Acts 20:18
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Paul called the Ephesian elders together and appealed to what they themselves knew and could witness concerning how he had lived and labored among them. What they knew was his manner from the very first day he came into Asia, at all seasons and through his whole time with them, consistent from the beginning and open as plain history. That manner was serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and amid trials from the plotting of the Jews. He kept back nothing profitable, but taught publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward Christ and declaring all the counsel of God so as to be free from the blood of all men. This stands as the outline and standard of a faithful, all-round minister, to be followed not only in preaching sermons but in going from house to house to know families and follow public teaching with personal labor for their well-being.
Paul's Life in Asia
Paul was speaking to the Ephesian elders whom he had called together, appealing to what they themselves knew and could witness and attest concerning how he had lived and labored among them. What they knew was his manner from the first day he came into Asia, at all seasons and throughout his whole time with them. That manner had been consistent from the beginning, and it was plainly stated as history, not a mystery.
That manner was serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and with trials and temptations from the lying in wait of the Jews. He kept back nothing that was profitable, but showed and taught publicly and from house to house. He testified to both Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, not shunning to declare all the counsel of God so as to be pure from the blood of all men. He charged the overseers to take heed to themselves and to the flock, to feed the church of God purchased with His own blood.
His teaching called attention to the broken law and showed hearers wherein they were guilty. He instructed them as a schoolmaster instructs scholars and showed them the way back to loyalty to God. He taught the Scriptures while working at his trade as a tentmaker and supporting himself through manual work, having lived and labored with Aquila and Priscilla. His manner of life was steady through all seasons and included teaching the gospel while supporting himself through manual work. He worked day and night so as to be chargeable to no man for support, at times suffering hunger himself to relieve the necessities of others and sharing his earnings to support Luke and equip Timothy for travel.
Pattern for Gospel Workers
Acts 20:18 gives the outline and standard of what constitutes the duty of a faithful, all-round Christian minister and a Christian gentleman of the highest type. That standard is Paul's known manner of life from his first day in Asia, serving the Lord in all seasons with all humility of mind. It is consistent with true greatness and elevation of human and Christian character, including self-supporting ministry working day and night so as to be chargeable to no man for support, at times suffering hunger himself to relieve the necessities of others and sharing his earnings to support Luke and equip Timothy for travel. It means keeping back nothing that was profitable, but showing and teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
Though he was eloquent and God had manifested Himself to him in a wonderful manner, he went from house to house in humility, with many tears and temptations from the lying in wait of the Jews. He carried the lasting impression of Christ's revelation at his conversion and of special visions to give a correct representation of Christian life, character, and obligation to God, yet his example in every detail is not obligatory on ministers. Going from house to house is the very work of canvassing and home missionary work, and for a minister of the gospel to engage in canvassing to carry truth to the people labors in the same manner as Paul. Such personal, practical work is fitting and is most precious ministry, and does not belittle him or cause loss of dignity. His humble, persistent service from his first day there and throughout his time with them, including going from house to house to teach and testify, shows this work did not diminish the ministry.
His example proves he was not ashamed or afraid of work and did not treat manual labor as lowering to his work in the ministry or as degrading ministry. Toilworn hands and working with the hands as a tentmaker take nothing from the force of sensible, intelligent, eloquent appeals. Honorable labor should not make a man coarse, rough, and uncourteous or discourteous, and manual work does not necessarily weaken influence. He taught the Scriptures while working at his trade as a tentmaker, having lived and labored with Aquila and Priscilla.
Ministers are to follow that example by striving faithfully not only to preach sermons but to minister from house to house, becoming acquainted with the different families whether converted or without God and without hope. They are to follow public discourses with personal labor and helpful, encouraging words in homes, which is far more effective and essential for the well-being of the people of God. Those who do it obtain a varied experience and help establish churches, for faithful ministry requires sustained personal effort and care for those being taught, with thoroughness and devotion both publicly and from house to house, withholding nothing that would benefit them. Carrying out this open, humble, persevering, complete ministry means serving in all seasons with meekness and lowliness of Christ instead of taking an easy, comfortable course of partly copying another minister. It means being Bible believers as well as Bible readers who take the loving voice of God in His Word home to the heart and carry a burden for perishing souls. Ministers who fall short of this example need alarm and self-examination, but not hopelessness.