PAUL’S FAREWELL SPEECH
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Opening Prayer
As I read your Word today, Lord God, please give me greater understanding and new reasons to follow you with commitment and confidence.
Read ACTS 20:17–38
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.[b] 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Footnotes
- Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
- Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What would you say to the people you love if you knew you would never see them again? Reflect on what is most important to you about those relationships.
I wonder whether Luke took notes during this speech, or whether he just had a very good memory! He was almost certainly with the elders of the Ephesian church when Paul made this heartfelt address to them—Luke uses ‘we’ in verse 13 and again in 21:1. Clearly this speech made a great impact on everyone present—they all wept (v. 37).
Paul is now on his way back to Jerusalem to be there at Pentecost, so he summons the elders of the Ephesian church, where he had been so involved, to meet him in Miletus. Paul appeals to their knowledge of him and his ministry to defend his integrity, knowing that he may meet persecution ahead in Jerusalem (vv. 22–24). Yet he is ‘compelled by the Spirit’ to go and he puts the goal of preaching Jesus ahead of any personal threat or discomfort. What a challenge this is to us as we go about our daily lives!
Paul also gives advice to the church leaders, because he knows he will not see them again (v. 25). He warns them to stay true, to ‘watch’ (v. 28) their own spiritual lives, and to be watchful toward those who will accuse and challenge them. In particular, pastors must never be susceptible to personal gain at the expense of the flock. Whether or not we are in leadership, we need to remain accountable to God, and we do this by being accountable to others in Christ. This is of particular importance in the formation of new ministers and leaders. Paul’s clear understanding that he will never return to them is hard for them to bear. This apostle, who was full of passion and learning, and could be so firm, was also dearly beloved.
Apply
Think about the leaders in your own church and those who have helped you on your Christian journey. How can you show your gratitude for them?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the faithful saints you have used to nurture my faith and strengthen my walk with you. Give me vision to seek those needing my encouragement.
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