Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly. 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. 22 Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. 24 But these things don’t count; nor do I hold 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 fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
25 “Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. 32 Now, brothers, and I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. 35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul gives the Ephesian elders parting instructions before he leaves the area, most likely forever, as he told them that they would never see him again. He wants them to be prepared to shepherd the flock in which God had made them overseers. As he visited the Churches that he had planted Paul instructed the disciples, elders, and Church members to imitate me just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 For Paul, living a life that imitated Christ was his joy.
How were they to imitate Paul?
First, Paul speaks about his unwavering commitment to preach the Gospel, speaking the truth in the face of persecution and plots of the Jews and others who tried to silence him. Given the recent events in Ephesus, the elders were well aware of plots and persecution by the unbelievers who opposed them. So, just as Christ had warned his disciples, If they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well, John 15:20, Paul too reminds the elders how he endured persecution as well. Paul didn’t shrink back or change his message when faced with persecution. As Paul would write to these Ephesians years later, Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist in the day of evil, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13
Are you willing to stand firm in the face of evil not shrinking back; not compromising or softening the truth?
Second, like a good shepherd, John 10:14, that loves and knows his sheep individually by name, Paul taught them both publicly and house to house. His shepherding was personal. Likewise, the elders must know the congregation so that they may pray for, encourage, build up, and equip each individual Christian. And the only way that can be done is house to house.
Elders, do you personally know the people that God has entrusted to your care?
Christians, do you Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you and consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith? Hebrews 13:7
Third, as Paul was teaching and going from house to house he testified both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. As he would later write to the Ephesians his purpose was to equip [the] people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until [they] all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12-13
Are you working, house to house, equipping Christians for works of service?
Fourth, Paul says that he presented the whole counsel of God. In other words, in contrast to a growing number of pastors today, he was unwilling to compromise to make his message more palatable. As we saw, in Athens, Paul challenged the false beliefs of the philosophers.
In stark contrast to Paul who said, I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, at the 2021 General Assembly of the PCA Church, a Church leader speaking to the assembly at the Wednesday morning session warned against preaching all that the Bible teaches, asking, “Do we wish to be so faithful to the scriptures that we are inevitably misconstrued?” To further explain his meaning he then referenced John 6 on “predestination,” Romans 1 on “Shameless acts, unnatural affection,” and Romans 13 on prayer “for this present administration.” He concluded that “to say those words from the text sets you up for misconstrual.” He then asked the assembly, Are we presenting ourselves in a way that is accessible to the uninitiated?”
This is exactly what the prophet Micah warned about. The people of Jerusalem did not want to hear God’s Word and complained saying, one should not preach of such things. To which God responded, Do not my words do good to him who walks up rightly? Micah 2:6-7 In other words, God had declared that when His Word is faithfully presented it will not return void. Isaiah 55:11 This means that we must present God’s Word to others, without compromise, not fearing misconstrual, but rather trusting that God will use His Word to call the chosen to Himself.
Are we to listen to the counsel of man who advises avoiding, shrinking back, manipulating, and purposely withholding the Word of God, or should we obey the Spirit who has blessed us with His inspired Word so that we might declare the whole counsel of God? Acts 20:27
Am I trying to win the approval of men or of God? If I were trying to please men I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
Fifth, while Paul had experienced outside persecution from the community and from the government, he also foresaw that false teachers would soon enter inside the Church presenting themselves as legitimate teachers. These vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
When elders allow false teachers to enter the Church the flock is thrown into confusion and led astray. Jude, the pastor of the Church in Jerusalem wrote to the early Church with that very same concern:
I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord… Shepherds who only feed themselves. Jude 1:3-4 & 12
These teachers do not really care about presenting the whole counsel of God. Rather, they are in the Church to only feed themselves. Christ gave an example of such false teachers in His message to the elders of the Church at Thyatira: I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. Revelation 2:20
Are you able to identify any false teachers in the Church today who mislead [Christ’s] servants into sexual morality and other sins?
Are you willing to contend for the faith by confronting and opposing false, self centered, arrogant, greedy teachers? Matthew 18:15-17
Sixth, in contrast to the false teachers who embezzle funds, Philippians 2:3, from the Church or leaders who pursue sexual immorality, Paul reminded the Ephesians of how he lived:
I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. 35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Paul’s goal was not wealth, comfort, or even prestige. In fact, through his journeys Paul had never been a financial burden on the Church. When pastors are dependent on the Church for support they may be tempted to smooth out God’s message so as to not offend those who could cut off their financial support.
Instead Paul’s goal was to help the weak, proclaiming the Gospel, which is necessarily a stumbling block to some. 1 Corinthians 1:23 He offered freedom to those bound up in the lies of the dragon, healing the sick, and showing the way to life. He did this despite terrible persecution. He did this by supporting himself because, for Paul, his ministry was more important than money.
While Paul had to frequently support himself, God teaches that the Church should support their pastors and teachers, 1 Corinthians 9:9.
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17
Seventh, and finally, Paul charged the elders to, Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. As a result Paul could say that I am clean from the blood of all men.
This is a reference to Ezekiel 3:16-19, The word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Christ has commissioned Christians as His ambassadors and commanded them to disciple the nations. We are to proclaim and defend the Gospel.
1 Peter 3:15 If we refuse to warn unbelievers and they die in their sin, God holds us accountable for their blood. This is an awesome responsibility.
In Revelation 21:8 Christ says that the cowardly are not His children and in the parable of the sheep and goats, Matthew 25:31-46 Christ condemns the goats, not for what they did, but, rather, for things they did not do. They did not minister to the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned.
Are you a faithful and bold watchman or are you cowardly?
In summary, notice how Paul instructs the Ephesians to imitate the life of Christ.
1. Christ remained faithful in the face of persecution that ended in His death. Philippians 2:8
2. Christ called His sheep individually by name. John 10:14
3. Christ went from house to house equipping His disciples. Matthew 10:10
4. Christ presented without apology the whole counsel of God. John 6:38
5. Christ confronted the false teachers He encountered. Matthew 23:27-28
6. Christ owned little in the way of earthly possessions. Luke 9:58
7. Christ warned of the wrath of God. Mark 16:16
Similarly, Paul instructed the elders to imitate his life just as he had imitated the life of Christ.
Christian, are you willing to:
1. Be faithful even when faced with persecution?
2. Take the time to know individually the people that Christ has placed under your care?
3. Equip these people so that that they may faithfully serve Christ?
4. Teach the whole counsel of God even when it is politically incorrect?
5. Confront false teachers before they can do damage to the Church?
6. Work for the Kingdom even in anonymity and poverty?
7. Do you demonstrate the courage to warn unbelievers that they will face the wrath of God?
As Paul would write to his disciple Timothy:
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16
You are to not only watch your life and doctrine closely but you are also to share it with others: your hearers.
We must not keep the truth to ourselves, rather, we must share the truth as commanded in Ezekiel 3:16-19.
Acts 21:1 When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was there to unload her cargo. 4 Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to the Christians in Tyre that Paul would face persecution once he arrived in Jerusalem. This was already information that the Spirit had given Paul. Paul had told the Ephesians, Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. Acts 20:22-23
Yet, Paul was compelled by the Spirit to travel to Jerusalem, knowing that afflictions and bonds awaited him. Just as the Good Shepherd was willing to lay down His life in obedience to the Father for the sake of the sheep, Paul too, was willing to lay down his life in obedience.
Additionally, Paul was on a mission, carrying funds to help the poor, beleaguered Christians in Jerusalem. Paul reported that, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. Romans 15:25-26 Although Paul didn’t know what would happen to him, he trusted completely the God who saved him.
Would you, in obedience to Christ, knowingly step into such a situation?
The secret to happiness is found in obedience to God. (R.C. Sproul, “Knowing Scripture”, InterVarsity Press, 1978)
Acts 21:5 When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed, and came to Caesarea.
We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 When we heard these things, both we and the people of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
As Luke explains Paul’s travels, we can get a clear picture as to how universal the Church was becoming at this early date. Wherever Paul traveled there were believers. And not only that but it seems that they all practiced hospitality. They cared for each other. They collected money to support less fortunate Christians. They invited Paul and his companions into their homes. A strong Christian community was developing in what was frequently a very hostile environment. But like the Christians who were driven out of Jerusalem, even persecution could not stop the Christians all across the Empire from sharing the Gospel, discipling new believers, showing hospitality, creating a new worldwide community, and worshiping together.
In Caesarea, while staying with Philip, we again meet Agabus. The prophet named Agabus came down from Judea with a word for Paul from the Lord. Taking Paul’s belt Agabus bound his own hands and feet and said, The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Paul’s companions, including Luke tried to convince their friend to forget going to Jerusalem, but Paul could not be convinced, saying, I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a person in an armchair and taking them easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. (J.C. Ryle, “Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots”, Ichthus Publications, 2017)
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