To elude those looking to kill him, Paul arranged for his entourage to travel by ship. Thinking Paul would be aboard, the murderers missed Paul’s departure by land to the city of Assos. Paul had roughly 30 days to make it to Jerusalem before the feast of Pentecost. When he reached the city of Militus Paul sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus, to deliver possibly his last message to them.

Paul delivers a farewell address to the elders of the church of Ephesus before setting off to Jerusalem and an unknown fate (Acts 20. 18-.35). Read the passage carefully. It’s not a sermon, it is what Paul expects to be his final words to church leaders. He begins by reminding them how he lived among them, not for self-aggrandizement but to leave them with an example to follow. Since the Holy Spirit had worked so mightily through Paul, his example is a good one to follow.

How did Paul live? With his first priority always being the gospel of Jesus. Though his public debates and sermons, and going house to house with the message about the Messiah resulted in threats against his life he persevered and continued. In fact he considered his own life to be of little consequence in comparison to the message he was given to proclaim. He held nothing back.

While following his life mission he also worked hard to provide funds for himself and those who travelled with him. He never asked for money, preferring to make his own living so that no one could accuse him of greed or selling the gospel. He lived above reproach.

He contrasted his life with those who would come after him and attempt to deceive and lead them astray. He reminded them to guard the teachings and traditions he taught them and to lead – not simply teach the church but to lead it! Even when those who were partners in ministry changed course, they were to stay true to pure message of grace. It could not be bought, for salvation has already been paid for. It could not be earned, for it did not belong to any of them but to the Messiah. It was not to be profited from, for they were already given an inheritance as children of God. It was never to be withheld from any including the weak and poor, for it is a blessing to give.

After saying these things the elders were saddened and distressed and to a man they knelt and prayed and openly wept in a pleading for God to continue to work in their midst. Luke does not tell us how long this persisted, but presumably until the time of Paul’s departure for they accompanied him to the docks and said their farewells to the man they owed so much.

To say that Paul’s life was complicated would be an understatement. Too often modern believers excuse themselves from ministering to others because of their busy schedule and the fast paced nature of their careers and lives. Paul made no such excuses and instead worked and ministered and provided for as many as he could for as long as he had freedom and life. Freedom and life. One of these two would soon be taken from this abnormally born apostle (1 Corinthians 15.8).