Picture: Paul’s Farewell Journey to Jerusalem 4TC 198.1
This chapter is based on Acts 20:4 to 21:16.
Paul always held onto the hope that he help to remove the prejudice of his unbelieving countrymen so that they would accept the gospel. He also wanted to meet the church at Jerusalem and give them the gifts the Gentile churches had sent. And he hoped to bring about a closer tie between Jewish and Gentile converts to the faith. 4TC 198.2
He was about to step aboard the ship to sail for a port in Palestine when he learned that the Jews were plotting to take his life. In the past, these opposers had failed in their efforts to end the apostle’s work. 4TC 198.3
Paul’s success in preaching the gospel stirred up the Jews’ anger again. This teaching released Jews from the ceremonial law and made Gentiles equal with Jews as children of Abraham! Paul’s enemies called it blasphemy when he said emphatically, “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised” (Colossians 3:11), and they determined to silence his voice. 4TC 198.4
Paul received warning of the plot and decided to go by way of Macedonia. He had to give up his plan to reach Jerusalem in time for the Passover, but he hoped to be there at Pentecost. He had a large amount of money with him from the Gentile churches, and because of this he made arrangements for representatives to go with him from the various churches that had contributed. 4TC 199.1
At Philippi he stopped to keep the Passover. Only Luke remained with him, while the others went ahead to Troas to wait for him there. The Philippians were the apostle’s most loving and truehearted converts, and he enjoyed happy fellowship with them. 4TC 199.2
Sailing from Philippi, Paul and Luke reached Troas five days later and remained for seven days with the believers there. 4TC 199.3
On the last evening the Christians “came together to break bread.” The fact that their beloved teacher was about to leave had called together a larger group than usual. They met in an “upper room” on the third story. There, in the intensity of his care for them, the apostle preached until midnight. 4TC 199.4
In one of the open windows sat a young man named Eutychus, who went to sleep and fell to the courtyard below. He died from the fall, and many gathered around him crying and mourning. But Paul prayed earnestly that God would restore the dead to life. Above the sound of weeping, the apostle’s voice was heard, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” With joy the believers again gathered in the upper room. They celebrated the Communion service, and then Paul “talked a long while, even till daybreak.” 4TC 199.5
The ship was about to sail, and Paul’s companions hurried on board. The apostle, however, chose to take the shorter route by land and meet his traveling companions at Assos. His mind was troubled over the difficulties connected with his visit to Jerusalem, the attitude of the church there toward him, and the needs of the gospel work in other fields, so he took advantage of this special opportunity to seek God for strength and guidance. 4TC 199.6
As the travelers sailed south from Assos, they passed Ephesus. Paul had wanted to visit the church there, but he decided to hurry on, because he wanted “to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.” At Miletus, however, about thirty miles from Ephesus, he learned that it might be possible to communicate with the church before the ship set sail. So he sent a message to the elders, urging them to hurry to Miletus, so that he could see them. 4TC 200.1
They came, and he spoke touching words of counsel and farewell to them. “You know,” he said, “from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, ... how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” 4TC 200.2
Paul had always exalted God’s law. He had shown that sinners must repent, humble themselves before God, and exercise faith in the blood of Christ. The Son of God had died as their sacrifice and had gone up to heaven as their representative. By repentance and faith they could be free from condemnation, and through the grace of Christ be enabled to obey to the law of God. 4TC 200.3
“And see,” Paul continued, “now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ... 4TC 200.4
“I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.” 4TC 200.5
While he was speaking, the Spirit of inspiration came on him, confirming his fears that this would be his last meeting with the Ephesian believers. 4TC 200.6
“I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” No fear of offending someone could lead Paul to keep back the words that God had given him to warn or correct them. If the ministers of Christ today see that any of their flock are cherishing sin, as faithful shepherds the must open God’s word and give them the instruction that applies to their case. Pastors must give their people faithful instruction, showing them what they must be and do in order to stand perfect in the day of God. At the close of their work, faithful teachers of the truth will be able to say with Paul, “I am innocent of the blood of all men.” 4TC 200.7
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Ministers are dealing with people whom Christ’s blood has purchased. As representatives of Christ, they are to keep intact the honor of His name. By purity of life they are to prove themselves worthy of their high calling. 4TC 201.1
Dangers would threaten the church at Ephesus: “I know this, that after my departing savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Looking into the future, Paul saw the attacks the believers would experience from enemies both outside and inside the church. “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 4TC 201.2
“So now, brethren,” he continued, “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.” Paul had never tried to get anything for himself from the Ephesian Christians who were wealthy. “These hands,” he stated, “have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” “I have shown you ... by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 4TC 201.3
“And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.” 4TC 201.4
From Miletus the travelers sailed to Patara, where, “finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia,” they “went aboard and set sail.” At Tyre, where the ship was unloaded, the Holy Spirit warned a few disciples about the dangers waiting for Paul at Jerusalem. They urged him not to go on. But the apostle would not allow any fear to turn him from his purpose. 4TC 201.5
At Caesarea Paul spent a few peaceful, happy days—the last of perfect freedom he would enjoy for a long time. While he was there “a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us,” Luke says, “he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’” 4TC 202.1
But Paul would not turn aside from the path of duty. He would follow Christ to prison and to death if needed. “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart?” he exclaimed. “For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 4TC 202.2
The time soon came for his brief stay at Caesarea to end, and Paul and his companions set out for Jerusalem, their hearts shadowed by the premonition of coming evil. 4TC 202.3
The apostle knew he would find few friends and many enemies at Jerusalem. Remembering his own bitter prejudice against the followers of Christ, he felt the deepest pity for his mistaken countrymen. And yet how little hope he had that he would be able to help them! The same blind hatred that had once burned in his own heart was now inflaming the hearts of a whole nation against him. 4TC 202.4
And he could not count on the sympathy of even his own brothers in the faith. Even among the apostles and elders, some had believed the most unfavorable reports about Paul as true, making no attempt to contradict what they had heard and showing no desire to support him. 4TC 202.5
Yet the apostle did not despair. He trusted that the Voice that had spoken to his own heart would still speak to the hearts of his countrymen, and that the Master whom his fellow disciples served would still unite their hearts with his in the work of the gospel. 4TC 202.6
