And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
The verse records Paul's final parting from the Ephesian believers, both the elders and the brethren. At that farewell they all wept deeply, fell on Paul's neck in embrace, and kissed him. Their grief was especially great because they expected never to see him or his face again. Paul knew this and assured them of it as he parted from them.
The scene reveals a tender mutual bond and deep affection and anxiety around his departure. His soul was linked to their souls and he drew warm hearts wherever he went, so they loved him and felt they could not give him up. They earnestly begged him to remain with them, and were filled with sorrow at his leaving. Their weeping broke his sympathetic heart as he saw and felt their grief.
Firmness as a rock in defense of the truth belongs together with being affectionate and gentle as a child among friends. Paul's life in this followed the life of Christ and is a lesson to follow. Falling on one another's necks with weeping as in the verse is also the sign of humbled, broken-hearted confession of error under the deep moving of the Spirit of God. It marks acknowledgment of wrong, a pledge to walk in the light and to make things right in the home, a changed atmosphere, renewed acceptance by the brethren, and a decided victory toward unity.
The verse records Paul's final parting from the Ephesian believers, both the elders and the brethren. At that farewell they all wept deeply, fell on Paul's neck in embrace, and kissed him. Their grief was especially great because they expected never to see him or his face again. Paul knew this and assured them of it as he parted from them.
The scene reveals a tender mutual bond and deep affection and anxiety around his departure. His soul was linked to their souls and he drew warm hearts wherever he went, so they loved him and felt they could not give him up. They earnestly begged him to remain with them, and were filled with sorrow at his leaving. Their weeping broke his sympathetic heart as he saw and felt their grief.
Firmness as a rock in defense of the truth belongs together with being affectionate and gentle as a child among friends. Paul's life in this followed the life of Christ and is a lesson to follow. Falling on one another's necks with weeping as in the verse is also the sign of humbled, broken-hearted confession of error under the deep moving of the Spirit of God. It marks acknowledgment of wrong, a pledge to walk in the light and to make things right in the home, a changed atmosphere, renewed acceptance by the brethren, and a decided victory toward unity.