Caring for the Blood-Bought Church of God

Acts 20:13-38

Main Idea: Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders highlights the nature and importance of the church and the role of its overseers.

1. Paul’s Example (20:13-27)
   1. He identified with the people (20:18).
   2. He served the Lord with humility and passion (20:19).
   3. He taught the gospel (20:20-21).
   4. He lived by the Spirit and treasured Jesus supremely (20:22-24).
   5. He served with a clear conscience (20:25-27).
2. Paul’s Exhortations (20:28-32)
   1. Watch your life (20:28a).
   2. Watch the flock (20:28b-32).
3. Paul’s Example—Again (20:33-38)
   1. He avoided greed, worked hard, and practiced generosity (20:33-35).
   2. He loved the flock (20:36-38).

The book of Acts is filled with speeches. Some are addressed to non-Christians (Acts 13; 14; 17), and others are defenses (Acts 22–26). But this address in Acts 20 is different. It’s addressed to the Christian leaders of the church in Ephesus. To be even more specific, it’s a farewell speech. The Bible contains several important farewell speeches that prepare people for the future (Gen 49–50; Deuteronomy; Josh 23:1–24:27; 1 Sam 12:1-25; John 13–17; also 2 Timothy and 2 Peter).

In this speech Paul highlights the nature of pastoral oversight and the importance of the church. A good one-sentence summary of Paul’s charge is given in verse 28:

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

This text sounds a lot like Paul’s later charge to Timothy, in which Paul essentially summarizes the nature of pastoral ministry in one verse. He urges Timothy to watch both his life and his teaching for the good of his soul and the good of others:

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:16)

Indeed, this speech in Acts is very Pauline. It sounds like Paul’s pastoral letters and is consistent with what Paul said to both Timothy and Titus.

In Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students, the seasoned pastor provides several exhortations to aspiring pastors. The first lecture is drawn from 1 Timothy 4:16. It is titled “The Minister’s Self-Watch.” After urging each student to examine his own salvation, Spurgeon transitioned to the need for the minister to guard his own personal character:

We have all heard the story of the man who preached so well and lived so badly, that when he was in the pulpit everybody said he ought never to come out again, and when he was out of it, they all declared he never ought to enter it again. . . . Too many preachers forget to serve God when they are out of the pulpit, their lives are negatively inconsistent. Abhor, dear brethren, the thought of being clockwork ministers who are not alive by abiding grace within, but are wound up by temporary influences; men who are only ministers for the time being, under the stress of the hour of ministering, but cease to be ministers when they descend the pulpit stairs. True ministers are always ministers. . . . It is a horrible thing to be an inconsistent minister. (17)

Spurgeon’s charge is a call to consistency. Not perfection but consistency. We who are overseers must live a consistent life of godliness. We must consistently care for the flock in word and deed.

Paul’s address to the Ephesian elders is a mingling of both example and exhortation. His example serves to both inspire and instruct the elders who will be leading the church from this point forward. His exhortation includes some important matters related to pastoral oversight.

Obviously, pastors/elders/overseers (synonymous terms in the New Testament; see vv. 17,28; Titus 1:5,7) should pay careful attention to Paul’s words here, but they’re beneficial for all God’s people. Every Christian should care about the church and should seek to follow Paul’s example, just as he followed after Christ (1 Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17). Further, even those who are not Christians, but are exploring the Christian faith, will find that by studying the church, they will learn a lot about Jesus.

While this address is difficult to outline, as John Polhill notes (Acts, 423), we will look at it in three parts.

Paul’s Example

Acts 20:13-27

In verses 13-16 we see Paul rushing to get to Jerusalem to make it for Pentecost. Perhaps Paul wanted to present the offerings from the Gentiles during the Feast of Weeks, which Jewish tradition also associated with Gentiles’ hearing God’s Word at Sinai, alongside Israel (Johnson, Let’s Study Acts, 251; see Exod 19:1; 34:22; Deut 16:9-12; Acts 2:1). Seven weeks separated Passover from Pentecost. Paul can’t risk a long delay in Ephesus—either fruitful ministry or continued opposition could keep him there for a while—so the apostle bypasses Ephesus and lands farther south in Miletus (vv. 13-15). Despite Paul’s hurry, he still makes the time to invest in elders, demonstrating his care for the Ephesian church and its leaders. In Miletus, Paul gives them this powerful charge, which we have in summary form, and the apostle begins with his own example. As a good leader Paul offered more than words. His life illustrated his teaching.

He Identified with the People (20:18)

According to verse 18, Paul had lived among and identified with the people of Ephesus. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul said something similar: “You know how we lived among you” (1 Thess 1:5; cf. 2:7-11). Because Paul was with his people, he knew their needs and how to apply God’s Word to those needs (v. 20).

Many pastors today are isolated from their people. But good pastors know the sheep by name and by need. This requires involvement as well as transparency. Ajith Fernando commented, “[Paul] obviously had what might be called an openhearted approach to ministry. This is why he could spend a whole night chatting with believers in Troas (vv. 9-10), and this is why he shed so many tears among the Ephesians (vv. 19,31)” (Acts, 533). Paul didn’t have a celebrity ministry that allowed him to hide out in an office after delivering his speeches. He was with his people.

I don’t want to be slavish in applying this to pastors because I know every pastoral setting is different. But I would ask this question of each career minister: If you aren’t spending time with your people outside the pulpit, then are you really following Paul’s pattern? As pastors, let’s find ways to be involved in people’s lives and avoid merely being the sages on the stages.

He Served the Lord with Humility and Passion (20:19)

Verse 19 makes clear that Paul saw his ministry as serving the Lord. Whether he was ministering to the new believers or evangelizing in the lecture hall of Tyrannus or in the synagogue, he ultimately did everything unto the Lord Jesus. Everyone serves something or someone, so who or what are we serving? Even the most mundane activities should be done for the Lord (Col 3:23-24). Because Jesus takes everything done in his name seriously, this gives our lives and ministries great meaning. And we don’t have to have a big platform to serve the Lord.

Most importantly, Paul says he served the Lord with humility, tears, and during trials. His humility denotes his posture before God and people. His trials remind us of his courage and faithfulness. His tears call attention to his tenderness (cf. v. 31). I would submit that this kind of service to the Lord is a direct result of a proper grasp of the gospel. The gospel—when applied deeply—humbles us, makes us tender, and makes us courageous.

It humbles us because we know we don’t deserve grace. We were beggars in need of salvation when the Savior brought us into the kingdom. That should make us willing to do whatever needs to be done in order for the gospel to be proclaimed effectively.

The gospel makes us tender because the Spirit of God makes us loving and gentle people. It makes us begin to live like the ultimate weeping prophet, Jesus. Spirit-empowered servants are brokenhearted servants. God rarely blesses a tearless ministry because it’s difficult to operate by the Spirit without deep emotion (cf. 2 Cor 5:20).

And the gospel makes us courageous because we have no need to fear man. What can man do to us? Kill us? Paul says to that threat, “To die is gain” (Phil 1:21). The gospel causes us to live with an unstoppable boldness when it comes to sharing the truth of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish.

Therefore, let’s invite the gospel to work deeply into our hearts that we too may become humble, tender, and courageous. In a world filled with bullies and cowards, we desperately need men and women to be transformed by the gospel so that they too may become humble, tender, and courageous.

He Taught the Gospel (20:20-21)

Paul, who had been so deeply changed by grace, taught the gospel of grace to everyone, everywhere. Here, then, is another wonderful example for us to follow. Don’t shrink back from teaching anything that’s profitable—even if it’s in the Old Testament! Be bold in your exposition in this age of tolerance. Don’t cave in to culture, but lovingly and courageously teach the “whole plan of God” (v. 27).

There’s not really a bad place to teach the gospel! And everyone needs the gospel! As we teach the gospel—behind pulpits, in homes, in coffee shops, in parks—let’s call people to repentance and faith just as Paul did. He and others simply continued the preaching ministry of the Lord Jesus himself (Matt 4:17).

He Lived by the Spirit and Treasured Jesus Supremely (20:22-24)

Paul knew that going to Jerusalem would involve suffering, but because he valued Jesus above comfort and even his own life, he was willing to go. His desire was to finish the ministry Jesus gave him (cf. 2 Tim 4:7).

The goal of life is not to have a long life but a full life, one lived to the glory of Jesus Christ. For some Christians such faithfulness will involve hardship, persecution, and even martyrdom. Paul’s example here shows how one can endure such experiences: We must value Jesus above everything, and we must rely on the Spirit.

He Served with a Clear Conscience (20:25-27)

How could Paul say he was innocent of the blood of all his hearers? Because he didn’t shrink back from comprehensively declaring God’s Word to them. He preached the redemptive plan of God, promised in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the gospel (1 Cor 2:2; Col 1:27-29).

Paul’s faithful exposition exonerated him from responsibility for the blood of his hearers (Johnson, Let’s Study Acts, 252). Paul may have been alluding to Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry. God called Ezekiel to be a faithful watchman (Ezek 3:18-19; 33:1-9). The prophet’s job, then, was to sound the alarm when he saw danger. If the citizens failed to heed the warning, then they would have no one to blame for the consequences except themselves (ibid., 253). Paul could say that he sounded the alarm. He faithfully preached the life-and-death message of the gospel; therefore, his conscience was clear.

Paul’s ministry was both comprehensive and consistent. He didn’t view the ministry as a career. He didn’t punch a clock. His ministry was an all-consuming task, and he fulfilled it in Ephesus daily. He fulfilled it with humility and passion, with faithfulness and courage. He set the pace for the elders who would build on his foundation (Johnson, Let’s Study Acts, 255). This is how leaders should hand off a ministry to others.

Paul’s Exhortations

Acts 20:28-32

After looking back, Paul looks ahead. He announces his departure for Jerusalem, along with his expectation never to see the elders again. He also predicts future dangers to the church. In light of these things, he exhorts the elders to watch their own lives and to watch over the flock. Paul raises a number of important concepts here.

First, the Holy Spirit ultimately appoints elders (v. 28a). A man can’t call himself into the ministry. The Spirit of God works in the heart of a man, giving him a desire for the task (1 Tim 3:1). The local congregation then affirms his Spirit-initiated calling (cf. Acts 13:2-3). No one, then, should take the office of elder lightly.

Importantly, you don’t have to be an elder to do significant kingdom work. If the Spirit of God isn’t calling you to this task, then find other ways to make a gospel impact in the world. The Spirit uses every Christian to do ministry (Eph 4:7-16).

Second, God paid the highest possible price for the church(v. 28b). How valuable is the church? She was purchased by the blood of Jesus (the title “God” here probably referring to “Jesus”; cf. Rom 9:5). This means we should never have a low view of the church. We should love the church deeply, and shepherds should care for the church carefully.

With this in mind, consider Paul’s two charges to the elders.

Watch Your Life (20:28a)

Paul reminds the elders of the utter necessity of godly lives (cf. 1 Tim 4:16). Charles Spurgeon said this to his students:

When we say to you, my dear brethren, take care of your life, we mean be careful of even the minutiae of your character. Avoid little debts, unpunctuality, gossiping, nicknaming, petty quarrels, and all other of those little vices which fill the ointment with flies. (Lectures to My Students, 20–21)

Robert Murray McCheyne said it well: “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness” (in J. I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness, 33).

Holiness is necessary for faithfulness in ministry. You may be gifted to do the work to which God has called you, but if you aren’t godly, then you won’t have a ministry. Just ask the countless pastors who have fallen morally and are no longer serving in the pastorate. Many of them are incredibly gifted and bright. But it doesn’t matter how good your theology is or how dynamically you speak if your character doesn’t match your teaching. If you don’t have holiness, you won’t have a ministry. I’m not talking about living in sinless perfection. I’m talking about living “above reproach” (1 Tim 3:1-7).

Holiness is also necessary for compensating for deficiencies in ministry. There are many faithful pastors who aren’t great speakers, but they’re godly. As a result of their holiness, people find them interesting, and their ministries bless the people. As a pastor, I can’t separate my life from my vocation as those in other vocations may be able to do. My life will inevitably impact my ministry. If I’m following hard after Jesus, it will show in the way I teach and serve. So in the words of Paul to Timothy, watch your life persistently (1 Tim 4:16). Don’t ever stop putting sin to death and pursuing Christlikeness, no matter your job. As a Christian, you are also a minister.

Watch the Flock (20:28b-32)

Paul warns the elders about what will happen after his departure. Not only do churches face the threat of wolves on the outside, but sometimes wolves will “come in among” the believers, too. Paul predicts that some teachers—for their own devious reasons—will try to attract disciples to themselves rather than to Christ (v. 30). They will pose as pastors but will actually be predators (cf. Matt 7:15).

Paul thus tells the elders to keep a watch on themselves—to watch one another for the good of the flock. Paul is not only emphasizing personal accountability (1 Tim 4:16) but also mutual accountability. And this is one of the reasons a plurality of elders/pastors is so important (see Acts 14:23; Jas 5:14). Leaders need to be held accountable for how they live and for what they teach. They need to “guard each other from error and arrogance, and the flock from abuse” (Johnson, Let’s Study Acts, 256; emphasis added).

By the time Paul writes to Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus, wolves had already entered (2 Tim 2:17-18; 3:1-9; 4:3). Wolves were teaching deviant doctrines (Acts 20:30) and doing great damage to the churches of Asia (cf. Eph 5:6-14; Col 2:8; Rev 2:2). So here Paul wasn’t exaggerating the threat. The leaders needed to “be on the alert” so that the flock would be protected from such savages. The overseers needed to follow Paul’s own example of faithful and passionate teaching (v. 31). They needed to teach sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it (see Titus 1:9).

After this serious warning, Paul gives the elders a wonderful word of assurance: “I commit you to God and to the work of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified” (v. 32). This transitional verse highlights two important concepts.

First, it highlights the Word of God, centrally a message of grace, which grants believers a share in the heavenly inheritance (cf. 26:18; Eph 1:13-14; Col 1:12). Paul reminds the leaders of the power of the gospel, which saves the lost and builds up believers.

Second, it draws attention to the fact that God himself is the ultimate watchman. He is the faithful protector of his church (cf. 2 Tim 2:19). Previously in Acts, when Paul appointed elders in each church, he committed the elders “to the Lord in whom they had believed” (14:23; cf. 13:3; 14:26; 15:40). Paul is reminding the elders that they don’t shepherd alone. Jesus is with them (Heb 13:5), and Jesus will build his church (Matt 16:18). God’s promises, God’s presence, and God’s powerful gospel bring much needed comfort and assurance to pastors who feel the weight of their shepherding task.

Paul’s Example—Again

Acts 20:33-38

While it seems like the speech concludes with verse 32, Paul doesn’t stop there. He wants to take up one more important matter: the leader’s relationship to material goods. Every Christian—not just elders—should pay careful attention to Paul’s theology and practice of work and wealth here.

He Avoided Greed, Worked Hard, and Practiced Generosity (20:33-35)

Paul’s testimony here is consistent with what he says elsewhere regarding work and wealth. Paul avoided greed and never used ministry as a means to cover it up (1 Thess 2:5). He supported himself by working with his hands, as we observed in Corinth (Acts 18:2-3; cf. 1 Cor 4:12; 9:12,15; 2 Cor 11:7). We read of the same pattern in Thessalonica, where Paul described his work ethic (1 Thess 2:9; 2 Thess 3:7-8) and also urged his readers to imitate him (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess 3:9).

Greed can pose a major problem for everyone, and pastors aren’t exempt from the temptation (1 Tim 3:3,8; 6:3-10; Titus 1:7,11), so it’s fitting that Paul would include this subject in his address to a group of overseers.

One of the major incentives for hard, honest work is noted here in the Miletus speech: so that one may “help the weak” (v. 35). In a speech that deals so much with preaching and teaching, Paul also includes this note about caring for the poor (cf. Rom 15:1; Gal 6:21; Eph 4:28; 1 Thess 5:14). Paul truly had a well-rounded, comprehensive ministry that serves as a wonderful model. Even though Paul was mighty in the Word, he didn’t neglect practical deed ministry to the poor. Tim Keller writes,

The apostle Paul viewed ministry to the poor as so important that it was one of the last things he admonished the Ephesian church to do before he left them for the last time. In his farewell address, Paul was able to ground this duty in the teaching of Jesus. “We must help the poor,” he said, “remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than receive’” (Acts 20:35). You don’t use your “last words” without saying something that is all-important to you. For Paul it was: “Don’t only preach—help the poor.” (Generous Justice, 73)

Modern-day preachers should pay attention to Paul’s model of both teaching and showing mercy to the weak.

Paul quotes the saying of Jesus, reminding the elders that they should be givers, not takers. They should also remember that one experiences tremendous blessing when practicing generosity. Church leaders should set the example of grace-motivated generosity. Jesus himself, the chief Shepherd, modeled this concept. He gave everything in order to help us in our poor, weak condition (2 Cor 8:9). The more we understand the grace of Jesus, the more generous we become.

He Loved the Flock (20:36-38)

Verses 36-38 are transitional; they conclude Paul’s Ephesian ministry and connect to the narrative of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem (21:1-16). The warmth and love between believers expressed in these verses are expressed again in this next section.

Looking back over the Miletus address, one can’t help but ponder the richness and relevance of the shepherding metaphor for pastoral ministry. A pastor isn’t a cowboy, he’s not a CEO, he’s not a rock-star celebrity; he’s a shepherd. Faithful shepherds know the flock, care for the flock, pray for the flock, feed the flock, and protect the flock from wolves. We should be careful to build our philosophy of pastoral ministry, then, from the Bible—not from popular leadership books (though we can learn from them). Pastoral leadership is unique and important; therefore, let everyone who aspires to the office of the overseer do so with humility and dependence on the great Shepherd (Heb 13:20). He purchased the church with his own blood.

Reflect and Discuss

1. How is this speech different from Paul’s other speeches in Acts? How is it similar to other speeches in the Bible?
2. What does it mean for pastors to live among the sheep? Why is doing so important?
3. What about the way Paul served the church most resonates with you?
4. Explain where and what Paul taught. What can we learn from his priorities and approach?
5. How can you apply verses 22-24 to your own life?
6. Why must pastors keep a close watch on their own lives and on the lives of other pastors?
7. What does this passage teach about spiritual “wolves”?
8. Explain why verse 32 is a word of comfort and assurance.
9. What can we learn from Paul’s work ethic in verses 34-35?
10. Take a moment to pray for your elders/pastors. In what specific ways might you encourage them?