Acts 20:19

19 serving to the Lord with all meekness, and mildness, and tears, and temptations, that felled to me of ambushings of Jews;

Acts 20:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:19

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind
Meaning, in the ministration of the Gospel, being conscious to himself of his own weakness and insufficiency in himself for such service; no ways elated with those excellent and extraordinary gifts bestowed upon him; ascribing all his success to the power, grace, and Spirit of God; treating no man with contempt and disdain; nor lording it over God's heritage, or claiming a dominion over the faith of men; nor seeking honour nor riches for himself, nor even what he had a just right unto, a maintenance from the people; but laboured with his own hands, and to his own and the necessities of others:

and with many tears;
at the obstinacy and unbelief of some, and at the distresses and afflictions of others, both corporeal and spiritual; as well as on account of the unbecoming walk of some professors:

and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
who were hardened against his ministrations, and believed not the Gospel preached by him, but spoke evil of it, and lay in wait to take away his life; by reason of which, his afflictions, which he calls temptations, because they were trials of his faith and patience, were very great.

Acts 20:19 In-Context

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the greatest men of birth of the church [and called the more men through birth, either the elder men, of the church].

18 And when they came to him, and were together, he said to them, Ye know from the first day, in which I came into Asia, how with you by each time I was,

19 serving to the Lord with all meekness, and mildness, and tears, and temptations, that felled to me of ambushings of Jews;

20 how I withdrew not of profitable things to you [how I withdrew nought of profitable things to you], that I told not to you, and taught you openly, and by houses;

21 and I witnessed to Jews and to heathen men [witnessing to Jews and heathen men] penance into God, and faith into our Lord Jesus Christ.