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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Guzik - Paul’s extended time in this region may help to explain a bit of a puzzle. In Romans 15:19, Paul made this claim: So that from Jerusalem and round to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. The puzzle is that the Book of Acts never specifically mentions a visit by Paul to Illyricum (see map = dark brown region), but it may fit in here at Acts 20:2–3, where Paul had gone over that region … and stayed three months. Illyricum is due west from Thessalonica, and there was a famous Roman Road (the Via Egnatia) that went between Thessalonica and the Roman province of Illyricum. Today, the area of Illyricum is modern day Albania, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, with the mainland of Italy westward across the water. The mention of Illyricum in Romans 15:19 reminds us that the Book of Acts, as wonderful as it is, is by no means a complete accounting of all that God did through His people in the first century. There is much, even in the life of the Apostle Paul, that is not described—not to mention the life and work of many, many others. (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Robertson on three months - Literally, “having done three months,” the same idiom in Acts 14:3; Acts 18:23; James 5:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul’s work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it. Arnold - Paul intended to sail directly from Corinth to Jerusalem, for he wanted to be there for the Feast of the Passover. However, this plot involved the ship on which he was to sail. The unbelieving Jews hated Paul because they thought him a heretic and a disturber of the Jewish religious establishment. It was their plan to rub Paul out, probably by tossing him overboard somewhere on the voyage. God was faithful to keep His servant Paul from all the evil imaginations of men. Satan, through human instruments, is always trying to get people to plot against true preachers of the Word. There is always a plot by someone to get rid of a pastor, evangelist, missionary or Christian worker. When this happens, the Christian worker must depend wholly on God to fight his battles. “‘No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,’ declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17). (Acts 20:1-12 New Testament Practices) And when a plot was formed against him: "a plot by the Jews having come against him." This plot is one of several noted by Luke (Acts 9:20; 20:19; 23:30). These Jews had undoubtedly "not forgotten the shocking conversions of the synagogue leaders Crispus (18:8) and Sosthenes (Acts 18:17; 1 Cor. 1:1) or their humiliating defeat before the proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:12–17)" (MacArthur) Plot (1917)(epiboule from epi = upon, against + boule = plan) describes a purpose or design against someone, a secret plan to do harm to someone. A plot, a scheme or a conspiracy. Louw-Nida - "a plan for treacherous activity against someone." All 4 NT occurrences refer to the plots of the Jews directed against Paul (Acts 9:24; 20:3,19; 23:30). Ryrie suggests that this plot was "probably to kill Paul on board ship and throw his body overboard, so Paul returned overland through Macedonia." Williams - It may have been planned to attack him on board ship, especially if the vessel was crowded with Jewish pilgrims for Passover or Pentecost. By the Jews -
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Guzik comments on Paul's preaching noting first that... Paul thought of himself as a watchman, there to bring forth the whole counsel of God's word. This doesn't guarantee the people will be saved, but it will guarantee Paul is without guilt before God. He has done his job! Where are those who today declare the whole counsel of God? Paul warned that in the last days, people would not endure sound doctrine, but look for teachers who would tell them what they want to hear - teachers who will scratch their itching ears (2Ti. 4:3+). Many preachers today simply use a Bible text as a launching pad, and then go on to say what they want - what the people want to hear. Others throw in Bible quotations to illustrate their points, or to illustrate their stories! But who will simply let the Bible speak for itself and let it declare its own power? Taking Paul's testimony at full strength, we must say that those preachers who deliberately fail to declare . . . the whole counsel of God are guilty of the blood of all men! The preacher who preaches what his audience wants to hear, and not the whole counsel of God, hurts both his audience and himself! We also must demand that we are being taught the whole counsel of God; not just interesting topics, not just what we want to hear, not just the things that will "grab" people, but what God says to all of our lives. (Bolding and color added for effect) (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Shrink (shunned = KJV, hesitated = NIV, keep back = YLT) (5288) (hupostello from hupo = under + stéllo = send or draw) means literally to draw under (out of sight) = draw oneself under = cower or shrink back. Avoid. Cease. Hupostello was used for drawing back or letting down sails on a ship and so slackening the course, and metaphorically meant to be hesitant in doing something, shrinking back, avoiding, being unwilling to utter the truth of the Gospel because of fear or reprisals or reproach (Acts 20:27). BDAG - (1) to draw back or disappear from a position (Peter in Gal 2:12) Secular uses - draw back - the cloud faded away from the cave; that light faded out. (2). to be hesitant in regard to something - shrink back (Heb 10:38), shrink from, avoid, implying fear (Acts 20:27), to be timid about, keep silent about (Acts 20:20). Secular use - Cyrus urges Lysander not to be timid about asking for money. Liddell-Scott - secular uses - "made him furl his sail." To draw back for shelter (shelter oneself behind, to withdraw himself). To cloak a thing through fear - to prevaricate. HUPOSTELLO - 4V - shrink(2), shrinks back(1), withdraw(1). Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27; Gal. 2:12; Heb. 10:38 Spurgeon on shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God ....That man does not preach the whole counsel of God who does not let God's Word speak for itself in its own pure, simple language... He will not shirk the truth. He will dare to look at it straight in the face himself and then he will bring it up into the pulpit, and there say to it, 'O Word, speak for thyself, and be thou heard alone. Suffer me not, O Lord, to pervert or misinterpret thine own heaven-sent truth.' (Amen!) Declaring (proclaiming = NAB, announcing = NET) (312)(anaggello/anangello from aná = up to, again, back {like our English prefix "re-"= again thus "re-port" or "re-hearse" = to say again} + aggéllo = tell, declare related to ággelos = messenger) means to bring back word and later to announce, to report. To rehearse, to show, to declare or tell of things done. Anaggello means to carry back good tidings, to inform, to provide information, with some contexts conveying the implication of considerable detail (see Acts 14:27, 15:4). In the 14 NT uses of anaggello, notice that most report or announce something that has to do with God, including His works and/or purposes. ANAGGELLO -13V - Jn. 4:25; Jn. 16:13; Jn. 16:14; Jn. 16:15; Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4; Acts 19:18; Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27; Rom. 15:21; 2 Co. 7:7; 1 Pet. 1:12; 1 Jn. 1:5 Alfred Plummer comments that apaggello "has merely the notion of proclaiming and making known, (anaggello) has the notion of proclaiming again what has been received elsewhere." (Ibid) As a practical application of this truth is that believers today should emulate Paul in (1) carefully and accurately handling the Word of Truth (cp 2Ti 2:15+) and (2) in announcing or proclaiming that message of Good News to others, taking care not to alter the message. Remember that the first two letters in "Gospel" spell "Go" which is what the early church did for they could not stop speaking what they had seen and heard. (Acts 4:20, cp Acts 5:42 and Jn 4:29, the Samaritan woman at the well) The Gospel is not something just to come and hear; it is something to go and tell! Paul was faithful to carry out his responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, not backing down in spite of persecution, and thus he was innocent. He was not responsible for whether a person accepted or rejected the Gospel. If they accepted, the blood of Christ would cover and take away their sins. If they rejected, their own blood would be required. Whole purpose - "All the counsel" (KJV), "Whole plan" (HCSB), "whole counsel" (ESV), "entire plan" (NAB), "whole will" (NIV) So what was the whole purpose of God? In context this phrase would certainly include the Gospel of the grace of God, good news which Paul presented to all men, excluding none, lest he be held guilty of the blood of those to whom he might have refused to preach. David Peterson comments that The breadth and depth of Paul's teaching about the whole will of God can be discerned from an examination of his letter to the Romans, which he had just written and sent ahead of him at this time. (The Acts of the Apostles - Pillar NT Commentary) Purpose (plan) (1012)(boule) expresses a decision, a purpose or a plan which in regard to men is the result of inner deliberation. When used of God boule indicates His fixed intention. The idea is that God's purpose stands fixed and cannot be altered. Seven of the twelve NT uses of boule refer to God's will and God's purpose (Lk 7:30; Acts 2:23; 4:28; 13:36; 20:27; Ep 1:11; He 6:17). As noted when boule is used of men it has a weaker force, expressing an intention or plan that, unlike the situation with God, may or may not be achieved. BOULE - 12V - Lk. 7:30; Lk. 23:51; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:28; Acts 5:38; Acts 13:36; Acts 20:27; Acts 27:12; Acts 27:42; 1 Co. 4:5; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17 J Vernon McGee was surely an imitator of Paul declaring... As I write this, I am a retired preacher. I have made many blunders and have failed in many ways. But as I look back on my ministry, I can say truthfully that when I stood in the pulpit, I declared the Word of God as I saw it. I have the deep satisfaction of knowing that if I went back to any pulpit which I have held, I haven’t a thing to add to what I have already said. I don’t mean I couldn’t say it in a better way, but the important thing is that I declared the whole counsel of God. I have always believed that the important issue is to get out the entire Word of God. Rob Salvato divides Paul's sermon into three sections... Acts 20:18-21 - Paul reminds these leaders about his faithfulness to the Lord and to the church as he ministered for three years in Ephesus Acts 20:22-27 - Paul tells these leaders his present approach in light of the past and future Acts 20:28-35 - Paul warns these leaders of the dangers that they and the church would face. (Sermon) Acts 20:28 " 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: prosechete (2PPAM) heautois kai panti to poimnio, en o humas to pneuma to hagion etheto (3SAMI) episkopous, poimainein (PAN) ten ekklesian tou theou, en periepoiesato (3SAMI) dia tou aimatos tou idiou.: The International Children's - Be careful for yourselves and for all the people God has given you. The Holy Spirit gave you the work of caring for this flock. You must be like shepherds to the church of God. This is the church that God bought with his own death. Amplified - Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood. My Amplified Paraphrase - Keep watch continually (prosechete—pay close attention, be alert, stay on guard) over yourselves first—your own hearts, motives, doctrine, and walk—and then over all the flock (poimnion—the whole community of God’s people) among whom the Holy Spirit Himself has placed you (appointed, set in position) as overseers (episkopoi—guardians, spiritual supervisors, protectors), so that you might shepherd (poimainein—feed, guide, guard, grow, nurture, care for) the church of God, that blood-bought people who belong to Him, which He purchased (periepoiēsato—acquired at great cost, secured as His treasured possession) with His own blood—the infinitely precious, sacrificial blood of Christ.
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Guzik - The godly leader knows that effective leadership flows from a life, not just knowledge. (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Brian Bell -“Water never rises above its level” – what we are will determine our preaching, and what we do will never rise above what we are! Spiritual health today is no guarantee of spiritual health tomorrow! (ED: A popular Puritan preaching subject was "How to Die Well!" Amen!) We need to consciously and consistently sustain the character traits that foster holiness. (Sermon Notes) W Arnot's summary on Take Heed...The logic and the theology of the sentence are equally good. The first care of the spiritual shepherd is for himself, the next for the flock. In some parts they paint garden walls black, that they may absorb more of the sun's heat and so impart more warmth to the fruit trees that lean on them. Those who in any sphere care for souls stand in the position of the garden wall. The more that the teacher absorbs for himself of Christ's love, the more benefit will others obtain from him. It is not the wall which glitters most in the sunshine that does most for the trees that are trained against it: it is the wall which is least seen that takes in most heat for itself: and the wall that has most heat in itself gives out most for the benefit of the trees. So it is not the preacher who flashes out into the greatest flame himself that imparts most benefit to inquirers who sit at his feet. Those who drink in most of the Master's spirit are most useful in the world. Those who first take heed to themselves will be most effective in caring for the spiritual weal of those who look up to them. (Biblical Illustrator) In a similar warning Paul exhorted Timothy (who most commentators think was the pastor at Ephesus at the time of writing of the Pastoral Epistles) to... Pay close attention ("Keep a close watch" = ESV) (present imperative - command calling for continual attention!) to yourself and to your teaching ("Watch your life and doctrine closely" = NIV); persevere ("persist" = ESV, "continue in" = NKJ) (present imperative) in these things; for (Term of explanation) as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1Ti 4:16)
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Guzik comments that...It is often easier for pastors to deal with the wolves that come from the outside - obviously false teachings and goofy winds of doctrine. But it is very difficult to deal with those who rise up from among yourselves, because you don't want to believe that they are in fact speaking perverse things and trying to draw away the disciples after themselves. But Paul insisted that such people were real, and that pastors would have to deal with them! (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) A W
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Guzik adds... Some translate warning “counseling.” The ancient Greek verb nouthetountes means, “to impart understanding,” “to lay on the mind or the heart.” The stress is on influencing not only the intellect, but also the will and disposition. It describes a basic means of education. The work of warning - or helping to impart understanding - was a passion for Paul in ministry (Acts 20:31). It is also the job of church leaders (1Th 5:12+) and of the church body in general (Col 3:16), providing that they are able to admonish others (Ro 15:14+). (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Each (1538) (hekastos from hékas = separate) means one of an aggregate in a distributive sense - each, every, each one (see below). Each one (hena hekaston) - This phrase combines hekastos (above) and heis, which is the Greek noun signifying one. This combination strongly conveys the idea of singling out every single individual. I think Paul means this literally -- he literally warned every single individual about the dangers ahead. Perhaps he is referring to every single elder. THE MINISTRY OF WARNING F B Myer used this verse for his devotional in "Our Daily Walk"... THE MINISTRY of warning should be a recognized part of the work of the Church and of each individual member. The foghorn warns the ship from the deadly rocks; the red light warns the train of imminent danger; in the days of the plague people were warned from infected areas: how much more should we, who know the wrath of God which abides on those who refuse Christ, raise our voice in warning. We should do it deliberately, earnestly, patiently, and in reliance upon the Spirit of God to make our words, however much they may be resented, the means of arresting the wicked from the error of his ways, and those who are taking their first steps in forbidden paths from pursuing them (Ezek 33:7-9). How wonderful it is that God does not commission angels to carry His warnings and appeals; instead of this, the work that angels might love to do is entrusted to men. It is at our peril that we neglect our opportunities in this direction. If the signalman is placed at a point where many lines of rail cross or diverge, and he sleeps at his post, or neglects his duty, he may be tried for manslaughter; and if we know of people in the immediate circle of our influence who are in danger of ruining their physical, moral, and spiritual well-being, we are bound to raise a warning voice. If we saw, upon the upper reaches of a river, a boat full of people hastening towards the rapids unheeding the danger, surely we might be guilty of being an accessory in their destruction, if we failed to do something to warn them of their peril. Accompanying our words of warning, there should be the clear reiteration of the Love of God. He does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live. It is not enough to try and prevent men from taking the wrong path, we must urge and allure them to take the pleasant ways of righteousness and peace. All are included in the love of God. Even sin cannot turn away His love, which is like that described in the parable of the Prodigal Son, or 1Cor 13. PRAYER - O God, we have left undone many things that we ought to have done. Hands have been reached out for help which we have not given; hearts have turned to us for sympathy which we have not blessed. Forgive us, we pray Thee, and at whatever cost may we follow Christ in His redemptive purpose. AMEN. Acts 20:32 "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: kai ta nun paratithemai (1SPMI) humas to theo kai to logo tes charitos autou to dunameno (PPPMSD) oikodomesai (AAN) kai dounai (AAN) ten kleronomian en tois hegiasmenois (RPPMPD) pasin.: NET Acts 20:32 And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. GNT Acts 20:32 καὶ τὰ νῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς τῷ θεῷ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσιν. NLT Acts 20:32 "And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. KJV Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. ESV Acts 20:32 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. ASV Acts 20:32 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 them that are sanctified. CSB Acts 20:32 "And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. NIV Acts 20:32 "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. NKJ Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. NRS Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. YLT Acts 20:32 and now, I commend you, brethren, to God, and to the word of His grace, that is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those sanctified. I commend: Ac 14:23,26, 15:40 Ge 50:24 Jer 49:11 Jude 1:24,25 and to the Word of His grace: Ac 20:24 Heb 13:9 Build: Ac 9:31 Jn 15:3 17:17 1Co 3:9,10 Eph 2:20-22 4:12,16 Col 2:7 Jude 1:20 And to give: Ac 26:18 Jer 3:19 Eph 1:18 Col 1:12, 3:24 Heb 9:15 1Pe 1:4,5 Who are sanctified: 1Co 1:2, 6:11, Heb 2:11, 10:14 Jude 1:1 Acts 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A CALL TO LOOK TO GOD AND HIS WORD And now - Expression of time. In view of the fact that enemies will arise and the elders must be able to contend for the faith, they need God and His Word to lead them in victory over the forces of darkness. I commend you to God - This parallels the order of Paul's earlier charge to the elders to first be on guard for yourselves (Acts 20:28). John Gill -The apostle, in commending them to Him, commends them to His grace, wisdom, and power. To His grace; to supply their need; to fit them for every duty He shall call them to, and for every trial He shall exercise them with. They are also commended to His wisdom, to counsel and direct them in all their ways. Likewise, the saints are commended to the power of God, to keep and preserve them. For it is by that alone they are kept; being weak and liable to daily backslidings. They, therefore, should commit themselves to Him, who is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the throne of His glory with exceeding joy. Commend ("entrust you to" = NET, NLT) (3908)(paratithemi from para = beside + tithemi = place; see also related noun paratheke) literally means to place something beside, to set alongside or set something before someone (Lk 9:16, 10:8, 11:6, 1Cor 10:27). In classical Greek paratithemi described anything being deposited with a friend for the purpose of safekeeping. The idea is to entrust someone to the care, safekeeping or protection of someone and in the present context clearly speaks of Paul placing the elders in the hands of God and the Word of God that they in turn might be able to feed the flock of God. This pattern is timeless. We don't need more motivational conferences, church growth seminars, new methods of ministry, and on and on. We need to return to "the ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it; and (both shepherds and sheep) shall find rest for (their) souls" declares the promise keeping God (Jer 6:16). While it is important to see church members actively engaged in ministry, it is more important to first and foremost make sure they are actively engaged with God and the Word of His grace. Men and women who are continually being filled with the Word of Christ (Col 3:16+), can't help but carry out the Work of Christ, in the energy of the Spirit of Christ, all for the Glory of God! In these dark last days in American Christianity, may God be pleased to revive His Church according to His Word of Grace ministered by the Spirit of Grace (Ps 119:25+, Heb 10:29+). Mark Dever writes that we should be... encouraging churches to become more deliberate about “setting forth the truth plainly.” People are transformed and renewed in the likeness of Christ when they look at God as He has revealed Himself in both His written and His incarnate Word. The job of the church, then, is not to show people a reflection of themselves. We are instead biblically obliged to raise their gaze, redirecting their attention from themselves to their Creator. There is no secret to a transforming Christian ministry save the power of God’s Word and the life-giving breath of His Spirit (Ezek. 37:1-14). You don’t need a catchy new metaphor. You don’t need the latest evangelism program. You don’t need to change the name of your church. You don’t need a pastor with a grand scheme for growth and effectiveness and success as the world would define them. What is needed most today is a commitment to being deliberate about setting forth the truth plainly, because the truth as we gaze on it in Christ is what transforms us, what builds us up and sets us free (John 17:17 ; Acts 20:32 ; John 8:36 ). So a healthy church is a Godward-looking church. We look in dependence on Him for our message, our method, and the transformation of our churches into the image of Christ. (The Deliberate Church Building Your Ministry on the Gospel) Paratithemi was one of the last words spoken by Jesus before His death on the Cross... And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT (paratithemi) MY SPIRIT." And having said this, He breathed His last. (Lk 23:46) In secular usage the figurative sense of paratithemi was to give someone something in trust and thus to "deposit" it with them. Paratithemi conveys the picture of a precious treasure being deposited as a trust into another's hands -- ponder that thought as you think of Paul entrusting these spiritual leaders of the flock to God! These men were precious to him. Paul understood the importance of paratithemi in ministry for the Church at Antioch had commended him "to the grace of God for the work" of planting churches in Asia (Acts 14:26), and he himself had commended the elders of those new churches "to the Lord in Whom they had believed." (Acts 14:23). In Thessalonica Paul entered the synagogue and for three Sabbaths was "explaining and giving evidence (paratithemi) that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead." (Acts 17:2-3). In his first letter to Timothy Paul said... This command I entrust (paratithemi) to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight (1Ti 1:18) Then in Paul's second letter to Timothy he exhorted him... And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust (paratithemi) to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2Ti 2:2) Those entrusted with the word of His grace must be faithful, reliable, trustworthy men who would not swerve aside because of fear or favor, nor who would not compromise with the spirit of this perverse and crooked age. Alexander Maclaren offers his literal translation of paratithemi in Acts 20:32 as... "I lay you down beside God." That is beautiful, is it not? Here had Paul been carrying the Ephesian Church on his back for a long time now. He had many cares about them, many forebodings as to their future, knowing very well that after his departure, grievous wolves were going to enter in. He says, "I cannot carry the load any longer; here I lay it down at the Throne, beneath those pure eyes, and that gentle and strong hand." For to commend them to God is in fact a prayer casting the care which Paul could no longer exercise upon Him. And that is the highest expression of, as it is the only soothing for, manly Christian solicitude and affection. The parting counsels involved in the commendation. 1. "Cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart," as the limpet does to the rock. Cling to Jesus Christ, the revelation of God's grace. And how do we cling to Him? What is the cement of souls? Love and trust; and whoever exercises these in reference to Jesus Christ is built into Him, and belongs to Him, and has a vital unity knitting him with that Lord. 2. Cleave to "the word of His grace." Try to understand its principles better; study your Bibles with more earnestness; believe more fully than you have ever done that in that great Gospel there lies every truth that we need, and guidance in all circumstances. Bring the principles of Christianity into your daily life; walk by the light of them; and live in the radiance of a present God. (Parting Words) THE PRIMACY OF THE WORD OF GOD'S GRACE The Word of His Grace - The Gospel. In Acts 20:24 Paul had just declared that the Gospel he proclaimed was "the Gospel of the grace of God." Notice the effects of the Word of His grace, the Gospel of our salvation - (1) It has the power to bring men to faith in Christ (Ro 1:16+) ("past tense salvation" = justification), (2) It has the power to build them up in the faith (cp "grow in respect to salvation" 1Pe 2:2+) ("present tense salvation" = sanctification) and (3) It has the power to give them an inheritance, one which Peter says is imperishable, will not fade away and is reserved in heaven for us (1Pe 1:4+). ("future tense salvation" = glorification) Elders must be fed the Word in order to be equipped to feed the Word to the flock they shepherd. Shepherds, are you in the Word daily and even more is that word in you? Related Resource: Three Tenses of Salvation Dawson Trottman emphasizes that "The first and continual need in the spiritual life is for food," referring to the Word of God. (Born to reproduce) Alexander
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Guzik comments that "Programs can't do it; the spirit of the age can't do it; slick marketing can't do it; entertainment can't do it; only God and the Word of His grace (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Other passages related to edification - Ro 14:19 Ro 15:2 1Cor. 8:1 1Cor. 14:4-5 1Cor. 14:12 1Cor. 14:17 2Cor. 10:8 2Cor. 13:10 Eph. 4:12 Eph. 4:16 Eph. 4:29 Col. 2:7 1Th 5:11 Jude 1:20. In 1 Peter 2:2+ Peter makes it clear that failure to personally partake of pure milk of the Word will impede our spiritual growth. No Word, No growth. No lie! Simply put one will not be built up or edified. Are you in the Word daily (cf Mt 4:4) and enabled by the Spirit obeying the Word you ingest? What begins to happen to your physical strength if you do not eat for a number of days? Beloved, while we cannot as clearly see the spiritual decrement as easily as the physical decline, you can be assured that spiritually you are are become weak. One week without the Word will make one very weak! Look out because the big cats in Africa are always on the lookout for those animals that are weak and straggle behind the herd! (cf 1 Pe 5:8-9+). John
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Guzik - Paul concludes by trying to communicate his heart, his motive in ministry. He wasn't in it for himself, but for God's glory and for the building up of God's people. (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Puritan writer Thomas Watson said... A man may be said to be given to covetousness when he takes more pains for getting earth than for getting heaven. (Ed: Contrast Paul's command to Spirit filled saints - Col 3:2+, Col 3:3+!)...Covetousness is not only in getting riches unjustly, but in loving them inordinately, which is a key that opens the door to all sin....There is no better antidote against coveting that which is another's than being content with that which is our own. Matthew
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Guzik - His parting words, taken from a quote of Jesus' unrecorded in the gospels, are perfect for all who would minister to God's people: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Ministers must be more concerned about what they can give their flock than concerned about what their flock can give them. This is the best beatitude of all. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us how to be blessed; here, He tells us how to be more blessed! It should not stumble us to consider that Jesus taught many things unrecorded in the gospels; John said as much in Jn 21:25. But we can trust that God has preserved all that is necessary of the teaching of Jesus. (Acts 20 Commentary Notes) Brian Bell...More blessed it is, because it is more God-like; It is more fruitful; It is the consequence & consummation of receiving. (Sermon Notes) David G Peterson sums up this section noting that Paul's...letters encourage believers to finance gospel ministry (1 Cor. 9:13-14; Gal. 6:6), and he himself accepted gifts from some churches (Phil. 4:10-19), but not others (1 Cor. 9:6-18; 2 Cor. 11:7-11; 12:16-18). However, his aim here is to warn leaders of the dangers inherent in their position and to commend his own solution to the problem of greed. Covetousness spoils relationships and hinders the work of the gospel, since those who are seeking to advance themselves materially will be tempted to evaluate their contacts and ministry opportunities in economic terms. (Acts of the Apostles Pillar New Testament Commentary) Steven Cole tells this story...Early one morning years ago an American serviceman was making his way back to the barracks in London. He saw a little boy with his nose pressed to the window of a bakery, staring in silence. The serviceman’s heart went out to the little boy, probably an orphan. “Son, would you like some of those?” “Oh, yeah, I would!” The serviceman stepped inside and bought a dozen. He took the bag outside to the boy and said, “Here you are.” As he turned to walk away, he felt a tug on his coat. He heard the child ask quietly, “Mister, are you God?” When we give, we act as God does. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son …” (John 3:16). As God’s people, we should be givers, not only at the Christmas season, but as a way of life. (Sermon) IS IT BLESSED TO RECEIVE? - We admire people who take responsibility for their lives and try not to burden others. Such self-sufficiency is commendable. But if every needy person in the world --and that includes all of us at one time or another--refused help, there would be no opportunity for anyone to give. When we read Jesus' statement in Acts 20:35 that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," we tend to focus only on the virtue of giving. Our Lord did not say that it's undesirable to accept a gift, but that by comparison our goal should be to give, not to get. Actually, both giving and receiving are commendable, enriching, and even necessary. Perhaps it's risky in a greedy age to extol receiving. Yet many sincere, well-meaning people hesitate when offered this lesser but equally valid blessing. They say, "Oh, I can't take that!" or "You really shouldn't." Why are we like this? Personally, I've concluded that it's often because I don't want to feel indebted to others, or I'm proud, or I want to have control. But these hidden attitudes are selfish and run contrary to the spirit of Him who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." I gave out of abundant pride And blessing took its leave, Till humbly to the Lord I cried, And learned how to receive. Grateful receiving, like gracious giving comes from the heart. Acts 20:36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.: Kai tauta eipon (AAPMSN) theis (AAPMSN) ta gonata autou sun pasin autois proseucato.(3SAMI): NET Acts 20:36 When he had said these things, he knelt down with them all and prayed. GNT Acts 20:36 Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν θεὶς τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ σὺν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς προσηύξατο. NLT Acts 20:36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. KJV Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. ESV Acts 20:36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ASV Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. CSB Acts 20:36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. NIV Acts 20:36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. NKJ Acts 20:36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. NRS Acts 20:36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. YLT Acts 20:36 And these things having said, having bowed his knees, with them all, he did pray, Knelt: Ac 7:60 21:5 2Ch 6:13 Da 6:10 Luke 22:41 Eph 3:14 Php 4:6 When he had said these things - In a sense Paul seals his last words with a final offering to God, a good pattern for times of meeting with our brethren. Do you pray before your brethren depart? PRAYER POSTURE Jack Arnold - Paul undoubtedly prayed this prayer, not only to ask God's blessing on the elders and the Ephesian local church but to remind the elders that they could not govern the local church without much prayer. Every elder must be a man committed to individual prayer and group prayer; that is, he is to pray with other elders and the congregation. A prayerless board of elders is doomed to failure! There should always be this kind of love between elders and between the elders and the congregation. A godly display of emotion is pleasing to Christ and certainly builds up the body of Christ. (Acts 20:28-38 Concerns of a Shepherd) Knelt down - This description of the posture of prayer is interesting in light of the fact that pious Jews would pray standing (Mt 6:5+, Mt 11:25, Lk 18:11, 13, Ps 134:1, NAS has "serve" but ESV & KJV are better = "stand" which is also "stand" in Lxx, Ps 135:2). One pious Jew however gave us an example to follow in His steps (1Peter 2:21+), by kneeling in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41).
Atos 20:17-27
Guzik comments on Paul's preaching noting first that... Paul thought of himself as a watchman, there to bring forth the whole counsel of God's word. This doesn't guarantee the people will be saved, but it will guarantee Paul is without guilt before God. He has done his job! Where are those who today declare the whole counsel of God? Paul warned that in the last days, people would not endure sound doctrine, but look for teachers who would tell them what they want to hear - teachers who will scratch their itching ears (2Ti. 4:3-note). Many preachers today simply use a Bible text as a launching pad, and then go on to say what they want - what the people want to hear. Others throw in Bible quotations to illustrate their points, or to illustrate their stories! But who will simply let the Bible speak for itself and let it declare its own power? Taking Paul's testimony at full strength, we must say that those preachers who deliberately fail to declare . . . the whole counsel of God are guilty of the blood of all men! The preacher who preaches what his audience wants to hear, and not the whole counsel of God, hurts both his audience and himself! We also must demand that we are being taught the whole counsel of God; not just interesting topics, not just what we want to hear, not just the things that will "grab" people, but what God says to all of our lives. (Bolding and color added for effect) Shrink (shunned = KJV, hesitated = NIV, keep back = YLT) (5288) (hupostello from hupo = under + stéllo = send or draw) means literally to draw under (out of sight) = draw oneself under = cower or shrink back. Hupostello was used for drawing back or down sails on a ship and so slackening the course, and metaphorically meant to be hesitant in doing something, shrinking back, avoiding, being unwilling to utter the truth of the Gospel because of fear or reprisals or reproach (Acts 20:27). Spurgeon on shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God .... That man does not preach the whole counsel of God who does not let God's Word speak for itself in its own pure, simple language... He will not shirk the truth. He will dare to look at it straight in the face himself and then he will bring it up into the pulpit, and there say to it, 'O Word, speak for thyself, and be thou heard alone. Suffer me not, O Lord, to pervert or misinterpret thine own heaven-sent truth.' (Amen!) Declaring (proclaiming = NAB, announcing = NET) (312)(anaggello/anangello from aná = up to, again, back {like our English prefix "re-"= again thus "re-port" or "re-hearse" = to say again} + aggéllo = tell, declare related to ággelos = messenger) means to bring back word and later to announce, to report. To rehearse, to show, to declare or tell of things done. Anaggello means to carry back good tidings, to inform, to provide information, with some contexts conveying the implication of considerable detail (see Acts 14:27, 15:4). In the 14 NT uses of anaggello, notice that most report or announce something that has to do with God, including His works and/or purposes. Alfred Plummer comments that apaggello "has merely the notion of proclaiming and making known, (anaggello) has the notion of proclaiming again what has been received elsewhere." (Ibid) As a practical application of this truth is that believers today should emulate Paul in (1) carefully and accurately handling the Word of Truth (cp 2Ti 2:15-note) and (2) in announcing or proclaiming that message of Good News to others, taking care not to alter the message. Remember that the first two letters in "Gospel" spell "Go" which is what the early church did for they could not stop speaking what they had seen and heard. (Acts 4:20, cp Acts 5:42 and Jn 4:29, the Samaritan woman at the well) The Gospel is not something just to come and hear; it is something to go and tell! Paul was faithful to carry out his responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, not backing down in spite of persecution, and thus he was innocent. He was not responsible for whether a person accepted or rejected the Gospel. If they accepted, the blood of Christ would cover and take away their sins. If they rejected, their own blood would be required. Whole purpose - "All the counsel" (KJV), "Whole plan" (HCSB), "whole counsel" (ESV), "entire plan" (NAB), "whole will" (NIV) So what was the whole purpose of God? In context this phrase would certainly include the Gospel of the grace of God, good news which Paul presented to all men, excluding none, lest he be held guilty of the blood of those to whom he might have refused to preach. David Peterson comments that The breadth and depth of Paul's teaching about the whole will of God can be discerned from an examination of his letter to the Romans, which he had just written and sent ahead of him at this time. (The Acts of the Apostles - Pillar NT Commentary) Purpose (plan) (1012)(boule) expresses a decision, a purpose or a plan which in regard to men is the result of inner deliberation. When used of God boule indicates His fixed intention. The idea is that God's purpose stands fixed and cannot be altered. Seven of the twelve NT uses of boule refer to God's will and God's purpose (Lk 7:30; Acts 2:23; 4:28; 13:36; 20:27; Ep 1:11; He 6:17). As noted when boule is used of men it has a weaker force, expressing an intention or plan that, unlike the situation with God, may or may not be achieved. J Vernon McGee was surely an imitator of Paul declaring... As I write this, I am a retired preacher. I have made many blunders and have failed in many ways. But as I look back on my ministry, I can say truthfully that when I stood in the pulpit, I declared the Word of God as I saw it. I have the deep satisfaction of knowing that if I went back to any pulpit which I have held, I haven’t a thing to add to what I have already said. I don’t mean I couldn’t say it in a better way, but the important thing is that I declared the whole counsel of God. I have always believed that the important issue is to get out the entire Word of God. Rob Salvato divides Paul's sermon into three sections... Acts 20:18-21 - Paul reminds these leaders about his faithfulness to the Lord and to the church as he ministered for three years in Ephesus Acts 20:22-27 - Paul tells these leaders his present approach in light of the past and future Acts 20:28-35 - Paul warns these leaders of the dangers that they and the church would face. (Sermon)
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik - The godly leader knows that effective leadership flows from a life, not just knowledge. Brian Bell -“Water never rises above its level” – what we are will determine our preaching, & what we do will never rise above what we are! Spiritual health today is no guarantee of spiritual health tomorrow! We need to consciously and consistently sustain the character traits that foster holiness. (Sermon Notes) W Arnot's summary on Take Heed... The logic and the theology of the sentence are equally good. The first care of the spiritual shepherd is for himself, the next for the flock. In some parts they paint garden walls black, that they may absorb more of the sun's heat and so impart more warmth to the fruit trees that lean on them. Those who in any sphere care for souls stand in the position of the garden wall. The more that the teacher absorbs for himself of Christ's love, the more benefit will others obtain from him. It is not the wall which glitters most in the sunshine that does most for the trees that are trained against it: it is the wall which is least seen that takes in most heat for itself: and the wall that has most heat in itself gives out most for the benefit of the trees. So it is not the preacher who flashes out into the greatest flame himself that imparts most benefit to inquirers who sit at his feet. Those who drink in most of the Master's spirit are most useful in the world. Those who first take heed to themselves will be most effective in caring for the spiritual weal of those who look up to them. (Biblical Illustrator) In a similar warning Paul exhorted Timothy (who most commentators think was the pastor at Ephesus at the time of writing of the Pastoral Epistles) to... Pay close attention ("Keep a close watch" = ESV) (present imperative - command calling for continual attention!) to yourself and to your teaching ("Watch your life and doctrine closely" = NIV); persevere ("persist" = ESV, "continue in" = NKJ) (present imperative) in these things; for (Term of explanation) as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1Ti 4:16)
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik comments that... It is often easier for pastors to deal with the wolves that come from the outside - obviously false teachings and goofy winds of doctrine. But it is very difficult to deal with those who rise up from among yourselves, because you don't want to believe that they are in fact speaking perverse things and trying to draw away the disciples after themselves. But Paul insisted that such people were real, and that pastors would have to deal with them! A W
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik adds... Some translate warning “counseling.” The ancient Greek verb nouthetountes means, “to impart understanding,” “to lay on the mind or the heart.” The stress is on influencing not only the intellect, but also the will and disposition. It describes a basic means of education. The work of warning - or helping to impart understanding - was a passion for Paul in ministry (Acts 20:31). It is also the job of church leaders (1Th 5:12-note) and of the church body in general (Col 3:16), providing that they are able to admonish others (Ro 15:14-note). Each (1538) (hekastos from hékas = separate) means one of an aggregate in a distributive sense - each, every, each one (see below). Each one (hena hekaston) - This phrase combines hekastos (above) and heis, which is the Greek noun signifying one. This combination strongly conveys the idea of singling out every single individual. I think Paul means this literally -- he literally warned every single individual about the dangers ahead. Perhaps he is referring to every single elder. THE MINISTRY OF WARNING F B Myer used this verse for his devotional in "Our Daily Walk"... THE MINISTRY of warning should be a recognized part of the work of the Church and of each individual member. The foghorn warns the ship from the deadly rocks; the red light warns the train of imminent danger; in the days of the plague people were warned from infected areas: how much more should we, who know the wrath of God which abides on those who refuse Christ, raise our voice in warning. We should do it deliberately, earnestly, patiently, and in reliance upon the Spirit of God to make our words, however much they may be resented, the means of arresting the wicked from the error of his ways, and those who are taking their first steps in forbidden paths from pursuing them (Ezek 33:7-9). How wonderful it is that God does not commission angels to carry His warnings and appeals; instead of this, the work that angels might love to do is entrusted to men. It is at our peril that we neglect our opportunities in this direction. If the signalman is placed at a point where many lines of rail cross or diverge, and he sleeps at his post, or neglects his duty, he may be tried for manslaughter; and if we know of people in the immediate circle of our influence who are in danger of ruining their physical, moral, and spiritual well-being, we are bound to raise a warning voice. If we saw, upon the upper reaches of a river, a boat full of people hastening towards the rapids unheeding the danger, surely we might be guilty of being an accessory in their destruction, if we failed to do something to warn them of their peril. Accompanying our words of warning, there should be the clear reiteration of the Love of God. He does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live. It is not enough to try and prevent men from taking the wrong path, we must urge and allure them to take the pleasant ways of righteousness and peace. All are included in the love of God. Even sin cannot turn away His love, which is like that described in the parable of the Prodigal Son, or 1Cor 13. PRAYER - O God, we have left undone many things that we ought to have done. Hands have been reached out for help which we have not given; hearts have turned to us for sympathy which we have not blessed. Forgive us, we pray Thee, and at whatever cost may we follow Christ in His redemptive purpose. AMEN. Acts 20:32 "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: kai ta nun paratithemai (1SPMI) humas to theo kai to logo tes charitos autou to dunameno (PPPMSD) oikodomesai (AAN) kai dounai (AAN) ten kleronomian en tois hegiasmenois (RPPMPD) pasin.: I commend: Ac 14:23,26, 15:40 Ge 50:24 Jer 49:11 Jude 1:24,25 and to the Word of His grace: Ac 20:24 Heb 13:9 Build: Ac 9:31 Jn 15:3 17:17 1Co 3:9,10 Eph 2:20-22 4:12,16 Col 2:7 Jude 1:20 And to give: Ac 26:18 Jer 3:19 Eph 1:18 Col 1:12, 3:24 Heb 9:15 1Pe 1:4,5 Who are sanctified: 1Co 1:2, 6:11, Heb 2:11, 10:14 Jude 1:1) A CALL TO LOOK UPWARD And now - Expression of time. In view of the fact that enemies will arise and the elders must be able to contend for the faith, they need God and His Word to lead them in victory over the forces of darkness. I commend you to God - This parallels the order of Paul's earlier charge to the elders to first be on guard for yourselves (Acts 20:28). John Gill The apostle, in commending them to Him, commends them to His grace, wisdom, and power. To His grace; to supply their need; to fit them for every duty He shall call them to, and for every trial He shall exercise them with. They are also commended to His wisdom, to counsel and direct them in all their ways. Likewise, the saints are commended to the power of God, to keep and preserve them. For it is by that alone they are kept; being weak and liable to daily backslidings. They, therefore, should commit themselves to Him, who is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the throne of His glory with exceeding joy. Commend ("entrust you to" = NET, NLT) (3908)(paratithemi from para = beside + tithemi = place; see also related noun paratheke) literally means to place something beside, to set alongside or set something before someone (Lk 9:16, 10:8, 11:6, 1Cor 10:27). In classical Greek paratithemi described anything being deposited with a friend for the purpose of safekeeping. The idea is to entrust someone to the care, safekeeping or protection of someone and in the present context clearly speaks of Paul placing the elders in the hands of God and the Word of God that they in turn might be able to feed the flock of God. This pattern is timeless. Who is it Who builds us up? Is this not God the Holy Spirit, (so to speak) the "Chief Operating Officer" (COO) of the Trinity, the One Who uses our intake of the Word of His grace and thereby miraculously, supernaturally transforms us from glory to glory into the image of God's Son, Christ Jesus (2 Cor 3:18-note)? I think indeed this is the sweet Spirit Who is the "Construction Superintendent" in charge of our daily, progressive sanctification into greater degrees of Christ-likeness (1 Peter 1:2-note). This begs the question - am I daily seeking to be filled with the Word of His grace (Col 3:16-note) and the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29-note, Eph 5:18-note) so that He might have His way with me throughout my busy day, using even the problems and pressures to mold me into the image of His Son? (Ro 8:29-note) If not, I am missing the "opportunity of a lifetime!" May each of us beg God's Spirit to TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS (not our years) so that when all is said and done we might be enabled to present to Jesus at the Bema Seat (2 Cor 5:10-note) a heart that has walked wisely in this world (Ps 90:12-note), during the days of our life whether they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years (Ps 90:10). LORD PLEASE TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS THAT WE MAY PRESENT TO YOU A HEART OF WISDOM for Your glory. Amen We don't need more motivational conferences, church growth seminars, new methods of ministry, and on and on. We need to return to "the ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it; and (both shepherds and sheep) shall find rest for (their) souls" declares the promise keeping God (Jer 6:16). While it is important to see church members actively engaged in ministry, it is more important to first and foremost make sure they are actively engaged with God and the Word of His grace. Men and women who are continually being filled with the Word of Christ (Col 3:16-note), can't help but carry out the Work of Christ, in the energy of the Spirit of Christ, all for the Glory of God! In these dark last days in American Christianity, may God be pleased to revive His Church according to His Word of Grace ministered by the Spirit of Grace (Ps 119:25-note, Heb 10:29-note). Mark Dever writes that we should be... encouraging churches to become more deliberate about “setting forth the truth plainly.” People are transformed and renewed in the likeness of Christ when they look at God as He has revealed Himself in both His written and His incarnate Word. The job of the church, then, is not to show people a reflection of themselves. We are instead biblically obliged to raise their gaze, redirecting their attention from themselves to their Creator. There is no secret to a transforming Christian ministry save the power of God’s Word and the life-giving breath of His Spirit (Ezek. 37:1-14). You don’t need a catchy new metaphor. You don’t need the latest evangelism program. You don’t need to change the name of your church. You don’t need a pastor with a grand scheme for growth and effectiveness and success as the world would define them. What is needed most today is a commitment to being deliberate about setting forth the truth plainly, because the truth as we gaze on it in Christ is what transforms us, what builds us up and sets us free (John 17:17 ; Acts 20:32 ; John 8:36 ). So a healthy church is a Godward-looking church. We look in dependence on Him for our message, our method, and the transformation of our churches into the image of Christ. (The Deliberate Church Building Your Ministry on the Gospel) Paratithemi was one of the last words spoken by Jesus before His death on the Cross... And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT (paratithemi) MY SPIRIT." And having said this, He breathed His last. (Lk 23:46) In secular usage the figurative sense of paratithemi was to give someone something in trust and thus to "deposit" it with them. Paratithemi conveys the picture of a precious treasure being deposited as a trust into another's hands -- ponder that thought as you think of Paul entrusting these spiritual leaders of the flock to God! These men were precious to him. Paul understood the importance of paratithemi in ministry for the Church at Antioch had commended him "to the grace of God for the work" of planting churches in Asia (Acts 14:26), and he himself had commended the elders of those new churches "to the Lord in Whom they had believed." (Acts 14:23). In Thessalonica Paul entered the synagogue and for three Sabbaths was "explaining and giving evidence (paratithemi) that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead." (Acts 17:2-3). In his first letter to Timothy Paul said... This command I entrust (paratithemi) to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight (1Ti 1:18) Then in Paul's second letter to Timothy he exhorted him... And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust (paratithemi) to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2Ti 2:2) Those entrusted with the word of His grace must be faithful, reliable, trustworthy men who would not swerve aside because of fear or favor, nor who would not compromise with the spirit of this perverse and crooked age. Alexander Maclaren offers his literal translation of paratithemi in Acts 20:32 as... "I lay you down beside God." That is beautiful, is it not? Here had Paul been carrying the Ephesian Church on his back for a long time now. He had many cares about them, many forebodings as to their future, knowing very well that after his departure, grievous wolves were going to enter in. He says, "I cannot carry the load any longer; here I lay it down at the Throne, beneath those pure eyes, and that gentle and strong hand." For to commend them to God is in fact a prayer casting the care which Paul could no longer exercise upon Him. And that is the highest expression of, as it is the only soothing for, manly Christian solicitude and affection. The parting counsels involved in the commendation. 1. "Cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart," as the limpet does to the rock. Cling to Jesus Christ, the revelation of God's grace. And how do we cling to Him? What is the cement of souls? Love and trust; and whoever exercises these in reference to Jesus Christ is built into Him, and belongs to Him, and has a vital unity knitting him with that Lord. 2. Cleave to "the word of His grace." Try to understand its principles better; study your Bibles with more earnestness; believe more fully than you have ever done that in that great Gospel there lies every truth that we need, and guidance in all circumstances. Bring the principles of Christianity into your daily life; walk by the light of them; and live in the radiance of a present God. (Parting Words) THE PRIMACY OF THE WORD OF GOD'S GRACE The Word of His Grace - The Gospel. In Acts 20:24 Paul had just declared that the Gospel he proclaimed was "the Gospel of the grace of God." Notice the effects of the Word of His grace, the Gospel of our salvation - (1) It has the power to bring men to faith in Christ (Ro 1:16-note) ("past tense salvation" = justification), (2) It has the power to build them up in the faith (cp "grow in respect to salvation" 1Pe 2:2-note) ("present tense salvation" = sanctification) and (3) It has the power to give them an inheritance, one which Peter says is imperishable, will not fade away and is reserved in heaven for us (1Pe 1:4-note). ("future tense salvation" = glorification) Elders must be fed the Word in order to be equipped to feed the Word to the flock they shepherd. Shepherds, are you in the Word daily and even more is that word in you? Related Resource: Three Tenses of Salvation Dawson Trottman emphasizes that "The first and continual need in the spiritual life is for food," referring to the Word of God. (Born to reproduce) Alexander
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik comments that... Programs can't do it; the spirit of the age can't do it; slick marketing can't do it; entertainment can't do it; only God and the Word of His grace Other passages related to edification - Rom. 14:19 Rom. 15:2 1Cor. 8:1 1Cor. 14:4-5 1Cor. 14:12 1Cor. 14:17 2Cor. 10:8 2Cor. 13:10 Eph. 4:12 Eph. 4:16 Eph. 4:29 Col. 2:7 1Th 5:11 Jude 1:20. In 1Pe 2:2 Peter makes it clear that failure to personally partake of pure milk of the Word will impede our spiritual growth. No Word, No growth. We will not be built up or edified. Are you in the Word daily and enabled by the Spirit obeying the Word you ingest? John
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik - Paul concludes by trying to communicate his heart, his motive in ministry. He wasn't in it for himself, but for God's glory and for the building up of God's people. Puritan writer Thomas Watson said... A man may be said to be given to covetousness when he takes more pains for getting earth than for getting heaven. (Ed: Contrast Paul's command to Spirit filled saints - Col 3:2-note, Col 3:3-note!)...Covetousness is not only in getting riches unjustly, but in loving them inordinately, which is a key that opens the door to all sin....There is no better antidote against coveting that which is another's than being content with that which is our own. Matthew
Atos 20:28-38
Guzik comments... His parting words, taken from a quote of Jesus' unrecorded in the gospels, are perfect for all who would minister to God's people: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Ministers must be more concerned about what they can give their flock than concerned about what their flock can give them. This is the best beatitude of all. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us how to be blessed; here, He tells us how to be more blessed! It should not stumble us to consider that Jesus taught many things unrecorded in the gospels; John said as much in Jn 21:25. But we can trust that God has preserved all that is necessary of the teaching of Jesus. Brian Bell... More blessed it is, because it is more God-like; It is more fruitful; It is the consequence & consummation of receiving. (Sermon Notes) David G Peterson sums up this section noting that Paul's... letters encourage believers to finance gospel ministry (1 Cor. 9:13-14; Gal. 6:6), and he himself accepted gifts from some churches (Phil. 4:10-19), but not others (1 Cor. 9:6-18; 2 Cor. 11:7-11; 12:16-18). However, his aim here is to warn leaders of the dangers inherent in their position and to commend his own solution to the problem of greed. Covetousness spoils relationships and hinders the work of the gospel, since those who are seeking to advance themselves materially will be tempted to evaluate their contacts and ministry opportunities in economic terms. (Acts of the Apostles Pillar New Testament Commentary) Steven Cole tells this story... Early one morning years ago an American serviceman was making his way back to the barracks in London. He saw a little boy with his nose pressed to the window of a bakery, staring in silence. The serviceman’s heart went out to the little boy, probably an orphan. “Son, would you like some of those?” “Oh, yeah, I would!” The serviceman stepped inside and bought a dozen. He took the bag outside to the boy and said, “Here you are.” As he turned to walk away, he felt a tug on his coat. He heard the child ask quietly, “Mister, are you God?” When we give, we act as God does. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son …” (John 3:16). As God’s people, we should be givers, not only at the Christmas season, but as a way of life. (Sermon) ><>><>><> IS IT BLESSED TO RECEIVE? - We admire people who take responsibility for their lives and try not to burden others. Such self-sufficiency is commendable. But if every needy person in the world --and that includes all of us at one time or another--refused help, there would be no opportunity for anyone to give. When we read Jesus' statement in Acts 20:35 that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," we tend to focus only on the virtue of giving. Our Lord did not say that it's undesirable to accept a gift, but that by comparison our goal should be to give, not to get. Actually, both giving and receiving are commendable, enriching, and even necessary. Perhaps it's risky in a greedy age to extol receiving. Yet many sincere, well-meaning people hesitate when offered this lesser but equally valid blessing. They say, "Oh, I can't take that!" or "You really shouldn't." Why are we like this? Personally, I've concluded that it's often because I don't want to feel indebted to others, or I'm proud, or I want to have control. But these hidden attitudes are selfish and run contrary to the spirit of Him who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Perhaps we need to give others the blessing of giving by learning to be a gracious receiver. - Dennis J. De Haan I gave out of abundant pride And blessing took its leave, Till humbly to the Lord I cried, And learned how to receive. Grateful receiving, like gracious giving comes from the heart. Acts 20:36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.: Kai tauta eipon (AAPMSN) theis (AAPMSN) ta gonata autou sun pasin autois proseucato.(3SAMI): Knelt: Ac 7:60 21:5 2Ch 6:13 Da 6:10 Luke 22:41 Eph 3:14 Php 4:6 When he had said these things - In a sense Paul seals his last words with a final offering to God, a good pattern for times of meeting with our brethren. Do you pray before your brethren depart? PRAYER POSTURE Knelt down - This description of the posture of prayer is interesting in light of the fact that pious Jews would pray standing (Mt 6:5-note, Mt 11:25, Lk 18:11, 13, Ps 134:1, NAS has "serve" but ESV & KJV are better = "stand" which is also "stand" in Lxx, Ps 135:2). One pious Jew however gave us an example to follow in His steps (1Peter 2:21-note), by kneeling in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41).