Acts 20:25-38 - Paul farewell speech to the Ephesian eldrers

Paul now bade farewell to the elders of Ephesus here in Miletus. He told them that they would not be seeing him again. He would be on his way to Jerusalem and anticipated to face with dangers there. Here Paul declared that he had discharged his responsibility in full. To the best of his knowledge, he had declared the full will of God to them and had duly warned them. Hence, he would no longer be accountable for the outcome of their lives. Essentially, Paul had done his best, the responsibility for their lives no longer rest with him but with them.

From verses 28-31, using the imagery of shepherds and sheep, Paul instructed the elders to be vigilant and to guard their own lives and the lives of the people.  Why should the elders be vigilant shepherds? Firstly, they were made overseers of the people by the Holy Spirit. Their responsibility was entrusted to them by God. Secondly, the church was purchased with Christ’s precious blood. Thirdly, religious predators as salvage wolves would emerge to ravage the flock of God. Paul was referring to false teachers. What’s troubling was that these false teachers would arise from among them speaking heresies and drawing the people away from the faith. These were later confirmed by his letters to Timothy.  Paul had invested three years in the lives of the Ephesians, teaching them day and night, and he certainly would not want what he had done to be wasted.

Having warned the elders, he then commended them to God and the word of His grace. It’s God, together with the message of His grace that would have the capacity to build up their lives and keep them pure and sanctified. The grace of God and His message would keep and preserve them, and enable them to inherit the blessings of God’s saints.

Rounding up, Paul pointed to himself again. He had detached himself from material gain and had never used the ministry for any selfish material gain. Paul did not covet any one’s good. In fact he worked to earn to upkeep himself and the men with him. He set an example for them by working hard to help the weak and the needy. Here he even reminded them, quoting the Lord Jesus, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Greed is well attested to be one of the major distractions for church leaders. Many have stumbled over greed. Like Paul, we should take care not to fall into this temptation.

When Paul had concluded his message to the elders, he knelt down and prayed with them. They all began to weep and embraced Paul and repeatedly kissed him. It was a tearful farewell for they were grieved on hearing that this would be the last time they would see him. So they accompanied him to the ship.

Paul’s entire ministry is about giving. He gave himself to reach the world. He gave himself to serve the Lord and his people. And he gave himself to the ministry of the Word tirelessly. With boundless energy, Paul went about the work of God, abandoning himself totally in God’s service. “It’s more blessed to give…” was his motto. Paul set sail from Miletus giving His life to Christ and in so doing, left us an example on how we should approach life and ministry.