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Acts 20:1–6. After the rebellion ended, Paul, having called his disciples and given them instructions and said goodbye to them, left and went to Macedonia. Having passed through those places and taught abundant instructions to the believers, he came to Hellas. He stayed there for three months. When, on the occasion of the indignation made against him by the Jews, he wanted to go to Syria, the idea came to him to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied to Asia by Sosipater Pyrrhus, a Berean, and from the Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius Dervanin and Timothy, and the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus. They went ahead and waited for us in Troas. And we, after the days of unleavened bread, sailed from Philippi and in about five days arrived to them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days. Paul instructed the disciples because they needed great comfort after their confusion. Acts 20:7–8. On the very first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered to break bread, Paul, intending to go on the next day, talked with them and continued the word until midnight. In the upper room where we gathered there were enough lamps. Then it was the Feast of Pentecost and Sunday. And at night Paul did not calm down, but talked more then, since it was leisure time. Look how long he talked even after dinner. Acts 20:9. During a long conversation with Pavlova, one young man, named Eutychus, who was sitting on the window, fell into a deep sleep and, staggering, sleepily fell down from the third dwelling and was raised dead. Having burdened the listener with sleep, the devil disrupted the holiday. The young man sat on the window at night - his desire to listen was so great. And it is worthy of surprise that, as a young man, he was not carefree and, aggravated by sleep, did not leave, was not even afraid that he might be pushed, because he fell asleep not from inattention, but at the request of nature. Acts 20:10–13. Paul came down and fell on him and embraced him and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his soul is in him.” Having gone up and broken the bread and eaten, he talked quite a bit, even until dawn, and then went out. Meanwhile, the lad was brought in alive, and they were greatly consoled. We went ahead to the ship and sailed to Ass to take Paul from there. He did not say “he will be resurrected, for I will resurrect him,” but “his soul is in him.” Pay attention to his humility and his desire to console. Acts 20:13–15. For he ordered us so, intending to go on foot himself. When he met with us in Asse, we took him and arrived in Mytilene. And, having sailed from there, the next day we stopped opposite Chios, and on the next we landed at Samos and, having been in Trogillia, the next day we arrived at Mylitus. He himself went on foot, giving them what was easier, and choosing for himself what was more difficult, and at the same time teaching them a lot and teaching them to be separated from themselves. Acts 20:16. For Paul decided to pass by Ephesus, so as not to delay him in Asia; because he hastened, if possible, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. You see, even with desire and effort, Paul often did not achieve what he wanted, so that we would not think that he was above human nature. The saints and great men were of the same nature as us, but not of the same will, and therefore they had a lot of grace. Acts 20:17–21. Having sent from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: you know how, from the first day on which I came to Asia, I was with you all the time, working for the Lord with all humility and many tears, among the temptations that befell me through the malicious intent of the Jews; how I did not miss anything useful that I did not preach to you and teach you publicly and from house to house, proclaiming to the Jews and Greeks repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. "With all humility of mind". Not just with humility, but with “everything,” because there are many types of humility: in word, in deed, in relation to superiors, in relation to subordinates. "Called the elders of the church". Unknown to many is the custom of Scripture, especially of the New Testament, to call bishops presbyters and presbyters bishops; meanwhile, this is clear both from this place and from the Epistle to Titus, as well as from the Epistle to the Philippians. We could also find out whether the same thing should, although in conclusion, be deduced from the First Epistle to Timothy. “I didn’t miss anything useful that I didn’t preach to you.” It means that there was something that should not have been known. Just as hiding something is a sign of envy, so expressing everything is a sign of imprudence. Therefore, he added “nothing useful. Acts 20:22–24. And so, now, at the pull of the Spirit, I go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will meet me there. Only the Holy Spirit testifies in all cities, saying that bonds and sorrows await me. But I do not look at anything and do not value my life, just to finish my race with joy and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to preach the Gospel of the grace of God. “I am bound by the Spirit.” The word “bound” should be separated by a comma so that the following thought comes out: I am going to Jerusalem, being bound, without first knowing from the Spirit what will happen to me. It is remarkable that prophets do not know everything, but only what the Holy Spirit inspires in them. So Paul, having predicted, like a prophet, about everything that had happened to him, and that among the Ephesians there would be bad believers and heretics, he said that he did not know one thing - what the end of all this would be, because, having announced everything to him, the Lord hid one thing from him, namely: what would happen to him after the bonds and sorrows. This is so that, knowing what exactly he should pursue, and being proud, he does not fall from pride. The Holy Spirit left him in doubt so that, fearing fleshly weakness, he prayed to God for deliverance from temptations. "Bonds and sorrows await me." What temptations await me, I know, but what temptations I don’t know, because it was more difficult. Why are you going if “bonds and sorrows” await you? To be a prisoner for Christ's sake, to die for His sake. Acts 20:25–27. And now, behold, I know that all of you among whom I walked preaching the Kingdom of God will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all, for I did not fail to proclaim to you the whole will of God. “I am clean,” he says, “from the blood of all,” if you are burdened with sleep and die at the hands of the killer of souls, because I fulfilled the duty of a teacher, “for I did not fail to proclaim to you the whole will of God. This means: whoever does not speak the whole will of God is guilty of blood, that is, of murder. Apparently making excuses, he nevertheless forces them to beware. Acts 20:28. Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood. “Take heed to yourself and to the whole flock,” because the saving benefit does not consist only in correcting others, I’m afraid, says the apostle, “so that, while preaching to others, you yourself do not remain unworthy” (1 Cor. 9:27), but also not in caring only about yourself, because such a person is a self-lover, seeks only his own benefit and is like one who buried his talent in the ground. "Take heed to yourselves." Not because saving ourselves is preferable to saving the herd, but because when we pay attention to ourselves, then the herd also benefits. “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the Church.” You have received, he says, ordination from the Spirit. And you have the responsibility to watch over the verbal flocks of the Church, to see that no one weakens in faith, no one languishes with hunger or thirst, no one needs any reprimand or reproof, as Paul himself commands: “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2). “Which He purchased for Himself with His own blood.” Important things were in danger if the Lord did not spare even His Blood. Yes, to reconcile enemies, He even shed His own Blood; You can keep them when they have already become friends. Acts 20:29–31. For I know that after I am gone, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among yourselves men will arise who will speak perverse things, so as to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, stay awake, remembering that for three years I taught each of you day and night without ceasing with tears. A double misfortune: on the one hand, that he will not exist, on the other, that others will attack, and, moreover, which is especially bitter, “from yourselves.” It is difficult when there is an internecine war. “Draw students along with you.” The goal of heretics is to try to attract the people not to the Lord, but to themselves, in order to flatter their vanity, when those attracted by them will bear the name of one or another heretic, as, for example, from Manes - Manichaeans, from Arius - Arians. This is what it means to “draw the disciples along with you.” Therefore, tempering, even earlier, their jealousy, Paul reproaches and forgives those who said: “I am Pavlov”; “I am Apollos” (1 Cor. 1:12). Acts 20:32–34. And now I commend you, brethren, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to edify you more and give you an inheritance with all those who are sanctified. I didn’t want silver, gold, or clothes from anyone. You yourself know that these hands served my needs and the needs of those who were with me. The exhortation ends with prayer. Since he greatly frightened them, so as not to completely defeat them, this is the consolation. “And now,” he says, “I commend you... to God and the word of His grace,” that is, His grace itself. He didn’t say: “he didn’t take any silver, gold, or clothing,” but he didn’t even “desire.” And he said even more sublimely: “You yourselves know that these hands have served my needs and the needs of those who were with me.” Yes, true almsgiving is to give from your own labors. But pay attention to the fact that a man worked who constantly talked: day and night. Acts 20:35. In everything I have shown you that, while working in this way, you must support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for He Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You cannot hide behind ignorance. I have shown you by my own actions that you need to work and remember this word of the Lord Jesus. But where did the Lord say this? Perhaps the apostles conveyed this unwritten, or it is clear by inference. One degree is to give up everything, another is to provide yourself with what you need, the third is to provide not only to yourself, but also to others, the fourth is not to take even when you preach and have the opportunity to take. It is not said, however, that taking is a bad thing, but that it is better not to take. Acts 20:36–38. Having said this, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then everyone cried a lot, and, falling on Paul’s neck, they kissed him, grieving especially at the word he had spoken, that they would no longer see his face. And they escorted him to the ship. It should be noted that the one who separates should kneel and pray with everyone present and then leave. The strength of affection for Paul of those who hugged him for the last time and from his last conversation who felt strong love and friendship is visible in the words: “falling on Paul’s neck.” You might be interested in: