13 But we, going ahead to the ship , set sail for Assos , intending from there to take Paul on board ; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land . 14 And when he met us at Assos , we took him on board and came to Mitylene . 15 Sailing from there , we arrived the following day opposite Chios ; and the next day we crossed over to Samos ; and the day following we came to Miletus . 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia ; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem , if possible , on the day of Pentecost .
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church . 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know , from the first day that I set foot in Asia , how I was with you the whole time , 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews ; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable , and teaching you publicly and from house to house , 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ . 22 "And now , behold , bound by the Spirit , I am on my way to Jerusalem , not knowing what will happen to me there e , 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city , saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself , so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus , to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God . 25 "And now , behold , I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom , will no longer see my face . 26 "Therefore , I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men . 27 "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God . 28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock , among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers , to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood . 29 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock ; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise , speaking perverse things , to draw away the disciples after them. 31 "Therefore be on the alert , remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears . 32 "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 . 33 " I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes . 34 "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus , that He Himself said , 'It is more blessed to give than to receive .'"
36 When he had said these things , he knelt e down e and prayed with them all . 37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced e e Paul , and repeatedly kissed him, 38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken , that they would not see his face again . And they were accompanying him to the ship .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 20:13-38
Commentary on Acts 20:13-16
(Read Acts 20:13-16)
Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty calls us another way.
Commentary on Acts 20:17-27
(Read Acts 20:17-27)
The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher; he preached the gospel as a testimony to them if they received it; but as a testimony against them if they rejected it. He was a profitable preacher; one that aimed to inform their judgments, and reform their hearts and lives. He was a painful preacher, very industrious in his work. He was a faithful preacher; he did not keep back reproofs when necessary, nor keep back the preaching of the cross. He was a truly Christian, evangelical preacher; he did not preach notions or doubtful matters; nor affairs of state or the civil government; but he preached faith and repentance. A better summary of these things, without which there is no salvation, cannot be given: even repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, with their fruits and effects. Without these no sinner can escape, and with these none will come short of eternal life. Let them not think that Paul left Asia for fear of persecution; he was in full expectation of trouble, yet resolved to go on, well assured that it was by Divine direction. Thanks be to God that we know not the things which shall befall us during the year, the week, the day which has begun. It is enough for the child of God to know that his strength shall be equal to his day. He knows not, he would not know, what the day before him shall bring forth. The powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his duty. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Christ constrains him to proceed. None of these things moved Paul from his work; they did not deprive him of his comfort. It is the business of our life to provide for a joyful death. Believing that this was the last time they should see him, he appeals concerning his integrity. He had preached to them the whole counsel of God. As he had preached to them the gospel purely, so he had preached it to them entire; he faithfully did his work, whether men would bear or forbear.
Commentary on Acts 20:28-38
(Read Acts 20:28-38)
If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to ransom believers from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends them to the word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hope and the fountain of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are capable of growing, and will find the word of grace help their growth. As those cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would be no heaven to them; but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of God is renewed, it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the present world; this they would find help forward their comfortable passage through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of their Master's, which he would have them always remember; "It is more blessed to give than to receive:" it seems they were words often used to his disciples. The opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; they are afraid of giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with them the most blessed thing that can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. It makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none; and to the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be in us also. It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer. Those who exhort and pray for one another, may have many weeping seasons and painful separations, but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them.