Paul is heading to Jerusalem to deal with dissension and report what God is doing in his Acts 1:8 work to the ends of the earth – as God had ordained him to the Gentiles. He testifies about his message, mission, mandate, and his understanding about what this means. As you read on:

• I testified to Jew and Greeks about Repentance toward God and Faith in Jesus
• I am compelled by the Spirit – that’s his mandate. And he points out that he doesn’t know all that will happen but knows that chains and afflictions are coming
• v25 I know that none of you will ever see me again

So he was heading to Jerusalem didn’t have time to go to Ephesus – but had called for the Elders from there to come and meet with him. And he is giving them these final in person words. Yes he will write the church later while in his first imprisonment – but he’s speaking to the elders face to face.

He declares his innocence regarding anything that may happen to them. Meaning that he had been faithful to proclaim the Gospel of Peace and Truth. He didn’t paint a rose garden, but declared God’s Glory and the reality of following him.

Then in v36, how real and touching, he knelt down and prayed… v37 many tears were shed by everyone… 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Wow – so real and personal. This separated them in the ministry but not in the heart.

It was so hard, Luke says in 21:1, after we tore ourselves away… we set sail.

As you read all of this and the rest of the chapters in Acts that Luke wrote regarding Paul – we must recognize how connected to the Spirit Paul was. He never moved until God said, “move”, but also he never stayed when God Said “GO”.

He knew hard times were coming and yet God kept some of the “specifics” from him, just for his own peace, for the sake of saving from concern.

I think when we read this, the depth of what happened, and how long, and hard, we sometimes miss. He wasn’t taking a flight, he was taking a boat. He wasn’t being simply questioned, but being falsely accused. He spent years in this part of journey and finds then that he is going to get a major prayer answered. He’s going to finally get to preach in Rome!

But sometimes God answers our prayers differently than we expected. After a couple of years in jail in Jerusalem and Caesarea, then another months long boat trip, and a shipwreck in Malta, three months of delay even. And yet did you know that Paul, along the way, shipwrecked, changed that little island forever? My wife and I spent 10 days in Malta. That little island 2000 years later is perhaps the most “churched” population in the world regarding % of attendance. We were there before COVID, but at the time stats said between 75-90% attending some Christian Service weekly.

Then Paul gets to Rome and he is detained in House Arrest for 2 years, but was able to preach, teach, witness, and reach countless people in Rome with the Gospel.

So, what did Paul always do? What is he encouraging these Elders to Do? Read these verses in Acts 20

• Not Hesitate to Proclaim and Teach what is Profitable.
• Do not Avoid Declaring the Whole Plan of God
• Be On Guard for Yourselves and the Flock
• Shepherd the Church of God – which HE purchased with his own blood. Let me point out that we must not ever forget the WE did not BUY and we do not OWN the Church – Jesus bought it and He Owns it. Yes it is “my church” I’m a part and I have a responsibility but it belongs to Jesus
• Wolves are coming and they are brutal – we know this and we watch out – but watch more closely in these days
• Men will Rise up From Among You – we know that the “evil wolves” are out there but we don’t expect the “good ones” to be “bad” – There is a good book by Marshall Shelley “Well Intentioned Dragons” that talks about dealing with problem people in the church. And I would add yes some have “good intentions” but are still problems. And others have BAD intentions and are problems. Be on the Alert
• They – wolves and men rising up – will Distort the Truth – so we need to keep telling the truth and retelling the truth
• They – will Lure disciples into following them. We must keep pointing people to following Jesus – not us – only us following Jesus.
• Be On the Alert
• Be Committed to God and The Word of Grace – which is Able to Build You Up – Give You An Inheritance – Be careful again – grace is graceful all the way through – and our Inheritance isn’t here – our building up should be within and in the name of Jesus

We don’t know all of where the journey will take us -but the Lord is leading – I can’t help but think of our Good Shepherd and Psalm 23. He is with us, preparing all for us, with us in danger and when enemies surround, shadows cover, he is with us. But His House is our destination, and Goodness Follows us. Oh don’t miss that – the Path isn’t always “good” but Goodness and Mercy FOLLOW us all the days of this life – until FOREVER is our HOME with Him.