all provided
offerings. The delegates were to travel with Paul back to Jerusalem, so that the Jewish brethren there
would gain a real sense of their Gentile brothers who sent this love-gift to them.

But plans had to be changed. Paul learned of a plot against his life as he was about to sail to Syria with the
delegates. He decided instead to go by land back through Achaia and Macedonia with Luke. Then they
would sail from Philippi to Troas, and meet up with the delegates there, who would sail as planned from
Cenchrea to Troas.

When Paul and Luke were reunited with the delegates in Troas, they spent a week in that city,
fellowshipping with the assembly which had been established there, based on Paul’s preaching during his
second missionary journey.

Then Luke records that strange incident of the young man, Eutychus, who fell asleep while Paul was
preaching, plummeting to his death through an open window. After Paul had thrown himself on the body,
he declared that “his life is in him”, and the young man was brought in alive, to the comfort of all who
knew him. We have seen that this incident was actually a sign; a spiritual picture, which we studied last
time.

Paul and the delegates then continued on their journey to Jerusalem.

v. 13-14 Assos is about 20 miles south of Troas; roughly a day’s journey on foot. For some reason, Paul
decided to walk to Assos. One possibility is that some of the believers from Troas wished to speak with
him further, and therefore accompanied him to Assos.

Meanwhile, Luke and the delegates boarded a ship in Troas, and sailed to Assos (see map) – this was
probably a safer and easier course with the offering they were bringing than going by land. Because Assos
was located across the neck of a small peninsula, which the ship had to sail around, Paul may actually have
arrived only a short time after the ship did.

Paul then rejoined his party in Assos, and they sailed to Mitylene on the island of Lesbos.
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v. 15-17 So this ship basically hopped between or around islands in the Mediterranean until it got to the
port of Miletus on the coast of Asia Minor. The ship chosen by the party apparently was not specifically a
coastal ship, as it did not hug the shore. Therefore, this ship did not stop near Ephesus; but Paul did not
intend to stop at Ephesus anyway.

Paul had spent three years with that community of believers, and if he were to go back, he would be long
delayed, due to all of his personal ties there. Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem in time to keep the feast of
Pentecost, as a witness to the Jewish community there; he couldn’t afford the time in Ephesus.

But once he got to Miletus, Paul dispatched messengers to Ephesus, requesting the elders of the assembly
to come down to meet him there – Miletus is about 30 miles south of Ephesus. Although Paul could not
visit with the assembly, he had something he desired to impart to the believers in Ephesus, which he would
do through their elders.

Luke’s account does not record the appointment of elders in the assembly at Ephesus, but we have seen that
this was something that Paul did, once an assembly had been established (Acts 14:23). We will see in our
passage later today that Paul indicates the appointment of the elders at Ephesus was the Holy Spirit’s doing
(Acts 20:28); no doubt, Paul routinely sought the Spirit’s leading in choosing elders.

Elders were appointed to be leaders in the local assemblies, based on their maturity in the faith. Elders
were leaders, but they were to lead by serving; they were to be the caretakers of the assemblies.

Two or three days would have elapsed before the elders could be reached in Ephesus, and then would have
gotten back to Miletus. It had been about two years since Paul last saw them, in Ephesus. No doubt it was
a fond and joyous reunion, with these men with whom Paul had worked so closely, for so long.

Luke records a summary of the parting words of Paul to these elders – a farewell address – the only
recorded speech of Paul to believers. It is an address marked with much tenderness and affection – it shows
Paul’s great heart for the believers.

Paul may have had similar parting words with elders from other assemblies, but this is the only such
address that Luke records – because it is really the farewell of Paul to all of the assemblies that he had
established, in Europe and Asia.

What lay ahead for Paul? Imprisonment – and death. And even though it may be that Paul had a time of
liberty after his imprisonment in Rome, within the scope of Luke’s account, these were Paul’s parting
thoughts to the assemblies, and to their leaders.

Paul was leaving them. He did not know precisely what lay ahead, except that chains and tribulations
awaited him (v. 23). So Paul was charging those whom the Holy Spirit had appointed as leaders within the
assembly, to shepherd the church of God (v. 28); and finally, Paul entrusted those whom he had come to so
dearly love to God and to the word of His grace (v. 32).

Paul begins with a look back at his own ministry among the Ephesians.

v.18-21 Now, why was Paul recounting to these elders the way he lived among the Ephesians? He already
said (v. 18), they knew – in the Greek, they knew well.
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Paul recounted his actions for two reasons – he wanted to point out that his conduct among them had been
blameless; that he had given himself to serve the Lord among them with all his heart. And Paul was
recounting his conduct as an example to these elders – for they had the same ministry as he – the ministry
of reconciliation.

This was the way they needed to conduct themselves, also – serving the Lord with all their heart. Every
minister of reconciliation – that is, every believer – needs to conduct themselves in the same manner.

First, Paul pointed out that he served the Lord with all humility. A true minister of Christ must have
lowliness of mind; not thinking of himself more highly than he ought (Rm 12:3), and having no confidence
in the flesh.

Would you say that Paul had reason to have confidence in his flesh? He wrote that he had more reason
than others – only for the sake of showing how he counted it for nothing, in light of the Lord Himself.

Turn to Philippians chapter 3. Paul was warning the assembly in Philippi to beware of the Judaizers, who
tried to add circumcision and the works of the law to simple faith in Christ. Paul writes that “we are the
circumcision” – those who worship God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and putting no confidence in
the flesh.

[Philippians 3:3-8] The word rubbish here is dung – that which the body eliminates, because it has no
value. When Paul came to know Jesus as His Lord, he recognized that everything – anything – not of
Christ was dung – it had no value.

But everything to be found in Christ had infinite value – eternal value. This caused Paul to bring his own
mind into subjection to Christ – to have lowliness of mind, always esteeming the thoughts and will of God
above his own – which enabled him to be a true servant of God.

[Return to Acts 20]

Paul said he served the Lord with many tears and trials – specifically referring to the opposition of the
Jews, which arose against him everywhere he preached the gospel. “Trials” here speaks of afflictions – the
afflictions that Paul suffered at the hands of the Jews as they persecuted him, and tried to stop him from
preaching and teaching.

“Tears”, in this context, are tears of frustration. God had appointed Paul to be a preacher, an apostle, and a
teacher of the Gentiles (2 Tim 1:11), to share the Good News of Jesus Christ among the nations. But Paul’s
own nation, the Jews, rejected the Good News about their own Messiah, and were constantly trying to
prevent him from delivering that Good News to the Gentiles. That was a source of great anguish to Paul.

Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 11. Paul was cataloging the afflictions he had suffered as a true minister of
Christ, as compared with the false teachers that had infiltrated the Corinthian assembly. Remember that
this letter was written after Paul’s tenure in Ephesus, before he came to Corinth the second time – just a
short time ago (maybe 1-2 years ago).

[2 Corinthians 11:23-28]

v. 23-24 So the Jews had beaten Paul on five different occasions.

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v. 25 The times Paul was beaten with rods was probably alike to the time in Philippi, at the hand of the
Gentiles; he was also imprisoned there (Acts 22-23). He was stoned by the Lystrans, the Jews inciting
them (Acts 14:19). These shipwrecks are unrecorded; in one case, it was obviously way out at sea.

v. 26 my own countrymen – the Jews

v. 27-28 The last item that Paul lists is meant to indicate to the reader that this one thing was tantamount to
all others – Paul’s deep concern for all the churches. That weighed on Paul’s heart more heavily than any
of the afflictions he suffered.

[Return to Acts 20]

Because of his concern for the churches, and for the salvation of all men, Paul kept nothing profitable back
(v. 20); despite the peril that put him in with the Jews. He preached the gospel to both Jew and Gentile, and
also taught those who came to believe into Jesus. Paul did so publicly, as well as from house to house.

In Ephesus, Paul had shared the truth in the synagogue as well as in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. But Paul
didn’t contain himself to public speaking. He also shared the truth privately with individuals, who were
willing to receive from him. That one-on-one time would have put even greater time demands on Paul,
who was working at his trade in the mornings, and teaching in the hall of Tyrannus in the afternoons. This
he did for two years (Acts 19:9-10).

Through it all, despite the adversity, Paul kept nothing back. He shared the whole truth of God – no matter
what the cost. We saw that the cost was almost his life, when the riot erupted at Ephesus.

But the love of Christ constrained Paul (2 Cor 5:14); Christ’s love pressed upon his heart, compelling him
to share the truth, with those who are perishing. So he testified to them, repeatedly.

They needed to repent – to see themselves as God sees them – as sinners, who sinned as a way of life.
They needed to turn from their sin, and turn to God – to place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
provision God has made for sinners, to put away their sin. And there could be no compromise on that
message – to both self-righteous Jews, and unrighteous Gentiles – God’s provision is the same.

As a true minister of Christ, Paul had served the Lord with all lowliness of mind, submitting himself
entirely to the Lord, preaching and teaching the truth despite the personal cost. Now Paul spoke of his
current circumstances.

v. 22-23 When the Greek word for “spirit” is used alone, the context must be examined to determine
whether it is referring to the spirit of man, or the Holy Spirit. Here I think it most likely refers to Paul’s
spirit.

The term for “bound”, used metaphorically here, means anything that strongly urges or impels. Paul would
later say, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus”
(Acts 21:13).

Paul had steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51), recognizing his bringing of the love offering
there as the fulfillment of his service to the Lord – for His name’s sake. Despite the fact that the Holy
Spirit had warned Paul repeatedly that chains and tribulations awaited him there, Paul had made the
decision to go – in that sense, he bound himself within his own spirit, knowing that he would enter into
physical bondage once he entered into Jerusalem.
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This is not to say that it was not the Lord’s will that Paul go to Jerusalem – I believe that it was the Lord’s
will. But Paul had a choice, as to whether he would submit himself to the Lord’s will – and he freely chose
to go to Jerusalem, knowing that bonds and afflictions were ahead.

What could make a man knowingly walk into such peril? That was the course laid out for Paul by the
Lord; and Perfect Love had long ago cast out fear in him (Acts 18:9-10; 1 Jn 4:18).

v. 24 While Paul was in Corinth, he wrote to the assembly at Rome, which he had yet to see. Turn to
Romans chapter 15. Paul wrote to the Roman assembly of his prospective visit to Jerusalem.

[Romans 15:25-32] What did Paul ask them to pray with him for? V. 31 – that he might be delivered from
those in Judea who do not believe – the unbelieving Jews – and that his service, the bringing of the alms,
might be acceptable to the saints. At this time, Paul was praying for deliverance – already being aware of
the danger he faced from the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem.

[Return to Acts 20]

Just this short time later – a few months at most – Paul had already reconciled himself to the fact that
chains and tribulations await him, as the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. This shows the character that the
Lord had worked into Paul, through his tribulations (Rm 5:3-4). It is the pure character of Christ.

In himself, Paul desired to be delivered from the Jews. But once Paul recognized the will of God, he
surrendered his own will in the matter. He saw that he would be delivered into chains; that even his life
might be forfeit. But Paul was unmoved by this realization; his only desire was that, whether by life or by
death, Christ be magnified in his body (Ph 1:20). So, free of any notion of self-preservation, Paul could
pursue the course laid out for him by the Lord – and finish his race, with joy.

For the joy that was set before Him, Paul’s Master had endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb 12:2).
Now Paul, who had known Him, and the power of His resurrection, was choosing to enter more deeply into
the fellowship of His Master’s sufferings (Phil 3:10). The servant was following in the Master’s footsteps.

And where did those footsteps lead? Down the path of obedience, and through death, and finally, into
glory. And so it would be for Paul, as he fulfilled the ministry that had been given to him personally by the
Lord Jesus Himself.

Paul would later recall the Lord’s words to him concerning his ministry, during one of his defenses. Jesus
told Paul that his purpose would be “To open their eyes [that is, the Gentiles], to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).

That was Paul’s ministry – testifying to the good news of the great favor that God has done for us, in Christ.
It’s the ministry of all believers – the ministry of reconciliation.

The one who walks in faith through this life – living life to the glory of God – that one will finish his course
with joy. And Paul intended to be faithful in his ministry – to the end.

v. 25-27 Knowing that chains and tribulations awaited him, Paul had no expectation that he would ever
see these believers from Ephesus again. However, many think that Paul was released after his
imprisonment in Rome, to be imprisoned there again at a later date; and that, after his release he may
actually have returned to Ephesus for a time.
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Paul then affirmed his blamelessness of the blood of all men. Paul had kept back nothing profitable. He
had proclaimed repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 21); he had testified to
the gospel of the grace of God (v. 24); he had preached the kingdom of God (v. 25); and he had declared to
them the whole counsel of God (v. 27) – His plan of salvation.

Having made known to all men the Way to escape from the wrath to come, if they chose not to take the
Way of escape – their blood was on their own heads. Paul had done all that he could do. This was the
ministry that the Lord had given to Paul – the ministry he gives to all who believe in Him. It is the ministry
of reconciliation; to reconcile sinners to God. Our part is to make known the basis of that reconciliation:
Christ. We must do our part. But we cannot do the sinners’ part for them.

The manner in which Paul laid out his faithfulness to his ministry, to proclaiming the whole counsel of
God, to being innocent of the blood of all, is reminiscent of an OT image given by the LORD to the prophet
Ezekiel, with which Paul would have been very familiar, known as the watchman.

Turn back to Ezekiel chapter 33. Ezekiel prophesied to the Jews who were in exile in Babylon. When the
LORD commissioned Ezekiel to speak His words to the people, He likened Ezekiel to a watchman.

In the ancient East, a watchman was used in the protection of cities. From high on the wall surrounding the
city, the watchman would vigilantly scan the landscape as well as listen for any apparent dangers, such as
the approach of the enemy. The watchman was to give warning if danger was sighted.

In this passage, the term “son of man” is a title the LORD used in addressing Ezekiel, which emphasized his
humanity. This passage is actually the second commissioning of Ezekiel as the watchman, for prophecies
concerning the millennial kingdom.

[Ezekiel 33:1-9] Like Ezekiel to the house of Israel, Paul was a watchman - to all men. God had
commissioned Paul to sound the trumpet; to proclaim the gospel message to the people; a warning to
escape the wrath that is to come.

Paul had done his part, declaring the whole counsel of God to the people. In doing so, he had fulfilled his
role as the watchman; they had been duly warned. If anyone refused to take the warning, their blood would
be upon their own head; Paul was not responsible.

[Return to Acts 20]

Paul had laid out his ministry for the elders of Ephesus to consider. He had preached the gospel to all in
Asia, and kept back nothing; he was a faithful watchman. Paul had also taught the new assembly that had
formed in Ephesus the truth. Now he charged the elders of that city to do their part: to shepherd the church
of God.

v. 28-30 Don’t miss the first part. What was the first thing Paul exhorted the elders to do? To take heed to
themselves. They were to watch over themselves. Why? Just as they had looked to Paul as an example, the
assembly would look to them, as their example. If their conduct did not match up to their words – that
alone could cause members of the assembly to stumble. They must conduct themselves rightly.

What causes right conduct? Right thinking; as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov 23:7). Therefore,
the elders must also take heed to their doctrine; that they rightly divide the word of God; that they do not
teach error. This is only possible from one who has been made righteous – in Christ.
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Later, Paul would exhort Timothy in the same way, as he led the assembly at Ephesus : “Take heed to
yourself and to the doctrine” (1 Tim 4:16) – the doctrine of Christ. If the elders did not watch over
themselves – by abiding in the Spirit – they would not be able to watch over anyone else.

In this passage, Paul borrowed OT imagery of a shepherd and his flock to describe the role of the elders
with the assembly. In the OT, God is portrayed as the shepherd of Israel, Israel being His flock (Ez 34:30-
31); the Jews are the sheep of His pasture (Ps 79:13).

Jesus had used this imagery when speaking to the Jews to show Himself to be the fulfillment of the Good
Shepherd in the Scriptures, who would lay down His life for the sheep - for His people (Jn 10:11, 15; Ps 22;
Is 53).

Here, Paul portrayed the elders as undershepherds to the Great Shepherd, the risen Jesus (Heb 13:20). The
flock, the church of God, had been entrusted into their care – they were its overseers. But they were not
over the assembly; they were overseers among the flock (not over, KJV); for every single member of the
Body of Christ is directly under the authority of Jesus, the Head.

The word for overseer is episkopos, and means guardian; some translations use the word bishop. This
name is used synonymously with presbuteroi, translated elders. Presbuteroi refers to the dignity of the
office, pointing to spiritual maturity; episkopoi refers to the authority and duties of the office. We will use
the word overseer, since bishop has certain connotations in this day.

Paul said it was the Holy Spirit who appointed them overseers (“made you overseers”, NKJV) – which He
did, through Paul. The elders were to shepherd the flock – to lead the flock, from their midst; to tend the
flock, by serving them; and to feed the flock, on the Word of God.

Paul pointed out one aspect of shepherding in particular. The elders must also watch over the flock –
vigilantly – for there would be wolves – emissaries of the devil, false teachers or prophets – who would
come among them, and they would not spare the flock – they would destroy whom they could, speaking of
those in the assembly who did not yet have Life.

Jesus had said to beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves (Mt 7:15). This implies that they would look just like any other member of the assembly,
but that they were really enemies.

Who were these savage wolves, to whom Paul referred? At that time, they were the Judaizers – Jews who
masqueraded as members of the assembly, but who didn’t really believe in Jesus, in the salvation He had
wrought for mankind. The Judaizers were intent on leading the flock astray, with their false teaching of a
salvation of works. Those who followed would do so to their own destruction.

Not only would there be this danger from without – savage wolves, the Judaizers – but there would even be
dangers from within the assembly – for not all of the members of an assembly are believers.

Paul specifically said that men will rise up “from among yourselves” – speaking of those in leadership
positions – for not all those in leadership positions are believers, either. These unbelieving leaders, who
were in a position in the assembly to teach others, had the potential for twisting the Word of God –
perverting it – so that members of the assembly started to follow them, instead of Christ. This was a
solemn warning against any false teaching, from one who had been faithful to teach the truth.
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Paul had been given two signs by God concerning the Gentile assemblies, in this regard. The first sign was
Bar-Jesus, who represented the Judaizers, intent upon snatching away the word of God, to the destruction
of souls – like the savage wolves, who come into an assembly from the outside.

The second sign was Eutychus, who had fallen asleep under the teaching of the Word of God, then fallen
out the window, from the height at which the assembly was gathered, to his demise on the earth below.
Eutychus represents those who fall away from the truth, from within an assembly.

The elders to whom Paul was speaking were overseers of no less than the church of God – who had been
purchased with no less than the blood of Christ. How precious a charge had been laid into their possession,
by the Holy Spirit! So Paul again emphasized their vital role.

v. 31 For the three years that Paul had spent at Ephesus, he had carefully watched over the church of God
– he was the faithful watchman. Now he exhorted these elders to remember his vigilance – and to watch as
he had watched – always, and with the greatest of concern for the flock.

Peter would write much the same thing to those Jews who had been dispersed by persecution into Asia
Minor. Turn to Peter’s first epistle.

[1 Peter 5:1-4] They were overseers, to watch over the flock, but not to be lords over the flock; they were
to lead by example.

[Return to Acts 20] Having given the elders this exhortation, Paul then committed them into the trust of
God.

v. 32 Paul entrusted the elders to God and to His Word – the word of His grace – for it was with the Word
of God that prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers equip the saints for the work of ministry, and edify
the Body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12).

And it is the word of His grace alone that would give them an inheritance among the saints – for it is by
Grace that they were saved, through their simple faith in Christ. That inheritance of which Paul spoke is
incorruptible and undefiled; it will not fade away; it is reserved in heaven for them (1 Pet 1:4) – it is a body
conformed unto their Lord’s glorious body (Phil 3:21).

Paul had one more thing to say concerning his ministry among them.

v. 33-35 In Ephesus, Paul supported himself by his trade all the while that he was there, preaching and
teaching – supporting others in the ministry with him, as well. Paul showed by his example that the
minister of Christ does not labor for the sake of money. Paul did teach that it is right that the minister of the
Word should be supported; but he should not be in the ministry for material gain; that is worldly.

In fact, a minister of Christ should expect, not to be supported, but to do the supporting. He must expect to
support the weak – for he is charged with the care of the flock, and should be ready to meet the material
needs of the poor, the needy, the infirm, as the Lord shows – and as an example to the rest of the flock.

Although these words of Jesus are not in the gospel record – “it is more blessed to give than to receive” –
they may have been communicated to Paul directly, or spoken to any of His other disciples.

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive – as anyone who has given knows.
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v. 36-38 So Paul prayed together with the elders. They bowed in submission before their heavenly Head,
who would continue to direct and guide those who were His, now that Paul was taking his leave of them.
You can just see with what tender affection these elders regarded Paul. The thought of never seeing him
again was just overwhelming.

Paul had prepared the elders as best he could for what was ahead – yet within a short time, corruption did
begin to infiltrate that assembly. We’re just going to read a sampling of Paul’s letter that he wrote to
Timothy, who was ministering in Ephesus. This letter was thought to have been written after Paul was
released from his first imprisonment in Rome.

[1 Timothy 1:3-7] Here is evidence that some had come in to the assembly, perhaps Judaizers, trying to
add the works of the Law to faith in Christ.

[1 Timothy 1:18-20] These may have been members of the assembly who were false teachers.

[1 Timothy 4:1-3] The Spirit revealed that there would be those who depart from the faith, introducing
works to salvation.

[1 Timothy 6:19-20] Paul ended his letter with the same note of warning.

Within a few decades, the flock at Ephesus would indeed be drawn away from Christ. We find this in the
revelation that Jesus gave to the apostle John, concerning the churches in Asia.

Concerning Ephesus, Jesus commended them, that they had tested those who say they were apostles and
were not, and had found them liars (Rev 2:2). This indicates that they did keep out those who tried to
infiltrate the assembly with false doctrine.

But then, Jesus said that He had this against them; they had left their first love – Jesus (Rev 2:4). How
could that have happened? Those who later became overseers of the flock were not vigilant enough, for
erroneous thinking crept into the minds of those within the assembly, eventually permeating the teaching
of the assembly.

The believers at Ephesus had begun to subtly exchange their relationship with the Lord – the person of
Jesus – for principles – a religious system of works. Jesus would actually call them to repent – to do the
first works – the work of faith (Rev 2:5).

Despite the failures of individuals and assemblies, the Lord Himself would never fail. His plan of salvation
for mankind – to have sons of God in bodies of glory – will be realized, because it is based, not on men, but
on what Jesus has come and done – and on those who are willing to simply believe Him.

Next week: Read chapter 21.