And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
This is Paul's farewell at Miletus to the elders of the Ephesian church, the believers among whom he had gone preaching. By telling them they shall see his face no more, he tells them plainly that his personal ministry among them is ending in expected final separation, with no further meeting in person. He knew this parting was final as the Spirit's warning of coming bonds and afflictions confirmed his fear. His work among them had been centered on preaching the kingdom of God. He left them his counsel and warning as a final charge to guide them after he was gone.
The farewell belongs to the history of his earnest labors teaching the Scriptures publicly and from house to house while working at his tentmaking trade. His speech is plain, not mysteries, appealing to their own knowledge of his manner of life in humility, tears, and trial. It stands with his example of not coveting silver or gold or apparel but working with his own hands, day and night so as not to be chargeable for support and at times supporting his fellow workers, to minister to his own necessities and those with him, and his toilworn hands detracted nothing from the force of his appeals.
The passage outlines the character of one faithful, well-rounded, all-round Christian minister and Christian gentleman of the highest type. His example proves that manual work is not shameful or lowering to ministry, and that honorable mechanical toil does not necessarily lessen anyone's influence and need not make a person coarse and rough and uncourteous. Ministers are not obligated to do in all respects as Paul did in this self-support.
The parting reveals mutual love and deep sorrow: his soul was linked to their souls and he attracted warm hearts wherever he went, so they loved him, felt they could not give him up, earnestly besought him to remain, and his sympathetic heart was breaking as he witnessed and felt their grief. He shows a man firm as a rock in defense of truth yet affectionate and gentle as a child among friends, whose life in accordance with Christ is a lesson to follow.
This is Paul's farewell at Miletus to the elders of the Ephesian church, the believers among whom he had gone preaching. By telling them they shall see his face no more, he tells them plainly that his personal ministry among them is ending in expected final separation, with no further meeting in person. He knew this parting was final as the Spirit's warning of coming bonds and afflictions confirmed his fear. His work among them had been centered on preaching the kingdom of God. He left them his counsel and warning as a final charge to guide them after he was gone.
The farewell belongs to the history of his earnest labors teaching the Scriptures publicly and from house to house while working at his tentmaking trade. His speech is plain, not mysteries, appealing to their own knowledge of his manner of life in humility, tears, and trial. It stands with his example of not coveting silver or gold or apparel but working with his own hands, day and night so as not to be chargeable for support and at times supporting his fellow workers, to minister to his own necessities and those with him, and his toilworn hands detracted nothing from the force of his appeals.
The passage outlines the character of one faithful, well-rounded, all-round Christian minister and Christian gentleman of the highest type. His example proves that manual work is not shameful or lowering to ministry, and that honorable mechanical toil does not necessarily lessen anyone's influence and need not make a person coarse and rough and uncourteous. Ministers are not obligated to do in all respects as Paul did in this self-support.
The parting reveals mutual love and deep sorrow: his soul was linked to their souls and he attracted warm hearts wherever he went, so they loved him, felt they could not give him up, earnestly besought him to remain, and his sympathetic heart was breaking as he witnessed and felt their grief. He shows a man firm as a rock in defense of truth yet affectionate and gentle as a child among friends, whose life in accordance with Christ is a lesson to follow.