ACC ~ Acts 20 v17 - 24

OVERVIEW:

The modern commentators point to this third important Pauline speech as the only one addressed to Christians and as containing more Pauline vocabulary than any other speech. As Paul’s last will and testament, a speech that belongs to a well-known genre known as farewell speeches, Luke intends this speech to be the way in which people should remember Paul. It is also another example of Luke’s artistry. The speech to the Areopagus (Acts 17) fits with the sophisticated philosophical audience of Athens, while this speech clearly echoes Paul’s letters to Christians. In the patristic selections given here we see the Fathers analyze and praise the speech (IRENAEUS, CHRYSOSTOM), speak of Paul’s generous ministry and courage (CHRYSOSTOM) and remark on the prophecies that have been made in his regard (BEDE). The disposition of Paul is that of one bound in the Spirit and ready to suffer freely as a captive of Christ whose Spirit he has (DIDYMUS) and not under compulsion (CHRYSOSTOM). Unknown challenges await (AMMONIUS) as Paul, the former persecutor, contends for the peace of the church, aware that his temporal life is not to be valued more highly than his eternal life (BEDE).

20:17 | The Elders of the Church in Ephesus

DIRECT AND HONEST SPEECH. IRENAEUS: That Paul taught with simplicity what he knew, not only to those who were with him but those that heard him, he does himself make manifest. For when the bishops and presbyters who came from Ephesus and the other cities adjoining had assembled in Miletus, since he was himself hastening to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost, after testifying many things to them and declaring what must happen to him at Jerusalem, he added, “I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God that he obtained through his own blood.” Then, referring to the evil teachers who should arise, he said, “I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves come to you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall people arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” “I have not shunned,” he says, “to declare to you all the counsel of God.” Thus did the apostles simply, and without respect of persons, deliver to all what they themselves had learned from the Lord. Thus also does Luke, without respect of persons, deliver to us what he had learned from them, as he has himself testified, saying, “Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word.” AGAINST HERESIES 3.14.2.

20:18 | How I Lived Among You

PAUL SPEAKS OF HIMSELF ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. CHRYSOSTOM: Look, although [Paul] was in a hurry to sail past, he did not overlook them but planned everything. He sent for the leaders and broadcast his words through them. It is worthy of admiration how finding himself under compulsion to say something great about himself, he tries to make the least of it. For just as Samuel, about to hand over the rule to Saul, said in their presence, “Have I taken anything from you? You are witnesses and God also.” … Likewise Paul himself says to the Corinthians, “I have been a fool! You forced me.” Even God does this: he speaks of himself not for no reason but when he is disbelieved, and then he offers his benefits. Observe, then, what Paul does here. First he brings up their testimony, so that you should not think he is boasting, and calls the listeners themselves to be witnesses of his words, since he was not likely to lie in their presence. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 44.

20:20 | Declaring What Was Profitable

THE CHARACTER OF GOOD TEACHING. CHRYSOSTOM: This is success for a teacher, to educate his disciples by his own accomplishments. … Notice, if you please, the character of the teaching here. He lays down love and bravery. “I kept back nothing,” he says, thereby showing both generosity and resoluteness. “Of what was profitable.” Well said! For there were things that they did not need to learn. For just as it is envy not to say some things, so it is folly to say everything. For this reason he adds, “of what was profitable,” that is, “I not only spoke but also taught.” He means he was not doing this merely for form’s sake. What follows shows that this is what [Paul] means, for he adds, “in public and from house to house.” This shows his long toil, great earnestness and endurance. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 44.

20:22 | Not Knowing What Will Happen

A SLAVE OF CHRIST. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: The one who has been united to the Holy Spirit has been bound in him so that he does not separate from the Spirit in any way. The person of such a disposition is a captive of Christ whose Spirit he has. For if whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ is not of Christ, who has the Spirit, it is clear that whoever has Christ is in the Spirit. Whoever is bound and decorated with these chains begets, by both the gospel’s and his own chains, those he teaches. … This verse must be read in respect to the following, which says that the apostle is ready to be clothed with chains because of his beliefs. When it is said to him that he must not go up to Jerusalem, since there he will certainly be covered with chains and afflictions, he says that he is bound in the Spirit now to make his way to Jerusalem in full knowledge of what would befall him there. His words, “Daily I die,” are a manifestation of this determination of his, as are his words, “Ever are we, while living, handed over to death because of Christ Jesus.” To this you can add the words of the psalmist, “I am ready to be scourged.” CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.22.

20:23 | Imprisonment and Afflictions

PAUL TEACHES THEM BOLDNESS AND OBEDIENCE. CHRYSOSTOM: Why do you say this? Why do you mention this? What has happened? Have you nothing to accuse them of? He first alarms them, then adds, “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value or as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Why does [Paul] say this? He is preparing them to be always ready for dangers both seen and unseen and to obey the Spirit in everything. He shows that he is led away for great things. “Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city.” He shows that he is led away willingly, and so that you should not imagine him forced by compulsion or necessity, he says, “in every city.” Then he adds, “I do not account my life as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus.” Do you see that these are not the words of one lamenting but of one who is in control, teaching and sympathizing with them in what has happened? He did not say, “We grieve, but it is necessary to bear it,” but “I do not account. . . .” He repeats this, not to extol himself but to teach them, through the earlier words, humility, and through these, bravery and boldness. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 44.

EXCEPT THAT IN ALL THE CITIES THE HOLY SPIRIT ASSURES ME. BEDE: When [Paul] says “in the cities,” he clearly shows that the things that were going to happen to him had not been revealed to him directly but to others concerning him. Among them were the prophet Agabus, and also those disciples who, when he was staying in Tyre, admonished him “through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.23A.

CONTENDING FOR THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH. BEDE: So that he might now contend for the peace of the church in the place where he once persecuted the church. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.23B.

UNKNOWN CHALLENGES AWAIT. AMMONIUS: It must be noted that the prophets do not know everything but only what the Holy Spirit reveals to them. So see how Paul, like a prophet, foretells “that chains and afflictions await me,” and that the Ephesians will never see him again and that there will arise among them heretics and some of bad faith, and yet about the first of these he confesses not to know what exactly their end shall be. So although the Lord revealed to him everything else, this one thing he hid from him, namely, what would happen to him after the chains and afflictions, lest, being puffed up and knowing that everything would arrive at such a point, [Paul] fail out of negligence. Instead, so that he, dreading the weakness of the flesh, would beg God to deliver him from trials, the Spirit left this end unclear for him. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.22.

20:24 | Paul’s Ministry

DIFFICULTIES ENDURED FOR THE LORD. CHRYSOSTOM: Do not think that I am lamenting as I say this. “I do not consider my life so precious.” He says this to elevate their mind and to persuade them not only not to flee but to bear it nobly. For this reason he calls it “course” and “ministry”: “course,” or “race,” because of the glory; “ministry,” because of the obligation. I am a minister, he says; I have nothing more. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 44.

I DO NOT VALUE MY LIFE AS MORE PRECIOUS THAN MYSELF. BEDE: By life, he means that temporal life in the body that he reckoned as least in value, since he looked forward to eternal joy in another life. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.24.