Acts 20:17-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 20:17-35

It should seem the ship Paul and his companions were embarked in for Jerusalem attended him on purpose, and staid or moved as he pleased; for when he came to Miletus, he went ashore, and tarried thee so long as to send for the elders of Ephesus to come to him thither; for if he had gone up to Ephesus, he could never have got away from them. These elders, or presbyters, some think, were those twelve who received the Holy Ghost by Paul's hands, Acts 19:6. But, besides these, it is probable that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 20:17-38

20:17-38 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. When they were with him he said to them, "You yourselves know how, from the first day I came into Asia, I spent all the time, during which I was with you, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and amidst the trials that happened to me because of the machinations of the Jews. You know how I kept back nothing that was to your profit, how I did not fail to announce my tidings to you and to teach you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 20:17

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus ,.... Which is said, by some, to be about four hundred furlongs from Miletus, and, by others, ten German miles. And called the elders of the church ; that is, at Ephesus; not the ancient members of the church, but the officers of it; the pastors, bishops, and overseers, as they are called, Acts 20:28 and are so styled from their office, and not their age. The twelve disciples the apostle found in this place, and the numerous converts made by him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 20:18

And when they were come to him ,.... That is, when the elders or pastors of the church at Ephesus were come to the apostle at Miletus: he said unto them, ye know, from the first day I came into Asia ; to Ephesus the chief city in it: after what manner I have been with you at all seasons ; what was his conduct, conversation, and constant manner of life; which the apostle takes notice of, not to commend himself, or to obtain applause of men; but either in vindication of himself,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:17

He sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church - These are called επισκοποι , bishops, Acts 20:28 . By the πρεσβυτεροι , presbyters or elders, here, we are to understand all that were in authority in the Church, whether they were επισκοποι , bishops or overseers, or seniors in years, knowledge, and experience. The πρεσβυτεροι , or elders, were probably the first order in the Church; an order which was not so properly constituted, but which rose out of the state of things.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:18

After what manner I have been with you - The Codex Bezae adds here, for three years, and even more, which reading might have been borrowed from Acts 20:31 , though the time assigned by it is too long. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 20:18

Verse 18− 18.Ye know. Paul, in this sermon, standeth principally upon this, that lie may exhort those pastors of Ephesus, − (411) by his own example, to do their duty faithfully. For that is the true kind of censure, and by this means is authority purchased to doctrine, when the teacher prescribeth nothing − (412) which he himself hath not done indeed before. And it was no unseemly thing for Paul to speak of his virtues. There is nothing less tolerable in the servants of Christ than ambition... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:13-38

The charge. The previous section brought before us St. Paul's labors as a missionary and an evangelist. The present section sets him before us as the Christian bishop, delivering his solemn charge to the presbyters of the Church. The qualities brought out in the charge are a transparent integrity of character; a noble ingenuousness, which enables him to speak of himself without a particle of vanity; and a resoluteness of purpose to do what is right, which no persuasion could weaken and no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17

Called to him for called, A.V. The R.V. gives the force of the middle voice μετεκαλέσατο . The elders of the Church ; viz. of Ephesus. These are manifestly the same as are called ἐπισκόπους in Acts 20:28 , "overseers," or bishops. The distinctive names and functions of Church officers were not yet fixed; and the apostles themselves, aided by degrees by such as Timothy and Titus, were what we now call bishops, exercising oversight over the elders themselves as well as over... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 20:17-35

Paul at Miletus: the review which gratifies. It has been truly said that our whole life is divisible into the past and the future. The present is a mere point which separates the two. And there is a certain time which must come, if it have not already arrived, when, instead of finding our satisfaction in looking forward to the earthly good which we are to partake of, we shall seek our comfort and our joy in looking back on the path we have trodden and the results we have achieved. Ill... read more

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