From
Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly. When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
Acts 20:17-19
Acts 20 [13.] But we who went ahead to the ship set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and came to Mitylene. Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 20 [17.] From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly. When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
Acts 20 [25.] “Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Meaning:
Paul had sailed past Ephesus to save time (Acts 20:16), but he would not leave without speaking to its leaders. These verses open his farewell address to the elders of Ephesus, the only speech in Acts addressed to Christian leaders. Paul looks back on his ministry so that they could follow his example.
- “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly”
Miletus lay about fifty kilometres south of Ephesus. The elders were the leaders Paul had appointed in the church, as he did in every church he founded (Acts 14:23). Later in the speech he calls the same men “overseers” whose task is “to shepherd the assembly” (Acts 20:28), so elder, overseer and shepherd describe one office (Titus 1:5-7).
- “You yourselves know”
Paul appealed to what they had seen during three years. He wrote in the same way to the Thessalonians: “You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:10). Samuel’s farewell likewise appealed to his conduct (1 Samuel 12:3).
- “Serving the Lord with all humility”
Paul served the Lord, not himself, following Jesus, who “came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Peter gave the same instruction to elders and to all believers: “all of you clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5).
- “With many tears”
Paul wept over the church’s dangers and over those who rejected Christ. He wrote to the Corinthians “out of much affliction and anguish of heart” and “with many tears” (2 Corinthians 2:4), and later in this speech he reminds the elders that he admonished them “night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).
- “With trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews”
In Ephesus Paul faced opposition from synagogue leaders (Acts 19:9). A plot had just forced him to change his route (Acts 20:3). He endured these trials without giving up his ministry.
The Significance of Acts 20:17-19
- An example for leaders
Paul’s ministry was marked by service, humility, tears and endurance. These qualities, not talent or status, are what God looks for in those who lead his people.
- Leadership lived in the open
Paul could say “You yourselves know” because his life matched his teaching. Integrity that others can see gives weight to what a leader says.
- Love that weeps
Tears are not weakness in ministry. They show love for people and grief over sin and danger. “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5).
Cross-References:
1 Thessalonians 2:10: "You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe." Paul’s open conduct.
Mark 10:45: Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
1 Peter 5:5: "all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another;" Humility in the church.
Psalm 126:5: "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy." Fruit from tearful service.
Conclusion: At Miletus Paul called the elders of Ephesus and began his farewell by reminding them of how he had lived among them: serving the Lord with humility, tears and endurance in trials. His life was an open book, and he offered it as a pattern for their leadership. The passage holds up servant leadership marked by humility, love and integrity.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible