Acts 20:18-38
Summary for Acts 20:18-38: 20:18-38 a 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 b, 26 c, 31 d), speaks about the future (20:22-23 e, 25 f, 29-30 g), warns against false teachers (20:29-30 h), and exhorts the elders to be watchful and faithful (20:28 i, 31 j). Paul modeled sacrificial, conscientious, servant leadership.20:23 k the Holy Spirit tells me: See, e.g., 21:10-12 l.
20:26 m I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault: Cp. Ezek 3:16-21 n.
20:28 o Paul refers to the church as God’s people and God’s flock (cp. 1 Pet 2:25 p; 5:2 q, 4 r). Elsewhere the church is called the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27 s; Eph 1:23 t; 4:12 u; Col 1:24 v); the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2 w; Rev 19:7 x; see Eph 5:25-32 y); the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16 z; 2 Cor 6:16 aa); a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession (1 Pet 2:9 ab); and God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor 3:9 ac).
• 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 ad; Titus 1:5-7 ae; 1 Pet 5:1-4 af; cp. Acts 6:2-4 ag).
Summary for Acts 20:29-30: 20:29-30 ah 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 ai, 19-20 aj; 4:1-5 ak; see also Matt 7:15 al; 10:16 am; Mark 13:22 an; Luke 10:3 ao; 2 Pet 2:1-22 ap; 3:3 aq).
20:35 ar ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’: This saying of Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels.
20:38 as The poignancy of the occasion was heightened by awareness that they would never see him again (20:25 at).
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