Farewell to Ephesus
17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18And 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, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21solemnly 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, 23except 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; 30and 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.’”
36When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.
Paul was serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials. For three years he was working hard, giving to the poor, testifying of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He was tent maker, working to support himself so he could say he took neither gold, silver, or clothing from anyone.
He was a gifted writer, speaker and used his gifts in the ministry which Jesus laid before him. He was leaving for Jerusalem, where the Jews awaited him with evil on their hearts and a murderous plan. These were the same Jews that killed Jesus.
So Paul was returning to the prospect of death because this is where the Holy Spirit was leading him, saying that bonds and afflictions awaited him.
Paul also warned the church to be on guard for themselves and the flock, from wolves and men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Remember; use scripture to interpret scripture. Keep it in context. Context; "the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning."
What about you? Do you follow the Holy Spirit when He calls you? Will you leave everything and everyone as Paul did? Will you say "it is more blessed to give that to receive"? Will your friends weep out loud and embrace you? What will your legacy be for God after you die the first death?
These are questions only you can answer.
Can you live with your answer?
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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