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JULY 18
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chains and tribulations await me. 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 20:19 with many tears. Paul wept because of:
from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of 1) those who did not know Christ (Rom. 9:2,3);
the grace of God. 2) struggling, immature believers (2 Cor. 2:4);
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, and 3) the threat of false teachers (v. 29,30).
among whom I have gone preaching the king- plotting of the Jews. Ironically,it was the plot
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dom of God, will see my face no more. There- of the Jews at Corinth that allowed the
fore I testify to you this day that I am innocent Ephesian elders this opportunity to spend
of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not time with Paul.
shunned to declare to you the whole counsel
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of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves 20:22 bound in the spirit. Paul’s deep sense
and to all the flock, among which the Holy of duty toward the Master who had redeemed
him and called him to service drove him
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd onward despite the threat of danger and
the church of God which He purchased with hardship (v. 23).
His own blood. For I know this, that after my
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departure savage wolves will come in among 20:23 Holy Spirit testifies. Paul knew he
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you, not sparing the flock. Also from among faced persecution in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:31),
yourselves men will rise up, speaking per- though he would not know the details until
verse things, to draw away the disciples after he heard Agabus’s prophecy (21:10,11).
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themselves. Therefore watch, and remember
that for three years I did not cease to warn
everyone night and day with tears. support the weak. And remember the words
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more
and to the word of His grace, which is able to blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
build you up and give you an inheritance 36 And when he had said these things, he
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among all those who are sanctified. I have knelt down and prayed with them all. Then
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coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the
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have provided for my necessities, and for words which he spoke, that they would see his
those who were with me. I have shown you in face no more. And they accompanied him to
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every way, by laboring like this, that you must the ship.
DAY 18:Why should the church always be on guard?
Paul told the Ephesians that he had declared to them “the whole counsel of God”(Acts 20:27).
The entire plan and purpose of God for man’s salvation in all its fullness: divine truths of creation,
election,redemption,justification,adoption,conversion,sanctification,holy living,and glorification.
And now that he was leaving, he gives them a warning.
False teachers were already plaguing the churches of Galatia (Gal. 1:6) and the Corinthian
church (2 Cor. 11:4).“Take heed to yourselves” (v. 28), a warning that proved true by later events at
Ephesus (1 Tim.1:3–7,19,20; 6:20,21; Rev.2:2).Paul repeated this call to self-examination to Timothy
when his young son in the faith served as pastor of the Ephesian congregation (1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim.
2:20,21).The “overseers” are the same as elders and pastors.The word stresses the leaders’ respon-
sibility to watch over and protect their congregations—an appropriate usage in the context of a
warning against false teachers.Church rule,which minimizes the biblical authority of elders in favor
of a cultural, democratic process, is foreign to the New Testament (1 Thess. 5:12,13; Heb. 13:17).
He warns of “savage wolves” (v. 29)—a term borrowed from Jesus (Matt. 7:15; 10:16). This
metaphor stresses the extreme danger false teachers pose to the church.“From among yourselves”
(v. 30). Even more deadly than attacks from outside the church are the defections of those (espe-
cially leaders) within the church (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17; Jude 3,4,10–13).These wolves would
speak “perverse things.”The Greek word means “distorted” or “twisted.” False teachers twist God’s
Word for their own evil ends (13:10; 2 Pet. 3:16).
“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build
you up”(v. 32).The Scriptures, the record of God’s gracious dealings with mankind, is the source of
spiritual growth for all Christians.And since the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth”(1 Tim.
3:15), its leaders must be familiar with that truth.

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