Daily Scripture Reading Acts 20:25 - 21:7
All Christians know we are supposed to preach the whole council of God. However, Christians are also aware there is opposition to hearing the word of God. Teaching everything God wants people to know might end friendships, generate scorn, or result in persecution. Thus, it is very easy for Christians to default to silence in order to avoid the consequences of speaking the truth.
The downside of that tendency is that being silent may also have consequences. Today, we will read a passage in which Paul articulated the drawback of shying away from declaring the truth boldly and completely. He also put into words the benefit of uttering the entire message of God, not just the parts that society finds palatable.
The 20th chapter of Acts records Paul’s journey from Greece to Syria, with Jerusalem being his final destination. On the way, he stopped at Miletus and summoned the elders from Ephesus. He didn’t want to stop at Ephesus itself because he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. When the elders arrived, he reminded them of the boldness with which he had taught them, and foretold the chains and afflictions that awaited him in Jerusalem.
Acts 20:25 ¶ “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.
The pronoun “I” refers to Paul. The pronoun “you” refers to the Ephesian elders.
Acts 20:26 Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all.
Note the word “innocent”.
Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
Note the phrase “did not shrink” and the word “whole”. The reason Paul was innocent of the blood of all was because he did not shrink away from declaring the whole purpose of God. If anyone in Ephesus did not know the truth and failed to repent, it was not because Paul did not speak it.
In the face of opposition, it is very tempting to simply stop speaking the truth, because self-preservation kicks in. However, when we are tempted to remain silent, we should consider the ramifications of staying silent. Perhaps the times we shrink away from declaring the truth is the only time certain people might hear the truth. If there are people who do not know the truth and suffer consequences for not knowing the truth, the people who knew the truth but remained silent might be equally guilty for not declaring to them the truth.
Even though it is tempting to get along with everyone and refrain from speaking truth when it will generate danger or opposition, we should strive to be as bold as Paul, so that we can also say we are innocent of the blood of all. The consequences of being silent may be worse than the consequences of speaking the truth.
Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Pay attention to the command to “Be on guard”. This implies there are constant threats to the church, and elders need to constantly be on guard to protect both themselves and the flock from the threats.
Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Acts 20:30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
The phrase “your own selves” refers to the Ephesian elders. Paul foretold that some of the Ephesian elders would fall away from the truth.
It is common to assume pastors and elders are spiritually mature, have everyone’s best interests in mind, and will not backslide; however, church leaders are just as susceptible to going astray and abusing people as anyone else.
Acts 20:31 Therefore be watchful, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.
Acts 20:33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes.
Acts 20:34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to those who were with me.
Acts 20:35 In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Everyone enjoys getting gifts, and it is good for everyone to get a gift on occasion. Receiving a gift is encouraging and can be a tangible reminder of being loved. However, no matter how blessed it is to receive a gift, we should always keep in mind that giving is better than receiving.
Acts 20:36 ¶ And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Acts 20:37 And they began to weep aloud and falling on Paul’s neck, they were kissing him,
Acts 20:38 being in agony especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.
Acts 21:1 ¶ Now when we had parted from them and had set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara;
It is about 40 miles / 65 km from Miletus to Cos and it is about 50 miles 80 km from Cos to Rhodes. The text indicates it took them one day to go from Cos to Rhodes, indicating they could sail as much as 50 miles / 80 km per day. It was about 70 miles / 113 km from Rhodes to Patara.
Acts 21:2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
Acts 21:3 And when we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
It is about 390 miles / 630 km from Patara to Tyre. That would have taken over a week.
Acts 21:4 And after looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
The seven days spent in Tyre might have been how long it took the ship to unload its cargo.
The disciples were telling Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. This appears to be a contradiction because Acts 20:22 tells us Paul was bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I believe the Spirit told the disciples in Tyre that Paul would face hardship in Jerusalem, and the disciples misunderstood that as a message that Paul should stay away.
Acts 21:5 And when our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.
Acts 21:6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
Acts 21:7 ¶ And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers, we stayed with them for a day.
It is only about 25 miles / 40 km from Tyre to Ptolemais. That distance could have been traversed in a day.
Paul knew he had spoken the complete truth that God wanted him to speak; thus, Paul knew he was innocent of the blood of all. If anyone did not know or conform to the truth, it was not Paul’s fault.
What are the truths people in your culture do not want to hear?
What are the potential consequences to you if you speak the truth?
What are the possible downsides if you shrink away from boldly proclaiming the whole council of God?
What do you need to do differently in your life so that you can have confidence that you are innocent of the blood of all?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”