Acts 20: 13-38

(Acts 20: 13-38)

And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.  And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.  And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.  For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  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,  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:  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,  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  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.  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  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.  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.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  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. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  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.  And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,  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.

 

Paul finished his third outreach trip (from Syria Antioch to Jerusalem, traveled about 5,600 km) at Corinth, and then returned to Jerusalem. The quickest and most convenient way to get from Corinth to Jerusalem was by boat, but the reason he did not get on the boat was because the Jews conspired to harm Paul. This choice was a difficult path for Paul to suffer, but on the way Paul went back on foot, there were cities where Paul preached the Gospel during his second and third evangelistic trips. In the end, although it was the way of suffering for Paul, it was a way of blessing because the saints in this city met Paul once more and were able to strengthen their faith.

From verses 13 to 16, how Paul and his companions travel to Jerusalem is detailed, and verses 17 to 38 give a sermon to the elders of the Ephesus Church who had been preaching the gospel for as many as three years. First of all, Paul's journey is recorded in great detail. Paul, who saved Nipples who died in Troas, passed through Asso and reached Midulene, Gio, and Samo to Miledo. Paul's stopover is recorded in this detail, indicating that Paul was very busy.

『 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.  And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.  And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 』
“The next day.. the next day.. and the next day..” These expressions inform the fact that Paul and his companions continued to move without ceasing. The reason was that before Pentecost, I could not stay relaxed in any one place to go to Jerusalem. How hastily Paul was in a hurry can be confirmed once more through the incident of calling the saints there to Miledo without hearing Ephesus. Ephesus was a place that gave Paul a special attachment to him, as he worked for three years. But he had to go to Jerusalem before Pentecost, so he couldn't even hear Ephesus.

So, the elders of the church in Ephesus were called to Miledo, and the saints who received Paul's message ran to Miledo in one step. To the Saints who had come to Miledo, Paul preached how much he had worked with all his might. Paul knew that tribulation was waiting in Jerusalem, where he was about to go. If so, it would be a common sense option not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul's will was determined.

It means that he will not regard his life as precious until he has completed his mission from the Lord. Although there will be tribulation, Paul will enter Jerusalem. And Paul urged the elders of the Ephesian church to follow himself and continue to devote himself to caring for the church, as the same tribulation would come upon him.

『 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 』 Paul's farewell sermon to the Ephesians ends with the words of the Lord: ``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. 』

In Acts 17:30, Paul said, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 26:20 is what Paul said during his expropriation to Rome. This is what I told King Agrippa: ``But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 』Many people may think for themselves, "I have repented," but if God does not repent, they will say, "I don't know you."