A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 35
Paul’s Perspective on Ministry
Acts 20: 17-38
Acts 20:17 (NKJV)
“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.”
Paul stopped at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem and asked the “elders” from Ephesus to meet him there. Among those who gathered to hear Paul were those whose live had been changed by the ministry of this man.
Before we get into the passage itself I want you to see with me that this passage includes all three New Testament words used to describe the job of the pastor. In verse seventeen it says that Paul called for the elders of the church. The word used here is (presbuteros). In verse 28 when he is cautioning these leaders he says that they have been made “overseers” of the flock, here the word used is (episkopas). And in the end of verse 28 these same men are told to “shepherd” the church and here the word is (poimein) and it means to pastor. This points out that there are no three separate offices (Bishop, Pastor, Elder) but three different aspects of the same office of pastor.
Paul’s Review of the Past 20:17-21
Any assessment of Paul’s past ministry will of necessity have to stress the word commitment. But the more you are around people the more you realize that the word “commitment” means different things to different people. “One young man waxed eloquent as poured out his heart’s devotion in a letter the girl of his dreams, saying, ‘My dear, I would climb the highest mountain, swim the widest stream, cross the burning desert, die at the stake for you. P.S. I will see you on Sunday if it doesn’t rain.” [R. Kent Hughes. Acts: The Church on Fire. (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1996) pp. 276-277.}
Any True Ministry Involves a Commitment to Serving God’s People (18-19)
Paul was totally committed to his fellow believers, he was determined to seek their best at all times. His commitment to them was fueled by the conviction that in serving people he was serving God : “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, (19) serving the Lord …”
His commitment was carried out in great humility and tenderness. Verse nineteen goes on to say, “… serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and …..”
Any True Ministry Involves a Commitment to Sharing God’s Word (vv. 20-21)
“how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, (21) testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul tells them that he has not kept back anything but he has attempted to proclaim “the whole counsel of God.” (v. 27) That is that he has tried to be balanced in his preaching neither compromising or going to extremes.
Perspective on the Present 20:22-27
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, (23) except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (24) But none of these things move me; nor do I count 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 testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (25) “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. (26) Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. (27) For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
Paul lets his hearers know that he believes that this is the last time that he will get to see him this side of heaven. It is a final goodbye. In this final farewell he says that he has a clear conscience “innocent of the blood of men,” because he has always done his best to give them the truth. Perhaps Paul is thinking of the warning of the prophet Ezekiel of the blood on the hands of a sentry who fails to do his duty.
Listen to the words of the Prophet Ezekiel (3:18-21),
“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. (19) Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. (20) “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. (21) Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”
Paul says my hands are clean because I have told you the truth. No one could say that he had failed to give the warning.
The Prospects of the Future 20:28-38
As Paul looked to the future he saw a dark cloud falling across his path. The Spirit of God had not promised him a life of health and wealth. However the prospects of dark days did not immobilize Paul, because his purpose was not to preserve his life but to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. Paul did not know what lay ahead. However he knew that what it ever it was, he would have to face it and he could face it because God was sufficient for every need.
Paul brought this farewell address to a close by warning the church leaders of the dangers they needed to recognize and deal with if they were to protect and lead the church.
The specifics of which he begins to outline in verse 28 saying, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to 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.
He tells them that before they can be of any help to others that they must literally “guard” themselves. They must begin by taking care of their own spiritual well being. Then and only then could they give themselves to the well being of the flock.
The Elders are called to Shepherd the Flock of God.
The Holy Spirit has sovereignly raised up overseers or undershepherds who are responsible for the general task of shepherding the flock. In the Lord’s instructions to Peter recorded in John 21:15-17, Jesus three times instructed Peter to care for his sheep. The second time he used the word (poimaino) which means to tend or shepherd. But the first and third time he used the word ( bosko) which has a restricted meaning of “to feed.” Obviously the primary job of the shepherd is to feed the flock.
It was not enough for the shepherd to feed and lead his sheep he must also protect them from predators. Some times these predators will come from outside. Verse 29 reads, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
The “wolves” that Paul is referring to are false teachers, those who would exploit the sheep for personal gain. The Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 2:1-3 also speaks of false teachers when he says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2) And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (3) By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”
This is still an ongoing problem today. Just this last week I read an article on Gwen Shambling the founder of the Weigh Down Workshop, a supposedly Christian weight loss program. According to this article Shamblin has confirmed that she does not believe in the Trinity. She believes that Jesus is not God but simply the first created being. To Shamblin salvation must include works. She sees herself as a prophet and has set up her own church, “The Remnant Fellowship.” False Teachers are alive and well. [Christian Research Journal. Volume 23 Number 3 “Gwen Shamblin Weighed & Found Wanting. By Don and Joy Veinot. pp. 12-21.”
Sometimes according to verse 30 the predators are within the church. “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. These are those within the church who are ambitious for position and power. Don’t kid yourselves that those kind of people don’t still exist.
Finally in verses 32, Paul commits the elders to
“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.”
Paul appeals to the example of his own life in how he showed his own commitment in that according to verse 33 he “coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.” In fact according to verse 34 he worked hard with his own hands to provide for the needs of his team and in so doing he has according to verse 35 he has demonstrated one of the aims of earning money; helping those in need.
Paul closed this memorable occasion in verse 36 by,
“And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.” (37) Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, (38) sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.” The grief displayed over Paul’s departure gives us an indication of how deeply he was loved. He had paid the price of opening himself
