Paul’s personal warning to Ephesus
Ephesus was an especially important city for the spread of the Gospel.
It was passed over at first, for Paul was sent by the Spirit to Philippi in Greece….and then up to Athens and then to Corinth.
But then, on his third missionary journey….Ephesus is visited and the gospel is given. He stays almost three years preaching to the people there….
(…it is there that he writes 1 Corinthians, and sends the letter….for he did not want to come in judgement, without giving them a chance to correct the sin themselves.
…it is there he writes Galatians, correcting the error of combining Judaism and Christianity.)
After he leaves Ephesus, and goes around to the other churches….he comes back. He is heading to Jerusalem to share his testimony of his conversion, from believing in God…as a righteous Jew…and hating and persecuting the Christians….
….to knowing and believing in Christ Jesus the Lord, the Son of God, the Savior….who died and rose again the third day.
Paul feels, (though he has been called to the Gentiles), no one can turn the anger and malice that the chief priests have stirred up against Christ to his nation,……like he can…
….for his testimony…and his life, demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ, God’s Son….against this anger and hatred.
But going by Ephesus, to Jerusalem, he calls the elders of that beloved church to speak….one last time to them personally.
Acts 20:18-21 “And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you in all seasons,
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations,…
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
Testifying….repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul begins by reminding them of his labor among them….the self-denial, tears, and trials which came up, because he brought the knowledge of Christ to them.
He tells them that he knows that more trials,….and even bonds….await him at Jerusalem…
….but “none of these things move me”….I will not stop because of what is ahead….
…because….”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.”
(Should not we all have the same feeling toward our calling and work for Christ….to finish our course….with joy!)
He tells them that they will not see him again, and makes it clear that he has declared “unto you all the counsel of God.”
He had not held anything back……he made sure they had all the gospel…..all that the Lord Jesus had showed him and told him.
Then he warns them….(and this is a warning we, as Christians, should all listen to…..and obey)
Acts 20:28-31 “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,…..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…..I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
The warning is simple…..stay with the Word of God.
Don’t twist my words to make them say something else….and watch for others…for they will try and twist them, as well.
The Holy Spirit has given you the job to look after the fellow members of the church….so watch, for yourselves,….and then for them.
Acts 20:32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and 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 commend you to God”…..commend means to deposit as a trust or for
protection.
Paul had fought for and taught them while he was with them,….but now….
…..he deposits them into the hands of God….to teach them by His Holy Spirit, and the Word of His grace….and for God to protect them.
He reminds them, he had worked among them….not taking anything from them….worked and supported the weak…as the Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:36 “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.”
In the last words to Ephesus which Paul spoke in person….he reminds them of his example….
……he tells them of the bonds ahead for him, for that will show how serious he is….in what he tells them next…
…and he warns them…of the perversion of the Word of God…by themselves and others.
He points out that the Holy Spirit has chosen them for this job, and will enable them….but they must…watch.
Then he gives them into the Lord’s hands….how safe we are there….as we obey Him….
….and then, finally, Paul kneels and prays with them.
The love he has for them….and the importance of his message to them…
…..is seen in these words…..
……for in no other place….though he stops and preaches….are the words recorded.
We, also, have been commended to God…..are under His protection.
Let us take heed to these words….
……….to the gospel of God (the Word of His grace),
“which is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
…..and to the warnings….to watch…for any perversion in ourselves and for our church.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 