Paul’s Last Words To The Ephesian Elders
Pastor Leslie Chua
“Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them…”
Most believers are familiar with Paul’s famous last words in his second letter to his protégé, Timothy – “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
However, few people are aware of his last words to the elders of the Ephesian church, which are recorded in Acts chapter 20. Paul knew that his days were coming to an end. So, he sent for the Ephesian elders to meet him at Miletus before his journey to Jerusalem. He told them that this would be the last time he would be seeing them.
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Usually, last words are poignant. People who are dying are full of regrets. But not Paul. He looked back at his life without the slightest tinge of regret. Why should he? He had lived in total surrender to the Lord and poured out his life to serve Him.
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Last words are important because they are spoken from the heart of the dying person. How much more the last words of the great apostle, Paul, whose life is exemplary in many ways. He was mightily used by God to write 13 out of 27 books in the New Testament and establish many churches. He had the mind and heart of Christ.
Usually, last words are poignant. People who are dying are full of regrets. But not Paul. He looked back at his life without the slightest tinge of regret. Why should he? He had lived in total surrender to the Lord and poured out his life to serve Him.
To Timothy, Paul held up his life as an example of how his protégé should live and serve God. He reminisced about his spiritual journey and looked forward to receiving his eternal rewards. To the Ephesian elders, Paul’s focus was different. He talked about facing death and reminded them of their duty to steward the Word of God responsibly.
Facing Death
For many people, talking about death is a morbid idea. Yet, it is a necessary conversation. Everyone will die someday. It is a matter of how we are going to die.
Paul knew that he would not die a natural death. He expected to be arrested and imprisoned. Death by execution would follow. It was inevitable.
Why was Paul so certain? Because the Holy Spirit spoke to him.
This was where things got interesting.
Paul felt “constrained by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). He was not a popular figure there because he preached salvation by grace apart from the law. That is, not by works. He sensed that he would get into trouble with the Jews in Jerusalem, and from there, things would go downhill for him.
During his journey to Jerusalem while stopping over at Caesarea, a prophet by the name of Agabus prophesied over Paul - he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (Acts 21:11).
On hearing this, the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Earlier, the believers in Tyre also urged him not to travel to Jerusalem because they also sensed danger.
What would you say to Paul if you were there? I am certain many Christians would probably say, “Paul, these prophecies are warnings not to go to Jerusalem. God doesn’t want you to be arrested, imprisoned, and killed.”
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The bottom line is Paul was not afraid to die. He was willing to face the prospect of persecution and death if it was God’s will.
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Few believers would discern that this might be the will of God. The natural human instinct is self-preservation. Most people would be led by their emotions instead of objectively considering that this might be God’s will.
Nevertheless, Paul would not be deterred. His primary preoccupation was to do the will of God. Remember Paul’s famous declaration – For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). And Paul was also spiritually in tune with God. He recognised the voice of the Spirit even if it was just a gentle whisper.
The bottom line is Paul was not afraid to die. He was willing to face the prospect of persecution and death if it was God’s will.
On several occasions previously, Paul fled when he was warned of impending threats. An example is when he escaped from the Jews in Damascus. The disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall of the city (Acts 9:24).
But on this occasion, Paul would not be moved by the pleas and urgings of fellow believers. He knew the will of God and he was “constrained by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem.
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Paul had begun his ministry well, and now he wanted to finish it well. Paul did not care whether he was going to continue to live or die. It meant little to him. All he wanted was to accomplish God’s will for him. That was the reason he was not afraid of the prophecy and he dared to face his impending perils ahead squarely without fear.
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Paul said to those who pleaded with him to reconsider his decision - “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
To the Ephesian elders, Paul said, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
Paul had begun his ministry well, and now he wanted to finish it well. Paul did not care whether he was going to continue to live or die. It meant little to him. All he wanted was to accomplish God’s will for him. That was the reason he was not afraid of the prophecy and he dared to face his impending perils ahead squarely without fear.
Many believers are aware of the troubles ahead as we draw near to the end of this present age and they are afraid. We can learn from the apostle, Paul. Be like him. Do not shrink from the knowledge of the afflictions, persecution, and dystopian time ahead as revealed in the Bible. Instead, determine to live victoriously as overcomers knowing that God is faithful and He will give us the necessary grace and strength to endure to the end.
Preach the Whole Counsel of God
Another thing. Paul reminded the Ephesian elders of his relentless effort to preach the gospel. His message was simple. He preached the fundamentals of the gospel – repentance and faith in Christ – and the whole counsel of God.
Twice, Paul said used the phrase - “I did not shrink from declaring…” (Acts 20:20, 27) when describing the contents of his message. This implies that the apostle encountered resistance in his preaching.
Preaching the gospel during Paul’s time was hazardous.
He had to contend with the Jews who saw him as perverting and betraying the Jewish faith. To preach salvation by grace through faith apart from religiously adhering to the Mosaic law was considered heresy. The persecution against Paul and the believers of Christ and their gospel message was fierce. Sometimes, it was brutal.
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Paul also told the elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
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Paul encountered different challenges with the Gentiles. Because he was so effective in bringing many Gentiles into the Kingdom of God, he also encountered severe persecution in certain places. An example is what happened in the city of Ephesus. So many people were converted in Ephesus and the surrounding regions that the idol-making businesses and related trades were drastically affected. These pagan tradesmen organised a protest that soon turned into a riot. After that, Paul had to leave the city.
Paul also told the elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
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Have you ever wondered why it requires courage to preach the whole spectrum of biblical truths?
Because it would not make a preacher popular.
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Paul’s statement implies that some preachers shrank from preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. They picked and chose selected passages and topics while ignoring other Scriptures.
Have you ever wondered why it requires courage to preach the whole spectrum of biblical truths?
Because it would not make a preacher popular.
As we know, the Word of God is mostly counter-cultural. Certain biblical truths are not attractive. These truths put demands on believers, restricting our freedom to do as we like. These truths also put us at odds with certain aspects of the mainstream culture, and thus inconvenience us socially. Hence, most people prefer not to listen to these truths. They would avoid listening to these teachings and messages.
Paul warned Timothy that ‘people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths’ (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
In Corinth, Paul encountered some of these false preachers, whom he sarcastically called ‘super-apostles.’ They drew many Corinthian believers away from Paul and his sound teachings with their therapeutic gospel and feel-good messages.
Despite that, Paul did not shrink from preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. He knew the danger. Preaching selectively distorts the full truth. It is no difference from false teaching (Acts 20:26-31). So, Paul would not compromise.
The same goes for us. We must not compromise. God’s Word must be preached and studied in totality.