Act 20:17 | KingComments | STEP | Although Paul cannot go to Ephesus due to lack of time, he still longs to have contact with the church. He cannot call the whole church to him, but he can call the people in charge of the church, the elders. That is why he uses the stop at Miletus to call these elders to him. That he does this with a purpose and not from an emotional whim, is clear from his speech to them. Of his two earlier speeches, one was to the Jews ( ) and one to the Gentiles ( ). Here he addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus and in them the whole church there and over their heads then also the worldwide church. Elders are always mentioned in plural and are only connected to the local church. So there is no such thing as a reverend or a teaching elder. Elder and overseer is the same person. This is clear from where Paul calls this same group of elders overseers (cf. ). Luke has again reserved a lot of space for this speech. This speech is not only important for the elders of Ephesus and the church there, but for the whole Christian church. It gives us an overview of Paul’s ministry. It is not so much about the outward effect of his ministry, the results for others. It is especially about the inner side of his ministry, what he himself has experienced and endured, the struggles and soul exercises that went with it, the tears, the care, the commitment with which he carried out his ministry. In this small company of these responsible brothers he feels free to express his feelings, to share them with them as with friends. His speech also has a prophetic meaning. He speaks about what the impact of his ministry will be in the history of the Christian church if he and the other apostles have passed away. In his speech he looks 1. back ( ), 2. to the present ( ) and 3. to the future ( ). He speaks of his ministry as 1. evangelist ( ), 2. teacher ( ), 3. prophet ( ) and 4. shepherd ( ). As a shepherd he has an eye for the whole flock, mentioning his care for the weak specially ( ). We can divide his speech into four parts, with the words “and now” or “and now, behold” marking the different parts: 1. his example ( ), 2. its way ( ), 3. the developments after his passing ( ) and 4. his commendation ( ).

‏ Acts 20:17

Paul Calls the Elders of Ephesus to Him

Although Paul cannot go to Ephesus due to lack of time, he still longs to have contact with the church. He cannot call the whole church to him, but he can call the people in charge of the church, the elders. That is why he uses the stop at Miletus to call these elders to him.

That he does this with a purpose and not from an emotional whim, is clear from his speech to them. Of his two earlier speeches, one was to the Jews (Acts 13:15-41) and one to the Gentiles (Acts 17:22-31). Here he addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus and in them the whole church there and over their heads then also the worldwide church.

Elders are always mentioned in plural and are only connected to the local church. So there is no such thing as a reverend or a teaching elder. Elder and overseer is the same person. This is clear from Acts 20:28 where Paul calls this same group of elders overseers (cf. Tit 1:5 ; 7).

Luke has again reserved a lot of space for this speech. This speech is not only important for the elders of Ephesus and the church there, but for the whole Christian church. It gives us an overview of Paul’s ministry. It is not so much about the outward effect of his ministry, the results for others. It is especially about the inner side of his ministry, what he himself has experienced and endured, the struggles and soul exercises that went with it, the tears, the care, the commitment with which he carried out his ministry. In this small company of these responsible brothers he feels free to express his feelings, to share them with them as with friends.

His speech also has a prophetic meaning. He speaks about what the impact of his ministry will be in the history of the Christian church if he and the other apostles have passed away.

In his speech he looks

1. back (Acts 20:18-21),

2. to the present (Acts 20:22-27) and

3. to the future (Acts 20:28-31).

He speaks of his ministry as

1. evangelist (Acts 20:21 ; 24),

2. teacher (Acts 20:25 ; 27),

3. prophet (Acts 20:29-30) and

4. shepherd (Acts 20:31-35). As a shepherd he has an eye for the whole flock, mentioning his care for the weak specially (Acts 20:35).

We can divide his speech into four parts, with the words “and now” or “and now, behold” marking the different parts:

1. his example (Acts 20:18-21),

2. its way (Acts 20:22-24),

3. the developments after his passing (Acts 20:25-31) and

4. his commendation (Acts 20:32-35).