Acts 20:18

18 And when they came to him, he said to them, "You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I was the whole time with you--

Acts 20:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:18

And when they were come to him
That is, when the elders or pastors of the church at Ephesus were come to the apostle at Miletus:

he said unto them, ye know, from the first day I came into Asia;
to Ephesus the chief city in it:

after what manner I have been with you at all seasons;
what was his conduct, conversation, and constant manner of life; which the apostle takes notice of, not to commend himself, or to obtain applause of men; but either in vindication of himself, against those that were ready to charge and censure him; or to recommend the doctrine which he taught; and chiefly for the imitation of these elders, he had sent for, and convened in this place; and he appeals to themselves, as eyewitnesses of what he was going to say.

Acts 20:18 In-Context

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not be [having] to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying if it could be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

17 And from Miletus he sent [word] to Ephesus [and] summoned the elders of the church.

18 And when they came to him, he said to them, "You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I was the whole time with you--

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews--

20 how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house],

Footnotes

• [a] A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)