Introductory remarks:
"Paul goes to Greece, then back to Macedonia. A group of companions wait for him at Troas. Paul preaches all night and Eutychus falls asleep and falls from the third floor. Paul brings him back to life. Paul's group sails to Ephesus. Paul tells the elders of Ephesus that he won't see them again but they should remember how he gave his all to teach them that they should hold to the truth and stand guard against false teachers. They part sorrowfully" (A Survey of Acts - Brenda).
This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul's journey to Macedonia and Greece vv. 1-6; Paul's farewell visit to Troas vv. 7-12; the voyage from Troas to Miletus vv. 13-16; Paul speaks to the Ephesian elders vv. 17-38.
Paul's Journey to Macedonia and Greece
Verse 1, "And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia."
LGT "And after the tumult ceased, Paul having called the disciples to [him], and having exhorted and saluted [them], he went away to go to Macedonia."
The phrase, after the tumult ceased is referring to the last chapter where Demetrius and the other artificers tried to accuse Paul of sedition, but the town clerk freed them all, telling the rioters to take it up in a court of law if they have some legal problem with one another. Paul embraces his disciples and bids them farewell, and departs for Macedonia.
Verse 2, "And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece."
LGT "And having passed through those parts, and having exhorted them with much talk, he came into Greece."
Paul passed through Macedonia, and taught them briefly on his way to Corinth, and then on to Jerusalem. Paul revisited the churches he had established throughout Greece.
Verse 3, "And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia."
LGT "And having continued three months; and a plot having been made against them by the Jews, being about to sail to Syria, a purpose arose to return through Macedonia."
These Jews that laid a plot against Paul were not the Judaizers, but the haters of Christ Paul had encountered in Corinth. These Jews had heard of Paul's intention to sail to Syria, and they waited for him at the docks in order to kill him; but Paul learned of this plot and purposed therefore, to go instead by land to Macedonia.
Verse 4, "And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus."
LGT "And Sopater, of Pyrrhus, a Berean, accompanied him, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe and Timotheus, of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus."
"The men named are all believers who had come to Christ under the ministry of Paul. He has quite a delegation now. These men have become missionaries.
"We need to recognize that when Paul went through Greece and Macedonia, he visited all the churches, which he had founded there. He would have stopped at Athens and Corinth, at Thessalonica and Berea and Philippi. So he retraced his steps and visited all the churches that were in Europe - or at least in the European section of his third journey" (McGee).
Verse 5, "These going before tarried for us at Troas."
LGT "And these, having gone, waited for us in Troas."
Luke uses the pronoun us showing that he is back with Paul as his companion, and will remain with him until he reaches Rome.
Verse 6, "And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them at Troas in five days; where we abode seven days."
LGT "And we sailed away after the days of unleavened bread from Philippi, and came to them at Troas up to five days, where we stayed seven days."
Paul observed the feasts of Passover with the Jews, but protested against anyone being forced to do so; or I should say, anyone being taught that they must keep any feats in order to obtain spiritual status. Paul kept the observance of the Jewish feats as to not offend the Jews, but he taught the Gentile converts not to be burdened with the Jewish observances.
Paul's Farewell Visit to Troas
Verse 7, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
LGT "And on the first [day] of the week, we having been assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the morrow, and he continued the discourse till midnight."
This does not give preachers the right to be longwinded; Paul was ready to depart and he had very much to teach them. What he is unable to teach them in person, he will continue to teach them with his Epistles. In the early church, before the Scriptures were complete, they celebrated the Lord's Supper or Love Feast every Sunday. "This love Feast in which they gathered together to share a meal in common was concluded by observing the Lord's Supper" (Matthew Poole).
Verse 8, "And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together."
LGT "And many lamps were in the upper room where they were assembled."
The thing that impressed me about this verse is why Luke thought it necessary to mention the lighting in the upper room. These reasons seem logical:1) they were not holding these meetings secretly. Barnes writes about this point; "It, however, meets one of the slanders of the early enemies of Christianity, that the Christians in their assemblies were accustomed to extinguish all the lights, and to commit every kind of abomination." 2) Actually, the place was well lighted for all were welcome both Jews and Greeks. 3) They met in the upper room regularly, so there was no secrecy involved in their meeting.
Verse 9, "And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead."
LGT "And a certain youth was sitting, Eutychus by name, by a window, overpowered by deep sleep, as Paul discoursed for a longer time, having been overpowered by the sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead."
This makes me feel better when I see a family member sleeping when I'm teaching God's Word. This young man, Eutychus, was overcome with sleep, seeing that it was midnight, and Paul had been teaching a long time, he fell three stories and was taken up dead. Now I think Luke, being a physician would know if Eutychus was dead or not. Some have assumed that he was just stunned by the fall, but I believe I will take Luke's word for it that he was dead. I know of teachers who would have come unglued if someone had the audacity to fall asleep while they were teaching; but let us see what the apostle Paul does.
Verse 10, "And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him."
LGT "But Paul, having descended, fell upon him, and having embraced [him] said, Do not make an uproar, for the life of him is in him."
Paul never tried to force the Word of God upon people, he simply taught the Word of God for his own, as well as for their own benefit. Paul shows great compassion, or he would have never been an apostle. What would you expect from one who had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and had the supernatural gifts bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit. Paul's language here, for the life of him is in him, is similar to the language of Christ in which He said, the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth (Luke 8:52).
Verse 11, "When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed."
LGT "And having gone up, and having broken the bread, and having eaten, and having converse for long until day-break, so he departed."
They all enjoyed a midnight snack and Paul continued conversing with them until daybreak. After they had eaten they had an informal discussion, probably a question and answer period on what Paul had discoursed before until midnight. Paul would now see whether or not they were grasping the doctrines of grace. This breaking of bread does not seem to fit the Lord's Supper or the Love Feast the first church was used to practicing. It seems more likely that it was a time of refreshing, especially after the incident with Eutychus.
Verse 12, "And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted."
LGT "And they brought the boy alive, and were comforted not a little."
I believe this verse makes it quite conclusive that Paul brought the young lad back to life. Luke is fond of using the diminutive, and were comforted not a little. In this case it means that the congregation was overwhelmed with joy. They were joyful that the boy lives, and also at the wondrous works of the Holy Spirit.
The Voyage from Troas to Miletus
Verse 13, "And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot."
LGT "But we, having gone on before to the ship sailed to Assos, there being about to take in Paul: for so he had appointed, himself being about to go on foot."
Luke and the other companions of Paul went by ship, but Paul traveled by land to Assos. Assos was a seaport south of Troas in Mysia in the province of Asia. The trip by land was about twenty miles along a Roman rode, while the voyage by ship was twice that distance. It is not stated why Paul traveled alone by land, perhaps he wanted to be alone to fellowship with the Father.
Verse 14, "And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene."
LGT "And when he met with us at Assos, having taken him in, we came to Mitylene:"
They picked Paul up at Assos and went on to Mitylene, the capital of Lesbos (see the map I included in this study).
Verse 15, "And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus."
LGT "And thence, having sailed away, on the following [day] arrived opposite Chios, and the next [day] we arrived at Samos, and the next [day] we came to Miletus."
Barnes notes:
"Chios, called Coos, is an island in the Archipelago, between Lesbos and Samos. It is on the coast of Asia Minor, and is now called Scio. It will long be remembered as the seat of a dreadful massacre of almost all its inhabitants by the Turks in 1823. At Samos. This was also an island of the Archipelago, lying off the coast of Lydia, from which it is separated by a narrow strait. These islands were celebrated among the ancients for their wines. Trogyllium. This was the name of a town and promontory [cape] of Ionia in Asia Minor, between Ephesus and the mouth of the river Meander, opposite to Samos. The promontory is a spur of Mount Mycale. Miletus. Called also Miletum. It was a city and seaport, and the ancient capital of Ionia. It was originally composed of a colony of Cretans. It became extremely powerful, and sent out colonies to a great number of cities on the Euxine Sea. It was distinguished for a magnificent temple dedicated to Apollo. It is now called by the Turks Melas. It was the birth-place of Thales, one of the seven wise men of Greece. It was about 40 or 50 miles from Ephesus."
Verse 16, "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost."
LGT "For Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus, so that it might not happen to him to spend time in Asia: for he hastened if it was possible for him to be in Jerusalem the day of Pentecost."
It was some thirty days to Pentecost, and Paul did not want to waste any time getting to Jerusalem, so he sailed by Ephesus. Paul was not so much interested in the religious aspect of Pentecost, but was interested in preaching to the maximum amount of people who would be gathered in Jerusalem during the feast days.
Paul speaks to the Ephesian Elders
Verse 17, "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church."
LGT "And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly."
Paul sends for the elders of the church at Ephesus where he spent three years ministering, longer than any other church he had founded. Paul had appointed these elders while he ministered among them.
Verse 18, "And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,"
LGT "And when they were come to him he said to them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day on which I arrived in Asia, how all the time I was with you,"
Ye yourselves know. Paul appeals to their personal knowledge of recollecting his ministry among them. From the first day I came into Asia. From the first time I came to you in Ephesus; Paul had spent roughly three years ministering in Ephesus. "The elders at Ephesus must have had abundant opportunity to know him. They had seen him, and heard him publicly, and in their private dwellings. A man does not make such appeal unless he has a consciousness of integrity, nor unless there is conclusive proof of his integrity. It is strong evidence of the holiness of the character of the apostle, and proof that they were not imposters, that they could thus appeal with the utmost assurance to those who had every opportunity of knowing him" (Barnes).
Verse 19, "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:"
LGT "Serving the Lord with all humility and tears and temptations, which happened to me through the plots of the Jews."
Serving the Lord with all humility. Paul had always considered himself a doulos, a servant of Jesus Christ, called of God. Paul did not take his apostolic office as an instrument to lord it over the people. Even with all his supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul remained humble, knowing that he was being used by God, and that God should receive all the glory. Paul did not receive the praise and adulation and acknowledgement preachers' lust for today; rather he was constantly persecuted through the plots of the Jews. Whenever Paul was persecuted by the Jews, he did not shed tears for himself, but for those Jews whom he loved so much. The Jews plots were designed to destroy Paul and his message of grace.
Verse 20, "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,"
LGT "How that I shrank not of what is profitable so as not to announce [it] to you, and to teach you publicly and from house to house."
How that I shrank not of what is profitable. Paul declares that he held back nothing that was profitable for those in Ephesus; Paul declared everything that had been revealed to him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And to teach you publicly and from house to house. Paul taught in the synagogues and the public squares, as well as in the homes of the believers.
Verse 21, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
LGT "Earnestly testifying both to the Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. These are the two elements Paul never left out of his Teaching ministry, whether to the Jew or to the Greek; whether to the philosophers on Mar's Hill, or the Jews in the synagogue; he never left out these two most important truths. Without repentance, a change of mind, there can be no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. No man or woman has ever been saved apart from the Word of God.
Verse 22, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:"
LGT "And now, behold, I bound in the spirit go to Jerusalem, not knowing the things, which in it shall happen to me:"
Bound in the spirit. This means that his own spirit, as differentiated by the Holy Spirit, bound Paul to go to Jerusalem. However, the Holy Spirit controlled Paul's spirit so there is very little difference in meaning. Paul did not want to go to Jerusalem for sentimental or religious reasons, but because he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go. Not knowing the things, which in it shall happen to me. Paul was going regardless of what awaited him in Jerusalem by the Jews, whether life or death he committed it all to the Lord.
Verse 23, "Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me."
LGT "Except that the Holy Spirit in every city fully testifies to me, saying that bonds and tribulations await."
Paul was not safe in any city. That bonds and tribulations await. Paul had learned by experience and also was informed by the Holy Spirit that this would be his plight in preaching regardless of where he might preach the grace of God. The same is true today. If any man preaches the gospel of grace according to the Word of God he will meet with opposition. Any preacher who is unopposed is not preaching the truth. Any man who is loved by everyone is preaching a gospel pleasing to everyone.
Verse 24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
LGT "But I esteem my life of no account, as it were precious to myself, in order to finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the glad tidings of the grace of God."
Two things stand out to me in this verse; 1) Paul looked ahead to the future, that is, that he should finish his course: he was concerned more with what God wanted than even his own life, and 2) the most important issue to Paul was getting the grace of God out to all. Above anything else, Paul wanted to finish his life with joy. This is dying grace kids. We must "study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" in order to be able to say some day in His presence, "I have finished my course in Your grace, with joy." To testify fully the glad tidings of the grace of God. This was the divine essence of all Paul's ministry; Paul taught that man is saved by God's grace; he is sustained by God's grace, and will spend eternity in heaven by God's grace. Man has nothing to glory in; he deserves hell, but by the undeserved favor of a merciful God, simply by receiving Christ as Savior, he becomes an eternal recipient of God's wonderful grace. Praise His precious name!
Verse 25, "And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more."
LGT "And now, behold, I know that ye all will no more see my face, among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom of God."
Paul's parting words to these elders in Ephesus were very dear to Paul. Knowing what awaited him in Jerusalem, Paul knew that he would never return to Ephesus. Preaching the kingdom of God. The future reign of the Messiah was a part of Paul's gospel of grace. Paul knew that he had imparted to these in Ephesus the whole counsel of God, leaving nothing un-proclaimed.
Verse 26, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men."
LGT "Wherefore I testify to you in this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all:"
Paul says that in this day, meaning this parting day that he is pure from the blood of all. Paul begins by using the word wherefore, meaning in the light of the ministry that he had among them. The word blood means the eternal destiny of all, both Jews and Greeks.
Verse 27, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
LGT "For I kept not back from announcing to you all the counsel of God."
This verse contains a reason for what Paul had said in the previous verse. Paul repeats verse twenty declaring that he announced to them the whole counsel of God. That is, he gave them the Word of God's grace. When he said, I kept not back, he is saying that he did not tickle their ears in order to win man's favor; he did not keep back the doctrines of grace for fear they would be angry with him; he kept not back the doctrines of grace for fear they could not understand them. Paul declared the entire Word of God as the Holy Spirit led him. Today, so many ministers attempt to persuade unbelievers to accept Jesus Christ, but what they need is the Word of God, and if they will not receive it, they will be condemned, and their blood will be on their own heads; there is not one soul in hell because they were not warned; and there is not one soul in heaven because they were persuaded to go there by any man. No soul has ever been saved apart from the precious Word of God, and there is not one soul in hell because they did not hear; they are in heaven or hell because of their attitude toward the Word of God, period!
Verse 28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
LGT "Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit did set you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which He purchased with His own blood."
Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock. Paul tells the elders to watch out for their own welfare against the dangers, which will come against the church; first to themselves and then to the flock. Wherein the Holy Spirit did set you overseers. In the apostolic church, the Holy Spirit did set certain holy men over the family of believers, and equip them with spiritual gifts, to shepherd the assembly of God. The last phrase, which He purchased with His own blood, tells us how precious the entire church is to God. It gives the reason that the elders were to be so concerned with the assembly. I like how the Ethiopic version describes the assembly; it reads, the Christian family of God. Paul mentions the fact that the church has been purchased at the supreme sacrifice of Christ's own blood, and that God loved them so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for sin, these elders should also care for the church, the family of Christ. Christ was made man in order to shed His blood. "If Christ had not been man, He could have had no blood to shed: had He not been God, the blood which He shed could not have been a sufficient price of redemption. Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, who found out such a ransom; and breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, who paid this ransom for us! (Rom. 11:33; Eph. 3:18,19)" (Matthew Poole).
Verse 29, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
LGT "I know that grievous wolves will come in amongst you after my departure, not sparing the flock."
Grievous wolves will come in. It is difficult to know whether Paul is referring here to the Judaizers who dogged his steps throughout his entire ministry, or to the Gnostics who would come in and spoil the church, possibly both. After my departure. That is, after Paul leaves them, not to see them again. Not sparing the flock. Paul tells these elders that these grievous wolves would come in as their friends and seek to spoil their doctrine. Any group teaching true Bible Doctrine will always face difficulties; Satan does not seek to hinder the modern day psychologist, posing as a teacher of the Word of God, with their watered down teaching of how to be a good little Christian, for they pose no threat to his scheme of ruining God's family. The family of God is referred to, as a flock and therefore the biggest threat to sheep are wolves; and so Paul is warning against any false teacher as grievous wolves.
Verse 30, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
LGT "And from amongst your own selves will men rise up speaking perverted things, to draw away the disciples after them."
Also from amongst your own selves will men rise up. Paul warns them that men will rise up, that is, wolves in sheep's clothing. John described them as men who were among us, but not of us. We have all probably seen this very thing happen in groups we have attended, where one person will seek to destroy whatever the teacher builds up. Speaking perverted things. They rise up and speak things in opposition to the truth. I have personally witnessed this in our own family where one individual bullied his way in to a Bible study and cancelled the meetings that were being held on his premises, by a qualified and true teacher of doctrine, and then began holding Bible studies of his own; and I use the term Bible study loosely, because he was simply teaching his captive audience that he was their true teacher. This captive audience, by the way, were either his own family, or worked for him. His teaching amounted to simply that it is fit and proper to be rich and be true to the Word of God. This all seems counterproductive to Christian growth, for where your treasure is, so is your heart. I must add; the opposition by this spiritual bully, this modern day Diotrephes, did not deter my brother from teaching God's word, and some thirteen years or so later, he is still faithfully teaching God's Word, and he will, by the way, until God takes him home.
Barnes notes on these false teachers:
"They would proclaim doctrines tending to distract and divide the church. The most dangerous enemies, which the church has had, have been nurtured in its own bosom, and have consisted of those who have perverted the true doctrines of the gospel. Among the Ephesians, as among the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:11-13), there might be parties formed; there might be men influenced by ambition, like Diotrephes (3 John 9), or like Phygellus or Hermogenes (2 Tim. 1:15), or like Hymeneus and Alexander, (1 Tim 1:20). Men under the influence of ambition, or from the love of power or popularity, form parties in the church, produce divisions and distractions, and greatly retard its internal prosperity, and mar its peace. The church of Christ have little to fear from external enemies if it nurtured no foes in its own bosom; and all the power of persecutors is not so much to be dreaded as the plans, the parties, the strifes, the heart-burnings, and the contentions which are produced by those who love and seek power, among the professed friends of Christ."
Verse 31, "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
LGT "Wherefore watch ye, remembering that three years night and day I ceased not with tears admonishing each one."
Wherefore watch ye. Stay awake. "In view of the dangers, which beset yourselves (vs. 28), the danger from men not connected with the church (vs. 29), and the danger which will arise from the love of power among yourselves (vs. 30), be on your guard. Observe the approach of danger, and set yourselves against it" (Barnes). Remembering. For three years Paul had warned them of the impending danger of these false teachers. There is only one way to combat error, and that is Bible Doctrine, and the church at Ephesus had a three year seminary education by the greatest Bible teacher this world has ever known, the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul.
Verse 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."
LGT "And now I commit you to God, and the Word of His Grace, which is able to build and give an inheritance among all the sanctified ones."
I commit you to God. Paul has done all he could in teaching them grace doctrine, and now he commits them to the watch care of our Heavenly Father. They could not be any safer than this. And the Word of His grace. The Word of His grace is the doctrine Paul taught them inspired by the Holy Spirit; which, by the way, is still ours today in Paul's Epistles. Which is able to build. As I have mentioned many times, we cannot separate God from His Word; so when it says the Word of His grace is able to build, it means that God is doing the building. An inheritance among all the sanctified ones. The word sanctified means we are set apart unto Him as His inheritance. We who believe are all sanctified and set apart as His inheritance, and this makes us recipients of all the divine riches of grace. (I have a great study of these riches taken from Lewis Sperry Chafers Systematic Theology if any one is interested in obtaining a copy). We who believe in Jesus Christ have been adopted in God's holy family, and we have an inheritance now, which is practical sanctification, and in eternity, which is positional sanctification; we are beneficiaries of all the riches of His grace now, and we look forward to spend eternity with Him in the future.
Verse 33, "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel."
LGT "Silver or gold or clothing I desired of no one:"
Paul did not desire silver or gold; he includes clothing because in the orient a man's apparel spoke volumes of his position in society. Paul did not desire these things because he worked for a living to support himself. Also there were those who charged Paul with taking collections for himself, which he took up for the poor in Jerusalem. If Paul had desired these things he could have amassed wealth beyond imagination in his ministry, with all the gifts the Holy Spirit bestowed on him; however, he was satisfied with working for a living and receiving his eternal reward when he reached heaven. This is a far cry from charlatans like Rick Warren and his many exploits to receive these worlds' goods, and honor through his approbation lusts.
Verse 34, "Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that are with me."
LGT "You yourselves know that to my needs and to the ones who are with me, these hands did minister."
Paul worked at the tent making trade to support himself and those who were with him. I wonder how many pastors and teachers when they stand before the Bema Seat of Christ will be able like Paul say; I have not coveted man's silver or gold. It is so obvious to any thinking man that the biggest percentage of so-called ministers is doing it for fame and fortune. It is no shame for a minister to work with his hands to earn his bread; for the gospel of grace has been given us free from God, and we should return the favor by giving it out with no charge attached. When I attended Chafer Seminary they held classes only in the evening so the workingman could go and get his studies accomplished and still work with his hands.
Verse 35, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
LGT "In all things I gave you an example that thus laboring, it is necessary to aid the ones who are week, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
In all things I gave you an example. Paul is saying I have demonstrated by my example in teaching and laboring. That thus laboring it is necessary to aid the ones who are weak. Paul says that they should use him as their example in both teaching and laboring to help those who are weak. Not many of us can say these words, I certainly cannot; the best I can do is teach the things Paul taught, and leave the results in the hands of the Lord. Remembering. Paul urges them to remember the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ; It is more blessed to give than to receive. Most of us believe it is more blessed to receive than to give. Let me say something about giving. A person may give from his wealth and it means very little; to the person giving it hasn't made a dent in his personal account, and it certainly hasn't made a dent in his eternal account. However, when a person has to work and sacrifice to give, he himself not only receives a blessing in his giving, but he has laid up treasures in heaven, that is, he has deposited much in his eternal account. Sometimes I express to my wife that I am almost afraid to go because I have done so little toward my future rewards. It would be wonderful if we could say with Paul; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7).
Verse 36, "And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."
LGT "And having said these things, having bowed his knees, he prayed with them all."
Having bowed his knees. This is the proper position of a suppliant in prayer. This does not mean that we are commanded to do so, for prayer is not always asking God for something, but is simply communing with the Heavenly Father. Paul was ministering to these elders in public, and he was demonstrating his reverence to the Father. Paul prayed out loud for all to hear; he demonstrated his dependence on the Father.
Verse 37, "And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him."
LGT "And there was much weeping by all, and falling on the neck of Paul, they were ardently kissing him,"
This is quite a touching scene at Paul's parting, for these elders loved Paul and Paul loved them. We don't kiss just anyone, only those we truly love. They were ardently kissing him. One after the other hugged Paul and kissed his cheek.
Verse 38, "Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."
LGT "Distressed most of all for the word which he said, that they are about to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship."
Distressed most of all for the word, which he said. Here he gives the reason they were all so upset with his departure from them. They were very troubled in their hearts because Paul told them this would be the last time he would see them all. They all brought Paul to his ship so he could depart from them. This was a solemn and final farewell to a true and loving friend. They stayed with Paul as long as they could and watched him sail away. They lost a true friend and teacher of the doctrines of grace, but they did not lose his teachings. Paul had now completed three missionary journeys.
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