Acts 20:17-38

Paul’s Charge to the Elders of Ephesus and Departure , Acts 20:17-38 .

The first part of the address (Acts 20:18-27) refers to himself; the last half charges the elders in regard to their own future. In regard to himself, first, he reviews solemnly his past history, (Acts 20:18-21,) and then unfolds (Acts 20:22-27) his own probable future.

Paul expatiates upon himself, because the burden was upon him laid by Christ to be and to present himself to the Church as a living model. And a model must he be, so unqualified and unquestionable as that he may ever refer to it and plainly present it without any thought of its being gainsaid or any charge of immodesty. He must ever be able to say, Be as I am. And yet in this living model he claims most profoundly to be no original, but to be a follower of an original whom he cannot approach, and with whom his whole being is filled, namely, the Lord Christ. Nay, he is model in truly being utterly emptied of himself and dead, Christ being his entire life. And of all this so complete is his achievement that these elders, and all who come under his impress, feel that he is sole and singular; that he is wonderful and out of all comparison. No thought is there of his violating etiquette in requiring all to come at his call. And when there, no word of their do we hear; it is all Paul, and Christ in Paul.