Acts 20:13-38 (Pastor Heo)
Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
We said goodbye to our Ugandan friends last week. We must continually say goodbye throughout this life. And sometimes, this may discourage us, thinking, “Frequent goodbyes prevent the church from growing in numbers and strength.”
From one point of view, this is correct. But we must be able to see the other side of the story as well.
The church is very important to God. It is important to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So, the church is called the House of God, the body of Christ, temple of the Holy Spirit.
So at the same time, goodbyes can encourage us to spread our ministry beyond our building – as part of the universal church.
- Yes, in any job, starting well is very important, but finishing well is more important.
- In church, meeting well is important, but good farewells are more important.
So, we must be careful not to fall into mannerism. We must remain brand new in our hearts in serving God and serving others.
Today’s sermon is about Paul’s farewell to the church in Ephesus. Goodbyes are an regular thing in the church and also occupy much of history.
Paul set out to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem, but in Corinth (on the way), there was a plot to kill him, so he had to stay there for a few weeks.
- His first plan was to arrive before Passover.
- His second plan was to arrive before Pentecost (50 days later).
He had to return through Philippi, then Troas (where he’d had his vision of the Man of Macedonia) – and he had a farewell service with the believers there. One man, Eutychus fell asleep and fell down to his death – but Paul raised him to life.
The next early morning, Paul and his team started out for Assos – Paul, Luke, Timothy and other members. They sailed from Europe to Asia (30km+).
From Troas to Assos, other team members went by ship, but only Paul went on foot. Can you imagine this?
At Assos they joined together again. We have no reason written down as to why. He probably walked more than 10 hours. We can only guess.
- To be alone with God?
- To meet more non-Christians on the road?
Probably, he prepared his farewell sermon and pondered his ministry at Ephesus – because he was to give his farewell address there very soon. Another possibility – he wanted time alone to talk with the Lord about going to Jerusalem.
His resolution to go there was similar with that of Christ’s – in a sense.
In the case of Christ, he said several times, strongly, I must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and raised to life. “For the time for him to be taken up to heaven, he resolutely started for Jerusalem.”
Like this, Paul felt strongly that something difficult was waiting for him in Jerusalem.
- v. 16 “Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.”
- v. 22 “”And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” (no matter what happens – hard or difficult).
- v. 23 “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
In the next chapter, a prophet prophesied that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem. His team plead with him NOT to go – but he resolutely said, “Why are you breaking my heart? I’m ready to die for the Lord Jesus Christ!”
Act 21:12-13 “When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” “
Are you ready?
From Assos, they went to Miletus. (v 15)
There were not many days left for the feast, so Paul did not go to Ephesus, but to Miletus – a port where the ships loaded and unloaded cargo and people. Paul invited the Ephesian elders to come there to meet him. This was also about 30 miles away.
The elders came there, and had a goodbye meeting – where Paul shared his message.
Paul’s Goodbye Message (v. 18-35)
“18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” “
There are three parts: Past (18-21), Present (22-27), Future (28-35)
Past
v. 20-21
“20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must **turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.**”
We need this kind of boldness today to tell others. We have one message to tell others – the gospel message. “Faith in Christ, following repentance from sin, turning to God.”
- Repent from sin
- Turn to God
- Believe in Christ
Great summary of the gospel message.
In this day of growing complexity, sometimes the church falls into the temptation to be “sophisticated” and “complicated” to fit in the world’s culture. But we must never let our gospel message get lost in our busy-ness – calendars, events, classes, seminars, etc.
This message must not be exclusive, not optional, not overly complicated. There is only one message we should declare in this world.
- Repent
- Turn
- Believe
That’s all – 2,000 years ago – and today.
Repent! Turn to God! Believe in Christ!
Confess with your mouth Christ is Lord and Savior.
Present
v. 24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. “
As workers of Christ – are you workers / ministers today? If we are, we must know 3 points about our identities.
- We are runners
- We are witnesses
- We are heralds
Runners
Our lives are a race that should be finished some day. Our single-minded desire should be to finish this race well. Our most important goal should be to tell others about Christ – this is the message of freedom, salvation, eternal life.
Witnesses
The main job of a witness is to testify (tell) about what has happened to him / her. Tell what you saw / heard / experienced. Witnessing is not “teaching” any skill or knowledge. This is simply testifying.
We must be clear about what is the #1 priority in our lives. This is Paul’s. “I consider my life worth *nothing* to me…”
Life is important – we cannot exchange it for anything else in this universe.
“…if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. “
Paul’s mission is “Mission”.
Are you clear about your #1 priority in your life? We have so many jobs to do, but what is #1?
Also, we are not only witnesses, we are also heralds.
Heralds
Heralds tell what the king tells him to tell. Heralds convey the message of the king – they are sent.
As Heralds, we should not change that message in any way. Whenever you preach the gospel in this world, you are SENT by the King. That’s why we are called ambassadors – from heaven to earth.
As workers in Christ, we must increase humility, passion, compassion, tenderness, empathy, sympathy, affection with tears – Paul showed this.
As workers we must avoid bad attitudes against Christ – covetousness, laziness, shallowness, carelessness, (most of all) selfishness.
Paul’s Last Sentence
v. 35
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “”
This is very meaningful. His last sentence is a quotation from Christ. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Remember, our ministry is basically GIVING – not Getting – this means following the example of Christ.
Somebody calls this verse a supreme beatitude. “Blessed are the meek…” (8 blessings). Unlike the other verses in Matthew 5, this verse instructs us how to be MORE blessed.
This however, does not mean that those who receive are LESS blessed. Blessing does not come from accumulating wealth but from sharing with others.
But, this sentence itself is not found in any of the 4 gospels. Obviously, not ALL of Jesus’ words were written in the gospels. This sentence must have been passed on orally through the apostles. The theology of this sentence is the HEART of Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus himself says, “I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for the many.”
Also, Paul’s life and ministry was giving. He gave his life, his work, his everything to the preaching of the Word.
Remember, selfish people can of course be saved – Jesus died for ALL people – but selfish people cannot be Christian workers. Thus, Paul summarizes everything Jesus and he himself did and said in this last sentence.
Farewell message finished.
How did they part?
v. 36-38
“When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. “
Paul closed this memorable occasion by kneeling down and praying – with and for them – and they all wept and embraced. What a beautiful Christian fellowship. Also, what a sorrowful scene. But at the same time, what a wonderful Christian farewell and meeting – because they were united in the same God and faith in Christ and hope that they’d see each other again in heaven.
Yes, it is difficult to say “goodbye” when we know we will never see our Christian friends again, but we have blessed assurance that we WILL see them again in heaven when Christ returns.
No doubt all of them stood without moving when they accompanied him to the ship. They likely cried, waving hands until the ship disappeared over the horizon. Only then would they return to Ephesus with great resolution to give themselves to the service of Christ – with the zeal they saw in Paul.
Like this, all believers can build a fellowship with others by sharing, and caring. There is no exception to this.
One day, we must say “goodbye” to each other – even parents and children, husband and wife. But we don’t know when and where. So, as long as the opportunity is given to us in this life, let us encourage, edify, and bless each other.
Let’s pray.
