(མཛད་པ། 20:7-16)

 

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and[b] the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:7-16)

 

Paul’s first stop on his journey from Philippi to Jerusalem was a week spent in Troas.

The final all-night Sunday meeting with the believers, together with Paul’s farewell speech, was too long for one tired young man. Luke, the doctor, tells us how Eutychus died and was then brought back to life.

Then he describes how their journey continued by stages down the west coast of Asia (see map).

(མཛད་པ། 20:17-25)

 

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. (Acts 20:17-25)

 

Paul had important things to say:

For three years he had preached and taught the Ephesians with strong words of testimony that they must follow the liberation path offered by Jesus.

Then he explained how the Holy Spirit kept on speaking to him with strong words saying that he must move on; he must complete elsewhere the work given him by Jesus – the same work of the strong preaching of the good news – despite troubles that lie ahead.

So now he will be leaving them to go to Jerusalem led by the Spirit.

Read in the next post how Paul then spoke strong words of instruction and warning to the Ephesian elders before leaving them for ever .

(མཛད་པ། 20:26-38)

 

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:26-38)

 

In the second part of his speech Paul reminds the Ephesian elders in strong words how he spent 3 years tirelessly explaining the blessing of the gospel, and giving warning of the death-curse of rejecting what Jesus died to give them.

He goes on to say, ‘Now it is your duty. You must feed the church as guardians of the believers, like shepherds caring for sheep. Prepare them for future years when false teachers, like greedy wolves as it were, will seek to devour your flock.’

‘Remember my example’, he said, ‘I did not ask for money, but toiled for mine own living, rather than feed on you and live in comfort.’ 

It was an emotional farewell.