Act 20:17-35 | TNotes | STEP | 20:17 Miletus was a major port on the western coast of Asia Minor at the mouth of the Meander River. It provided a place for Paul to meet briefly with the elders of Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem.

20:17 ^a Miletus was a major port on the western coast of Asia Minor at the mouth of the Meander River. It provided a place for Paul to meet briefly with the elders of Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem.
Summary for Acts 20:18-38: 20:18-38 ^b Paul’s address to the elders of the church of Ephesus is a testimony regarding his life and ministry in Ephesus, calling for similar dedication from the leaders who would carry on the ministry. The sermon highlights Paul’s integrity and pastoral care (20:18-21 ^c, 26 ^d, 31 ^e), speaks about the future (20:22-23 ^f, 25 ^g, 29-30 ^h), warns against false teachers (20:29-30 ⁱ), and exhorts the elders to be watchful and faithful (20:28 ^j, 31 ^k). Paul modeled sacrificial, conscientious, servant leadership.
20:23 ^l the Holy Spirit tells me: See, e.g., 21:10-12 ^m.
20:26 ⁿ I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault: Cp. Ezek 3:16-21 ^o.
20:28 ^p Paul refers to the church as God’s people and God’s flock (cp. 1 Pet 2:25 ^q; 5:2 ^r, 4 ^s). Elsewhere the church is called the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27 ^t; Eph 1:23 ^u; 4:12 ^v; Col 1:24 ^w); the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2 ^x; Rev 19:7 ^y; see Eph 5:25-32 ^z); the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16 ^aa; 2 Cor 6:16 ^ab); a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession (1 Pet 2:9 ^ac); and God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor 3:9 ^ad).

• Paul expected the leaders to feed and shepherd the church over which the Holy Spirit had appointed them as leaders (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 ^ae; Titus 1:5-7 ^af; 1 Pet 5:1-4 ^ag; cp. Acts 6:2-4 ^ah).
Summary for Acts 20:29-30: 20:29-30 ^ai vicious wolves: Paul’s prophecy did in fact happen, prompting him to write to Timothy in Ephesus some five years later (see 1 Tim 1:3-7 ^aj, 19-20 ^ak; 4:1-5 ^al; see also Matt 7:15 ^am; 10:16 ^an; Mark 13:22 ^ao; Luke 10:3 ^ap; 2 Pet 2:1-22 ^aq; 3:3 ^ar).
20:35 ^as ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’: This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels.