Acts 20:23-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-38

Paul's farewell to the elders of Ephesus. I. THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE EVANGELICAL PREACHING . ( Acts 20:17-21 .) 1. The spirit and conduct of the preacher himself; for this is inseparable from the preaching ( Acts 20:18-20 ). He had lived with his flock. His life had been devoted to their service. He had entered the sphere of their life as the loving sharer in their joys and sorrows. He had presented to them a pattern of humility. He had borne them on his heart.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-38

Last words. The scene at Miletus representative. I. Of the relations between the apostolic leaders and the Churches. 1. Affectionate. 2. Founded on a common faith in the gospel of the grace of God. 3. Absolutely free from all sordid and worldly entanglements. 4. While recognizing the eminence o! the leaders, still not dependent on individual men. Sorrowing separation was not overwhelming despair. II. Of the character of primitive Christianity as exemplified in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:21-24

Paul's testimony. "Testifying … repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." "To testify the gospel of the grace of God." The main lines of the apostle's work are nowhere given more simply or more clearly than in these sentences. Dean Plumptre suggestively says, "These," viz. repentance and faith, "under all varieties of form, formed the substance of the apostle's teaching. It is obvious, however, that out of these might be developed a whole system of theology; why... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:22-24

The cheerful acceptance of a hard lot. Give illustrations showing how severe, trying, and anxious St. Paul's missionary life had been and was likely to be to the end, taking as a basis his own account given in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 . Additional "hardness" came out of St. Paul's peculiarly nervous and sensitive temperament. He felt both joys and sorrows so keenly. With the apostle's life compare that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Both were divided into two parts: I. EXACTLY WHAT HIS... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:22-32

Paul at Miletus: the forecast which exalts. Paul had received intimations "in every city" ( Acts 20:23 ) that "bonds and afflictions" were in store for him; he looked forward with absolute certainty to personal suffering of some kind; but this assurance was so far from daunting or depressing him that his spirit rose on strong and eager wing to the full height of such apostolic opportunity ( Matthew 5:10-12 ). The anticipated future, with its bonds and its sufferings and possibly death... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:23

Testifieth unto me for witnesseth, A.V. and T.R. The Holy Ghost , speaking by the prophets in the different Church assemblies, as the apostle journeyed from city to city. We have one instance of such prophesying recorded in Acts 21:10 , Acts 21:11 . The instances to which St. Paul here alluded were not mentioned in Luke's brief narrative. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:24

I hold not my life of any account, as dear for none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear, A.V. and T.R.; may accomplish my course for might finish my course with joy, A.V. and T.R.; received for have received, A.V. ; from for of, A.V. I hold not my life , etc. It is inconceivable that St. Paul should have uttered, or St. Luke have reported, such an unintelligible sentence as that of the R.T., when it was perfectly easy to express the meaning clearly. Neither... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:24

The missionary spirit. "But none of these things move me," etc. I. A DIVINE CREATION . "Received of the Lord Jesus." 1. After the pattern of Christ ' s own mission. 2. By the inspiration of the Divine Spirit. Not by education or any lower means. Not influenced by worldly motives. 3. In the spirit of a witness, simply declaring the gospel; recognizing that "the gospel of the grace of God" is "the power of God" to men's salvation. II. AN EXAMPLE OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:24

"The gospel of the grace of God." The world requires a gospel. Not theories about religion, not theological dogmas, not philosophical speculation, not dreamy sentimentality, but the glad tidings of a Divine work actually achieved on our behalf. I. THE GRACE OF GOD IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MESSAGE , Not a new law, seeing that the old Law cannot be fulfilled, but a proclamation of Divine forgiveness and life in One set forth as a Propitiation, whose righteousness is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 20:23

Save that - Except that. This was all that he knew, that bonds and afflictions were to be his portion.The Holy Ghost witnesseth - Either by direct revelation to him, or by the predictions of inspired men whom Paul might meet. An instance of the latter mode occurs in Acts 21:11. It is probable that the meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had deeply impressed the mind of Paul by his direct influences, and by his experience in every city, that bonds and trials were to be his portion. Such had... read more

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