Tag: #Tibetan Text

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 20:17-25 མཛད་པ། 20:17-25

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 20:17-25)

Acts 20.17-25 w B

 

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 .

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 20:26-38 མཛད་པ། 20:26-38

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 20:26-38)

Acts 20.26-38 w B

 

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.

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 21:1-16 མཛད་པ། 21:1-16

Bro Brian.

(མཛད་པ། 21:1-16)

Acts 21.1-16 w B

 

And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews[c] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. (Acts 21:1-16)

 

Luke has given us a description of the sea journey that he made with Paul’s party, ending at Caesarea (see map). After that it was a further 64 km by land to reach Jerusalem.

Among various well-wishers with whom Paul stayed were people who, given foreknowledge by the Holy Spirit, warned him of future sufferings.

But Paul was willing to serve Jesus Christ through suffering in Jerusalem and beyond. In the rest of the book of Acts we will read of his future endurance of riot, imprisonment and shipwreck.

Paul 3rd Journey - 121 - 800px