Introduction:
As we found from Acts 20, Paul is heading to Jerusalem and then to Rome. Before he heads east to Jerusalem, he goes west to collect an offering for the struggling church. He then heads back east and passes by Ephesus, where he feels a longing to speak to the believers there. Then, he calls up the elders to meet him nearby at Miletus and then gives them a farewell speech.
If we sump up his farewell speech;
1. He (Apostle Paul) recounted how he served the Lord among believers from Ephesus with humility, with tears and with trials.
2. He testified that he declared a complete gospel to them and he is therefore clean from the blood of all men.
3. He also told them that – he was not afraid of the imprisonment and suffering that awaited him in the hands of the Jews because of the gospel of Christ as he went to Jerusalem.
4. Then he warned the disciples at Ephesus to be at alert because of some men who will give wrong teaching after his departure in order to draw away the disciples after them.
5. He admonished them also on the need for them to be hard working so that they can be able to give unto others as it is more blessed to give than to receive.
6. At the last part, He prayed with them as he took his journey to Jerusalem. It was an emotion laden departure.
Then, at the last part of his speech, 20: 36 – 38 tell us that - "When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. They all wept much and hugged Paul’s neck and kissed him affectionately. They sorrowed most of all because of his saying that they should see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship."
This is the whole story of this discourses/section, and if we narrow down the summary of his speech, we can bring out some important points about his work in Ephesus (Acts 20:17-21):
- He was loyal to the church in Ephesus; he stayed there for the whole time that he was in Asia.
- He served the Lord humbly, and willingly suffered many trials, and cares for the sake of the gospel.
- He declared the whole gospel without fear of its opponents.
- He taught in public speeches and debates, but also in private house meetings; being more concerned with the size of the opportunity than the size of the audience.
- He taught both Jews and Gentiles without any favouritism.
- He did not teach "faith alone" but taught the necessity of other things that accompany faith, such as repentance.
Therefore by making some reflections from the chosen texts, we can bring out some implications which are believed to be helpful and appropriated for today’s ministers who are actively involved in Church ministry;
1. First thing what we can learn from the text is – Paul’s experience with the church which he expressed as having being deeply connected with the church in Ephesus. In the first part of his speech - he expressed his love and concern towards his established church, and the simultaneous result we found is - the church members from Ephesus also expressed the same towards Paul. Therefore, one thing we can learn and notice from here is – There was ‘strong attachment (affection or connection)’ which was established by Paul among the church members in Ephesus as well as between Paul and the church.
For me, this is something that impressed me, and enslaved my thought and attention when I read through the passages. Because, this attachment between Paul and church members in Ephesus has profound value for the present church; or today context where many church leaders/pastor/shepherd looked and focused their own interest or personal gain rather than considering / providing spiritual needs of the people or paying attention to the real needs of their congregation.
Since there can be no ‘affectionate attachment’ which is very much needed for a healthy church in such a context or situation; we must lean and transmit for our-selves for the service of God.
2. Secondly, another significant point we also can learn from the text is – Paul has expressed his concern about the future of the church.
V. 28 says - Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
One of the key phrases I want to mention from here is – ‘keep watch over’. This is also what Paul wanted to remind us or to the church elders of Ephesus. They must keep watch over not only members of the church but ‘themselves’ – i.e. they must keep watch over themselves. This is to be taken very seriously because - the church is considered as the body of Christ which is established by God which he also obtained with the blood of Jesus Christ, and we are also the one whom God has made us as overseers of his living church– i.e to look after and to keep vigilance.
Therefore, if someone is going to take serious the responsibility given to him/her as well as the future well being of the church; he/she must keep watch over individual lives of the church as well as his/her own personal / spiritual life.
3. Thirdly, another exemplary life he set before all of us was – He Work hard.
V. 34 says – “You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Therefore, as we see from the life and teaching of Paul - let all of us be prepared ourselves for the service of God. So that we may establish a spirit of love, strong attachment within/between the churches, be vigilance for the future of the church and work hard for the growth and development of the church.
As we found from Acts 20, Paul is heading to Jerusalem and then to Rome. Before he heads east to Jerusalem, he goes west to collect an offering for the struggling church. He then heads back east and passes by Ephesus, where he feels a longing to speak to the believers there. Then, he calls up the elders to meet him nearby at Miletus and then gives them a farewell speech.
If we sump up his farewell speech;
1. He (Apostle Paul) recounted how he served the Lord among believers from Ephesus with humility, with tears and with trials.
2. He testified that he declared a complete gospel to them and he is therefore clean from the blood of all men.
3. He also told them that – he was not afraid of the imprisonment and suffering that awaited him in the hands of the Jews because of the gospel of Christ as he went to Jerusalem.
4. Then he warned the disciples at Ephesus to be at alert because of some men who will give wrong teaching after his departure in order to draw away the disciples after them.
5. He admonished them also on the need for them to be hard working so that they can be able to give unto others as it is more blessed to give than to receive.
6. At the last part, He prayed with them as he took his journey to Jerusalem. It was an emotion laden departure.
Then, at the last part of his speech, 20: 36 – 38 tell us that - "When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. They all wept much and hugged Paul’s neck and kissed him affectionately. They sorrowed most of all because of his saying that they should see his face no more. And they went with him to the ship."
This is the whole story of this discourses/section, and if we narrow down the summary of his speech, we can bring out some important points about his work in Ephesus (Acts 20:17-21):
- He was loyal to the church in Ephesus; he stayed there for the whole time that he was in Asia.
- He served the Lord humbly, and willingly suffered many trials, and cares for the sake of the gospel.
- He declared the whole gospel without fear of its opponents.
- He taught in public speeches and debates, but also in private house meetings; being more concerned with the size of the opportunity than the size of the audience.
- He taught both Jews and Gentiles without any favouritism.
- He did not teach "faith alone" but taught the necessity of other things that accompany faith, such as repentance.
Therefore by making some reflections from the chosen texts, we can bring out some implications which are believed to be helpful and appropriated for today’s ministers who are actively involved in Church ministry;
1. First thing what we can learn from the text is – Paul’s experience with the church which he expressed as having being deeply connected with the church in Ephesus. In the first part of his speech - he expressed his love and concern towards his established church, and the simultaneous result we found is - the church members from Ephesus also expressed the same towards Paul. Therefore, one thing we can learn and notice from here is – There was ‘strong attachment (affection or connection)’ which was established by Paul among the church members in Ephesus as well as between Paul and the church.
For me, this is something that impressed me, and enslaved my thought and attention when I read through the passages. Because, this attachment between Paul and church members in Ephesus has profound value for the present church; or today context where many church leaders/pastor/shepherd looked and focused their own interest or personal gain rather than considering / providing spiritual needs of the people or paying attention to the real needs of their congregation.
Since there can be no ‘affectionate attachment’ which is very much needed for a healthy church in such a context or situation; we must lean and transmit for our-selves for the service of God.
2. Secondly, another significant point we also can learn from the text is – Paul has expressed his concern about the future of the church.
V. 28 says - Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
One of the key phrases I want to mention from here is – ‘keep watch over’. This is also what Paul wanted to remind us or to the church elders of Ephesus. They must keep watch over not only members of the church but ‘themselves’ – i.e. they must keep watch over themselves. This is to be taken very seriously because - the church is considered as the body of Christ which is established by God which he also obtained with the blood of Jesus Christ, and we are also the one whom God has made us as overseers of his living church– i.e to look after and to keep vigilance.
Therefore, if someone is going to take serious the responsibility given to him/her as well as the future well being of the church; he/she must keep watch over individual lives of the church as well as his/her own personal / spiritual life.
3. Thirdly, another exemplary life he set before all of us was – He Work hard.
V. 34 says – “You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Therefore, as we see from the life and teaching of Paul - let all of us be prepared ourselves for the service of God. So that we may establish a spirit of love, strong attachment within/between the churches, be vigilance for the future of the church and work hard for the growth and development of the church.
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