What was happening when Paul gave his farewell to the Ephesian elders?

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem after a time of trouble in Ephesus and visits through Macedonia and Greece. He wanted to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost, so instead of stopping at Ephesus, he asked the elders of the church there to meet him at Miletus. Knowing they would not see him again, he reminded them how he had served among them with humility, tears, and trials, preaching repentance toward God and faith in Jesus. This was like a final meeting where he passed on his heart for them and their duty as church leaders.

Who was Eutychus and what happened to him at Troas?

Eutychus was a young man sitting in a window during a late-night gathering of believers in an upstairs room at Troas. It was the first day of the week, and the disciples had come together to break bread while Paul spoke, knowing he would leave the next day. As Paul talked on until midnight, Eutychus fell into a deep sleep, dropped from the third floor, and was taken up dead. Paul went down, embraced him, and said his life was in him. The young man was brought back alive, and the believers were greatly comforted.

What does it mean that the church of God was purchased with his own blood?

Paul tells the elders that the Holy Spirit made them overseers to care for the church of God, which God purchased with his own blood. Here he is speaking about Jesus, who is both truly God and truly man. By his death on the cross, his blood paid the cost to make the church his own. Calling it “his own blood” shows how precious the church is to God and how costly its salvation was. This is why the elders must watch themselves and the flock carefully and take their work very seriously.

Why did Paul warn about grievous wolves and men speaking perverse things?

Paul knew that after he left, fierce enemies of the truth would come into the church, like wolves attacking a flock. He also said that even from among the elders themselves some would rise up, twist the truth, and try to pull disciples after themselves. This warning shows that danger can come from outside and inside the church. Paul had spent about three years warning them night and day with tears. Now he urges them to stay awake, guard the flock, and remember the example and teaching they had received.

What does Paul mean when he says he is pure from the blood of all men?

When Paul says he is pure from the blood of all men, he means he is not guilty if people refuse the message. He had not kept back anything that was profitable. He taught them publicly and from house to house and declared all the counsel of God. Because he plainly preached repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus to both Jews and Greeks, he had done his duty. If anyone rejected the message, it would not be because Paul had been silent or dishonest, but because they themselves turned away.

Why does Paul say he goes bound in the spirit to Jerusalem?

Paul says he goes bound in the spirit to Jerusalem because he feels constrained and led by the Holy Spirit to go there, even though he does not know exactly what will happen. He only knows that in every city the Holy Spirit keeps warning him that chains and suffering are ahead. Yet he says none of these things move him, and he does not count his life dear to himself. His main aim is to finish his course with joy and complete the ministry he received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

What does this passage teach about how church leaders should live and serve?

Paul’s words and example give a clear picture of how church leaders should live. He served the Lord with humility, tears, and patience in trials. He taught the whole truth of God, not just the easy parts, and spoke both in public and in homes. He did not covet anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing, but worked with his own hands to meet his needs and help others. He tells the elders to watch themselves and the flock, to feed the church God bought with Christ’s blood, to support the weak, and to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Why is the saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," important here?

Paul quotes this saying of the Lord Jesus at the end of his farewell to show the kind of heart church leaders should have. He has just reminded them how he worked to meet his own needs and helped those with him. Then he tells them that, in the same way, they should labor to support the weak. The saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” sums up a life that is not greedy, but generous. It calls leaders and all believers to find joy in giving time, care, and resources, rather than living for what they can get.

How did Paul show his love and care for the believers in this passage?

Paul’s love shows up in many ways. He embraces the disciples when he leaves Ephesus and spends time encouraging believers in Macedonia and Greece. At Troas he teaches long into the night and comforts them when Eutychus is restored. With the Ephesian elders, he reminds them of his tears, his warnings day and night, and his hard work to avoid being a burden. He kneels down and prays with them all, and they weep, hug, and kiss him, sorrowing that they will not see his face again. All this shows deep, real care, not just formal duty.

Acts.20.1

Acts 20:1

KJV

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13 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.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.

15 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.

16 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.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18 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,

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 Testifying 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 witnesseth 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 overseers, 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 men 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 coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye 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 blessed to give than to receive.

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore, 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.

Cross References

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